OREANDA-NEWS. February 06, 2012. Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, took part in a meeting of the Public Council for the Preparation of the Olympic Games in Sochi. The meeting was also attended by Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of Sochi, Oleg Tony, Vice-President of Russian Railways, and Vladimir Goloskokov, head of North Caucasus Railways, reported the press-centre of RZD.

The main topics under discussion at the meeting were the prospects for developing transport infrastructure, the specifics of constructing new modern roads and stations and amelioration measures at Sochi National Park.

"Since 2008, as soon as Russian Railways became involved in the construction of the Olympic facilities in Sochi, we have been proceeding in strict accordance with the schedule and have never had to correct or adjust it," said Yakunin when addressing the meeting.

The first major project, on which Russian Railways is responsibly carrying out its tasks, is the intermodal line between Sochi - Adler – Airport, which will be fully commissioned in accordance with the Construction Programme of Olympic Facilities and the Development of Sochi as a mountain resort. The intermodal route is the first of the six projects on this programme and on completion will allow passengers and athletes to reach the airport from the centre of Sochi in half an hour. Regular electric passenger train services between Sochi - Adler - Airport will begin in February this year.

All the Company’s Olympic projects received positive assessments from the government’s ecological experts. Contractors building the Russian Railways’ facilities have been certified to ISO-9000 international standards.

Particular emphasis is being place both on environmental safety and minimising the negative impact on the natural environment during the construction of the combined rail and road route since it passes through the floodplain of the River Mzymta and the territory of Sochi National Park. A range of environmental measures are being implemented to address potential environmental problems.