Two subsidiaries of Russian Railways, RZD Logistics and TransContainer, are working on a joint project: express container trains. They are currently being tested on the route between Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg.

The first container train, № 1213 Yekaterinburg - St. Petersburg, left Yekaterinburg at 16:20 GMT on 9 September, 2011, and arrived in St. Petersburg at 12:20 am on 12 September, 2011. Thus, the train covered 2,300 km in 68 hours.

The operation of such trains is an important step in the introduction of cutting-edge transportation and logistics services. According to Russian Railways president Vladimir Yakunin, the company’s primary objective in this field is to increase the competitiveness of rail transportation in container traffic.

According to RZD Logistics director general Pavel Sokolov, fast container trains connecting Yekaterinburg with St. Petersburg would offer a convenient and reliable shipping service to Urals-based exporters.

The implementation of this project will give a great impetus to the development of freight transportation on an international scale.

(Source: RZD)