Russian Railways and Italian State Railways sign memorandum on cooperation
The President of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozerov, and the CEO of Italian railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Spa, Renato Mazzoncini, have signed a memorandum of cooperation in Rome, says press center of Russian Railways.
The document is intended to promote cooperation between the two companies in the field of railway transport, in particular with regard to the development and implementation of joint projects in areas such as the construction of new and the modernisation of existing rail infrastructure and the provision of international transport and logistics services and products for international freight and passenger traffic.
Thus, according to the memorandum, the two parties will undertake the necessary efforts to increase the efficiency of the existing rail network in the Russian Federation and the Italian Republic, increase the competitiveness of rail transport and its operational safety and minimise its impact on the environment.
Russian Railways and the Italian state railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane also intend to work on creating the conditions to attract additional traffic flows and improve tariff policy and information systems.
In addition, the parties agreed to promote the development of mutual contacts in the framework of international organisations, including the International Union of Railways, in order to ensure effective cooperation between the railway systems using the narrow gauge 1435 mm track and the 1520 mm broad gauge lines.
The sides expressed an interest in developing cooperation on projects for high-speed rail links as part of the programme to organise high-speed rail transportation in the Russian Federation.
In addition, the document provides for cooperation in the field of scientific research and the technological and innovative development of railways, as well as cooperation on the markets of third countries.
"In order to achieve greater efficiency in transporting goods and passengers, the railways of different countries must work as a single integrated mechanism. The memorandum that we signed with Italian colleagues is yet another bridge in the development of railway communications not only between our two countries, but also across the European continent," commented Oleg Belozerov.
