RUSSIA: The Moscow city and regional authorities have awarded two 15-year contracts for the operation of suburban and regional passenger services to the incumbents, following a tender which also attracted a bid from Russian Railways’ Kazan-based commuter train operating subsidiary Sodruzhestvo.
Central Suburban Passenger Co will continue to operate nine routes from the capital, with Moscow–Tver Suburban Passenger Co responsible for the route linking its namesake cities.
The current contracts had been awarded for five-year terms, but it was found these were too short for the operators to justify investment. Central Suburban Passenger Co said the longer-term deal would enable it to implement a long-term development programme, including infrastructure upgrading and the procurement of modern electric multiple-units.
Meanwhile, RZD has signed an agreement for the City of Moscow to buy a 50% stake in its Moscow Ring Railway subsidiary, which is undertaking a 74·8bn rouble modernisation of the 58 km orbital freight route with the aim of reinstating suburban passenger services from December 2015.
