OREANDA-NEWS. VEB and Russian major railway transport lease company Transholdleasing signed a facility agreement for about RUB 38 billion to so arrange for the investments to finance the purchase of the new underground carriages to be leased to the Moscow Metro under a lifecycle contract.

On the part of Vnesheconombank, the agreement was signed by Dmitry Kurdyukov, the Bank’s First Deputy Chairman - Member of the Management Board, and on the part of Transholdleasing, it was signed by its chief executive Egor Gulyaev.

The investment will enable the supply of 768 Metrovagonmash underground carriages (the newest 81-765/766/767 series carriages, model Moscow) that will form 96 trains.

“VEB plans to allocate the first tranche of the facility as early as in the beginning of this month. Arranging for the inflow of investments into infrastructure projects, including the Russian metro infrastructure development project, is a top priority objective for VEB according to its new strategy. By working together with Transholdleasing, we will be able to offer high-quality services to Moscow metro passengers”, pointed out Mr. Kurdyukov.

In 2017, VEB financed the supply of 664 carriages, similarly under a lifecycle contract. The procurement and lease projects for lifecycle lease of carriages to Moscow Metro are financed by borrowing funds from the Russian National Wealth Fund.

The new metro project is a part of the Moscow municipal authorities programme for replacement of old trains used at the existing Moscow Metro lines. The purpose of the project is to enhance the Moscow metro infrastructure and so boost the passenger service level and make high-quality services available to people.