RZD: Trans-Siberian freight up 23%
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefRussian Railways’ (RZD) Trans-Siberian Railway traffic rose 23% in the first eight months of 2010, according to RZD President Vladimir Yakunin, while international freight on the railway rose 45%. Yakunin made the observations at a plenary session of the Coordinating Council on Transsiberian Transportation (CCTT) in Bratislava, Slovakia.
“Despite tougher competition from sea and road transport, Russian and foreign companies are working successfully despite the economic crisis to maintain and even expand freight volumes, and are achieving positive results with their new projects,” Yakunin said.
Yakunin cited the work of the CCTT with European and Asian companies to attract transit freight to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Included in the effort is the Trans-Eurasia Logistics Co., a joint venture of Deutsche Bahn Mobility, Polzug, and Kombiferker. Since June, the joint venture has been working, with the support of TransContainer and DB Intermodal, to provide regular container freight services between Duisburg, Germany, and Moscow.
