Russian, Ukrainian railways choose HSR routes

Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin met Monday with Ukraine Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Transport Minister Kostiantyn Yefymenko, and Ukrainian State Railways Director Mykhailo Kostyuk to advance high speed rail opportunities between the two nations. The two railways signed an agreement to pursue three HSR routes, beginning with a Moscow-to-Kiev line that, besides linking the capitals, also would serve the Russian cities of Bryansk and Suzemka.

The parties also seek to reduce travel times by canceling or substantially reducing border and customs control procedures; each side agreed to draft a request to state authorities on changing the system for all potential HSR operations.

Also, as an initial step toward providing HSR, the tworailways cited the reduction in quantity and duration of technical stops of passenger trains through the use of EP-20 dual-voltage locomotives with speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph), which will avoid the need to change locomotives during the journey.

Though not binding, the agreement projects that Ukrainian State Railways will strongly consider purchasing electric rail passenger equipment produced in Russia.