Vladimir Yakunin, the corporation’s President, said this on 5 September in his speech at the plenary session of the 5th Conference of Director Generals of European railways held in St. Petersburg.
       The Conference is attended by Ilya Klebanov, the Plenipotentiary of the President of Russia in the North-West Federal District, and 23 Director Generals of railways from 16 countries.
      
       Vladimir Yakunin says there has been prepared a specific programme until 2010 targeted at the integration of Russian railways into the Euro-Asian transport system. The programme provides for the following measures to be taken by Russian Railways public corporation:
       One – coordinate transport legislation within the Euro-Asian transport system and implement simplified borderline crossing procedures.
       ‘The final task is to speed up the freight traffic across the borders of adjacent countries that is to reduce the cost of floating funds leading to more effective goods turnover in the continent, which will favour the economic growth in our countries’, said Vladimir Yakunin.
       Two – develop a technology for rolling stock operation within two technical systems. This includes the use of dual power supply electric locomotives that will extend the locomotive run for International traffic, and variable gauge wheel pairs for passenger trains for easy switch between European and Russian gauges.
       ‘As a result of performing this measure, operational costs of International traffic will be substantially reduced, and passenger travel time will be shorter’, believes Russian Railways’ President.
       Three – improve the technology of export-import transit traffic and optimise the interactions with foreign railways. Vladimir Yakunin said: ‘in this conjunction we propose to create a system of unified information-logistic centres, improve the tariff policy, and increase the investment activities’.
       Four – develop International transport corridors, borderline railway crossings and near-port stations, and inter-modal companies that will coordinate trans-continental container transport.
       ‘As a result, Russian Railways public corporation plans to intensify the use of Russian railways in International freight traffic between Europe and Asian-Pacific region. Objective economic estimations show that despite the formation of alternative routes, Russian railways offer the minimum time and cost of freight delivery in trans-continental traffic; and we shall use that advantage to favour the economic development of our countries’, remarked Vladimir Yakunin.
      
      www.rzd.ru