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The President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin took part in 68th Session of the General Assembly of the International Union of Railways held in Montreal from 6-9 June 2006.
Yakunin noted that “this session of the General Assembly has become a major event since it took the decision to accept Russian Railways as a fully-fledged member of the International Union of Railways. So 58 years after Russia was involved at the foundation of the IUR and then withdrew, it has once again become a member of this authoritative and professional transportation organisation.
Russia’s entry to the IUR means that a single global railway organisation has been formed, which represents a real step forward in bringing the eastern and western railways systems closer together. Russia’s membership will allow it to directly influence the formation of pan-European and global transportation policy and use its status a full member to exert a positive influence on the integration processes in this area.”
In the course of 2006, Russian Railways and the IUR plan to hold a series of joint technical consultations, during which they will agree on conditions from Russian Railways’ membership. It is expected that Russian Railways will become a full member from summer 2007.
Vladimir Yakunin also held a series of meetings with senior managers of international companies and railway administrations on the sidelines of the General Assembly, in particular with Mohammed Saidnezhad, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport and General Director of Iranian Railways. Yakunin and Saidnezhad exchanged views on implementing the railyway line between Kazvin-Resht-Astara as a further link in the North-South International Transport Corridor. Saidnezhad invited Yakunin to visit Iran, while Yakunin invited Saidnezhad to Moscow.
In addition, Yakunin met Li Chulom, president of the South Korean company Koreil, and discussed the reconstruction of the Trans-Korean Main Line. The two sides agreed that Yakunin would visit South Korea in the near future, with the visit timed to coincide with his visit to North Korea.
Yakunin also had discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian company Bombardier, Loran Boduan, during which Yakunin confirmed the interest on the part of Russian Railways in joint work and organisation of production in Russia of new rolling stock fitted with asynchronous power drive. Bombardier is prepared to work with Russian manufacturers to localise production and reduce the final cost. Russian Railways and Bombardier also plan to develop and manufacture a new generation of locomotives and cooperate in the production of passenger coaches. Russian Railways is also keen to achieve technology transfer from Bombardier since the Company is not only interested in meeting the demands of the Russian market for railway equipment and technology, but also in exporting to the CIS and Baltic countries and other countries using the broad gauge 1520 mm railway track.
After extended negotiations, Russian Railways and Bombardier have completed joint development and set up production facilities at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant factory to manufacture locomotives for use on Russia’s railways. The locomotives have double power, enabling them to switch between direct and alternating current, and can pull passenger trains at up to 160 km/h. They are expected to enter service soon between Moscow and Brest.
Source: Press Release
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