In 2004-5, Russian Railways invested 203 million roubles in the port infrastructure of the distribution and re-shipment complex Lukoil 2 on the island of Vysotsky in Leningrad oblast, building 41 km of connecting routes and Pikhtovaya station and also electrifying parts of the lines.

“Russian Railways has spent over 20 billion roubles on safety in last three years,” said Pyotr Shanaitsa, head of the Traffic Safety and Environment Department during a two-day safety conference which began today.

Summarising the results of 1H2006, Shanaitsa noted that the measures implemented by the Company have improved the quality of the transport process and ensured the stability of rail traffic at a time when the volume of freight and passenger traffic is increasing. Crashes and derailments of passenger trains have been avoided, he said, while defects have been reduced by 7.9% since 2005.

A round table took place yesterday at Russian Railways’ subsidiary TransKontainer to discuss issues on freight transport with representatives from independent container operators. The focus of the meeting was forms of cooperation between TransKontainer and the independent operators and the results of freight transport in IH2006. It was the second round table since TransKontainer began operating on market principles as an independent subsidiary of Russian Railways on 1 July 2006.

Vladimir Chesnakov, ZAO Russkaya Trioka head, Sergey Shpak, OAO Azovmash first vice president of economy and Oleg Luchkov, managing director of Armavir heavy engineering plant signed an agreement on cooperation during International Rail Business Forum 1520 Strategic Partnership.

Russian Railways (RZD) and Germany's Siemens signed a contract on Thursday evening for the purchase of eight high-speed trains for a total of 576 million euros.The trains will be produced in Germany and cost 276 million euros, he said. RZD and Siemens discussed raising funding for the project with help from Siemens, Vladimir Yakunin said.