Business news

MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – The electrification project at the rail line Molodechno-Gudogai-the Lithuanian border is estimated at $90 million, head of the Belarusian Railways Vladimir Morozov said at the opening of the 62nd meeting of the CIS Rail Transport Council on 20 May, BelTA has learned.

“This year we are launching the electrification of the Molodechno-Gudogai-the Lithuanian border rail line. The project is estimated at $90 million,” Vladimir Morozov said. In his words, other large-scale investment projects are successfully implemented as well. Thus, in 2015-2017 the electrification of the rail lines of the ninth pan-European transport corridor at the Gomel-Zhlobin-Osipovichi and Zhlobin-Kalinkovichi parts with the total investment of more than $173 million.

The project will help organize through passenger and cargo traffic at the Belarusian railway both in the direction of the Russian Federation - Lithuania-Kaliningrad Oblast and in the south direction – Lithuania-Belarus-Ukraine.

Vladimir Morozov expressed confidence that the participants of the 62^nd meeting of the council would be able to come up with solutions to promote the development of the railway and enhance the competitive ability of railways on the market of transport services.

The regular meeting of the CIS Rail Transport Council is held in Minsk on 20-21 May. The CIS rail administrations are set to consider the international transport of passengers and cargoes, the join use of rolling stock, mutual settlements for services rendered, and the development of common regulations. The heads of the CIS rail administrations are also expected to hold bilateral meetings.

The CIS Rail Transport Council and its executive body (directorate) were founded in 1992. The council attaches its primary attention to securing technological unity of railways. The council works out annual international traffic timetables. Close attention is also paid to the technical state of cargo cars. The previous meeting of the CIS Rail Transport Council took place in Baku, Azerbaijan in October 2014.