RZD approves financing of three transport infrastructure projects at Far Eastern ports

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Jan 2008

The management of Russian Railways (RZD OJSC) has approved financing of three projects on development of transport infrastructure adjacent to large ports of the Far East, RIA Novosti quotes Denis Tripelets, head of the PR department of Far Eastern Railway.Within the strategic program for 2008, RZD plans the development of the railway infrastructure at Kozmino Bay near Nakhodka to cater for oil routes.The project also envisages reconstruction of the Kuznetsovo Khmylovsky sector (south of Primorje), construction of the new node at Skovorodino (Amur region) station capable of handling up to 15 million tonnes of crude per year.In 2008, another large investment project is to be completed in the south of Primorje. The project Kuzbass – Far Eastern Transport Hub is aimed at reconstruction of railways, systems of automatics and teleautomatics, electrification and electricity supply.Implementation of this project will contribute to considerable speeding up of transportation by Far Eastern Railway to the seaports of Primorje. High emphasis is also laid upon modernization of railway infrastructure at the approaches to Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan (ports of Khabarovsk region). The project aimed at reconstruction of railway sector Komsomolsk-on-Amur - Sovetskaya Gavan envisages construction of new Kuznetsovski tunnel.The project also envisages construction of a roundabout between Owen-Vysokogornaya stations as well as reconstruction of Vysokogornaya, Toki, Tumin stations and construction of several new sidetracks. This project is valued at RUR 60 billion till 2016, Mr. Tripelets said.According to the source, the investments under Strategic program on development of the Far Eastern Railway till 2030 is to total RUR 890 billion including RUR 22 billion in 2008 (+35.7% against investment made in 2007).Investment within the framework of specific investment projects will grow by 32.8%, investment into renewal of the rolling stock – by 24.7% and investment into the railway’s facility projects – by 78%.