OREANDA-NEWS. On August 02, 2007 Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways, took part in a conference held by Ilya Klebanov, the presidential representative in Russia’s North Western Federal Region, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The conference examined the “Strategy for the Development of Rail Transport in the Russian Federation until 2030”.

This strategy provides for the large-scale development of railways in Russia and includes a number of important investment projects in the North-Western federal region.

According to Vladimir Yakunin, about 1,200 km of technological lines will be built and many new sections of track electrified.

Furthermore, the strategy includes provision for high-speed passenger traffic in the North-Western and Central Federal Regions and improvement in the quality of passenger travel by building a high-speed main line between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Main lines totalling more than 1,600 km will be built in various directions, including at the approaches to existing and new ports in the region.