Russian Railways forecasts throughput of Ust-Luga railway (Leningrad region) to grow 2.3 times to 80.3 mln t by 2020
Throughput of Ust-Luga railway (Leningrad region) is expected to grow 2.3 times to 80.3 mln t by 2020, Victor Stepov, Vice-President of Russian Railways said at the first international forum Green Logistics: Ideas. Practice. Prospects. arranged by RZD-Partner and held in Helsinki (Finland) on November 14.
“Ust-Luga seaport is the most dynamically developing port in the North West region of Russia and in the Baltic Basin as a whole. In 2013, throughput of Ust-Luga seaport’s railway totaled 38.3 mln t (+22.4%, year-on-year), which exceeded the plan of Russian Railways by almost 3%. The growth is to exceed 2.3 times by 2020,” Victor Stepov said.
According to him, Russian Railways has elaborated the logistic chain for transportation of cargo from the mainland of Russia to the Western Europe for Evraz. Slabs go to the Czech Republic and 60-meter long rails go to Germany. Russian Railways Vice President says “long-way transportation has been arranged by environmentally sustainable marine and railway transport via the port of Ust-Luga”.
Victor Stepov also noted that Ust-Luga port has an advantageous geographical location while implemented and planned technical solutions of Ust-Luga transport hub ensure environmentally friendly approach.
“Increased volumes of cargo delivered to the port by environmentally sustainable railway transport lets us container on a competitive advantage of Russian Railways in the international market including that related to “green logistics”, Victor Stepov emphasized.
From the moment Russian Railways was established in 2003 till the current year the Company’s investments into environment protection exceeded RUB 17 bln.
Ust-Luga port is situated practically at the border of the Russian Federation and the European Union. The deep water area of the port (17.5 m) together with the short seaway canal (3.7 km) make Ust-Luga port the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of admitting dry-cargo vessels with the deadweight of up to 75,000 tonnes and liquid cargo carriers with the deadweight of up to 160,000 tonnes. In 2013, the port handled 62,640,300 t of different cargoes. With its full capacity the port is expected to handle 180 mln tonnes of cargo.
