OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 June 2008 was announced, that the construction of the first light railway from the MKAD to Ilyicha Square is to be launched in Moscow in 2009.

“The light rail is to go through Entuziastov Highway from the MKAD to Ilyicha Square. The line will go along Izmaylovsky Park. There is almost an individual line in that area, we have only to solve the problem of providing it with the necessary facilities,” Leonid Lipsits, head of transport and communication department of Moscow, said.

According to the official, a network of highspeed urban transport is to cover the whole of Moscow as the city authorities believe that it is the future of the Russian capital.

Mr Lipsits reminded that the light rail trains were expected to travel from Domodedovo airport in the years to come.

“We plan to construct a light rail to link Domodedovo airport and the city. The project is currently being elaborated,” the head of transport and communication department of Moscow added.

Mr Lipsits said that the light railways are to substitute the metro in the city districts which don’t have metro stations.

In this connection, the official noted that the construction of the Moscow metro needed the co-financing – the allocation of funds both from the city budget and the federal budget. The issue is currently under discussion in the federal government.