OREANDA-NEWS. May 26, 2008. The III International Business Forum “Strategic Partnership 1520” in Sochi took up its work following the opening ceremony, which was attended by Russian Deputy Premier Minister Alexander Zhukov, Transport Minister Igor Levitin and Russian Railways’ President Vladimir Yakunin, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

According to Zhukov, the Russian Government had undertaken a series of unprecedented steps to develop rail transport in recent years, including the adoption of a target market model for rail transport services which should lead to greater competition in the sector. It had also approved a Draft Strategy for the Development of Rail Transport to 2030, which involves large-scale investment to construct more than 20,000 km of new railway lines and the reconstruction of more than 6,000 km of existing track, including through public-private partnerships. Total investments in these projects could amount to more than half a trillion dollars.

Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin noted in turn that the annual forum dedicated to the rail business had become a good tradition and was important for the management of transport infrastructure.

Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, said in his speech during the opening ceremony that the “Strategic Partnership 1520” forum was a valuable tool for the broad integration of rail transport technology and equipment for railways systems using the broad gauge 1520 mm and narrow gauge 1435 mm track.

“It is essential to build an efficient transport and logistics system for rail networks using broad gauge and at the same time carry out the modernisation and development of transport infrastructure and introduce modern technologies for the transportation process to allow faster and unhindered rail shipment of the growing freight flows,” said the Russian Railways’ president.