OREANDA-NEWS. Airport Tolmachevo JSC explores the possibility to organize direct railway express connection between the airport and Novosibirsk city center.

Created on the initiative of NOVOSIBIRSK International Airport, the working group will examine viability of the project investment. The first stage of the study implies passenger questionnaire survey on the airport's official website, in the terminals and ticket offices concerning the preferable Aeroexpress routes from the airport and frequency of their trips. In order to provide the feasibility study, the specialists of one of the local universities are expected to be involved. The whole project is conducted in close cooperation with the Government of the Novosibirsk region and the Ministry of Transport of the Novosibirsk region.

At the moment, possibilities to realize the project on railway express link between Tolmachevo airport and Novosibirsk city are being considered with anticipation of Airport Tolmachevo JSC and its shareholders. Investments in the construction of the railroad terminal for Aeroexpress passenger service is expected to be made using the airport's internal funds.

Besides, the issue was highlighted at the National Conference Urban Agglomeration Development in Russia: practices and solutions, held on March 20-21 in Novosibirsk. During the round-table discussion organized within the framework of the conference, the General Director of Airport Tolmachevo JSC Evgeniy YANKILEVICH reported on the topic “Aeropolis as a flagman of the regional economic development”, wherein he underlined that the railway express link stands for one of the factors which stimulates aeropolis formation.

According to the forecast of the local government, launch of express connection on the route Tolmachevo airport - Novosibirsk Central railway station can be implemented within 5-7 years. It will provide the basis for the transportation network of the developing Novosibirsk agglomeration. At a later stage, the route might be extended to Akademgorodok and Berdsk; furthermore, Novosibirsk will be linked with the largest cities of West Siberia such as Tomsk, Omsk, Barnaul and others.