MINSK, November 18.Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus Alexey Lyakhnovich said that the launch of railway routes to Mineralnye Vody and Nizhny Novgorod has been worked out with the Russian side.
“»We have worked with the Russian Federation and are opening two new routes – Mineralnye Vody and Nizhny Novgorod. For example, to Nizhny Novgorod it takes about two days. This is what it was like in pre-Covid times, in fact this is the restoration of the route,” said head of the Belarusian Ministry of Transport.
The minister noted that the most popular destinations for passenger rail transportation are Moscow and St. Petersburg, which account for approximately 85% of international passenger rail traffic. In freight rail traffic, the most popular destination is the ports of St. Petersburg.
The head of the department added that the Belarusian Railway is operating steadily and is gradually increasing volumes. At the same time, he noted that in Belarus they would like the volume of cargo to be at least twice as large, because sanctions against Belarus also had a negative impact on the transit of cargo through the country by rail. “We understand that it is impossible to rebuild logistics schemes in one day. Last year and the year before, we also worked very actively with our Russian colleagues, and today the situation has completely stabilized — the railway fully ensures the removal of export cargo in the direction of the Russian Federation, including to third countries. countries through Russian ports,» the minister said.
The head of the Ministry of Transport drew attention to the development of air traffic with Russia. “We have a shortage of aircraft, we are also considering the purchase of a Russian aircraft. We are working with the Russian side so that we can be pushed forward (earlier – ed.) when this aircraft appears (on the market – ed.). Most likely, it will be after 2026,» he said.
In August, the Belarusian Railway reported that in January–July 2023, the volume of passenger transportation in communication with the Russian Federation amounted to 1 million 533.7 thousand passengers, which is 6.2% higher than the level of the same period in 2022. It was emphasized that at that time regular passenger service was organized between Belarus and the Russian Federation in the direction of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Adler, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Anapa and Samara. About 150 trains ran between the two countries every week.
Belarusian Railways announced that from November 2023 the sale of travel documents for international trains with the Russian Federation will be open, departing from January 1, 2024: to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Adler, Mineralnye Vody, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad.