Infrastructure constraints "strangle" the economy of the Far East

The agenda included issues such as the development of a promising cargo base in Siberia and the Far East, the development of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, the interaction of the participants of the transport market, organization of passenger and commuter rail.

- Our key task - in the years to remove infrastructure constraints that are literally "strangle" the economy, do not give unlock the potential of whole regions of the Russian Federation, - said Vladimir Yakunin. - The most important step to remove existing restrictions today, of course, is the modernization of the East Landfill railways. JSC "Russian Railways" is investing heavily in the development and renewal of railway infrastructure located in the Far Eastern Federal District. In the past, for this purpose has been invested over 38.5 billion rubles, and in 2013-2015 in the amount of funds planned 117.7 billion rubles, including the current year - 45.8 billion rubles.

Thus the total investment needs for priority measures for the development and modernization of the railway infrastructure of East landfill by 2018 is about 562.1 billion. Of the total investment needs its own sources of "Russian Railways" will be provided 302 billion rubles, the rest of 260 billion rubles. - At the expense of the federal budget.

Head of the Far Eastern Railway Michael Zaichenko noted a trend of growth in freight volumes on the Far Eastern Railway. Increases and the quality of transport services: a growing number of high-speed container trains by which time cargo delivery to the central regions of Russia is reduced to 7 days. Another factor contributing to the growth of economic indicators not only of "Russian Railways", but the entire region - the development of transport corridors, which include the route and Makhalino - Hunchun, which will open in August of this year.

Council members discussed and one of the problems affecting the economy of the Far Eastern Railway and the region as a whole - lack of infrastructure of coastal ports, which are major shippers and consignees. In addition, noted the need of radical reconstruction of BAM: the construction of the second track and sidings, commissioning temporarily dormant stations, electrification of railway.

In the discussion of the interaction between market participants at the Far Eastern Railway, the sides noted the need to improve Russian legislation regulating this sphere of activity. Director General of Transport Service Elena Kunaeva invited market participants to compensate for the shortcomings of legislation carefully to draft contracts for transport services, in which the points should be addressed contentious issues between all the interacting parties.

Much attention has been paid to the organization of passenger and commuter rail service in the Far Eastern Federal District. In all regions of the Far East, Sakhalin than the size allocated subsidies does not satisfy the financial need for the organization of passenger transport. However, despite the large loss-making, the Far Eastern Railway is making every possible effort to maintain socially important routes.

Council members have come to the conclusion that the solution of these problems requires a comprehensive approach based on the coordinated work of all members of the transportation process.