OREANDA-NEWS. July 07, 2010. "Private fleets of freight wagons in the railway network of the Organization of Railways Cooperation (ORC) already outnumber inventory rolling stock and amount to 56%," said Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, who was attending a round table meeting in Kyiv to discuss operating freight cars with different ownership in the new environment, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

"Currently, one of the main issues in the rail sector is dealing with the ever-growing private fleet," said Yakunin, who added that after implementing the program of structural rail reform, private fleets account for 67% of the total in Russia, while in Ukraine they had grown threefold to reach 52% in the last three years.

The process of railway reform and the transition to a market economy requires upgrading the technology of international cars, whatever their ownership. Roundtable participants discussed various rolling stock management models and related problems associated with operating private fleets.

"Managing new technology should involve a transport process, taking into account the interaction between railway administrations and car owners," said Vladimir Yakunin. "Here, for example, the methods and mechanisms of centralised rolling stock management can be used, or work between interested parties can be structured on a contractual basis."

A centralised management system for the overall fleet of freight cars in international traffic will facilitate the transit potential of the railway companies belonging to ORC and integrate them into the international transport system by providing integrated shipments based on the principle of "one window" - without any intermediate processes.

For owners of rolling stock, becoming part of the overall wagon fleet will ensure the rational use of the fleet by reducing downtime for loading operations and reduce empty runs, etc. This will in turn reduce transport costs and improve the productivity of each wagon.

"Russia’s railways have accumulated some experience in managing the fleet on a contractual basis in the shape of the First Freight Company, TransContainer and Refservis."

"We need to use and retain as far as possible the mechanisms for cooperation which have already been worked out between railway administrations. These are based on the regulatory framework of the Council of Rail Transport," said Vladimir Yakunin.

Yakunin also recalled that the new conditions of using freight cars would required changes to existing documents. One of the most important issues in this area was settling relations with the customs authorities of the countries following the establishment of the Customs Union between Russian, Kazakhstan and Belarus.