OREANDA-NEWS. September 06, 2010. Russian Railways and Ukrainian Railways have set up a joint working group on high-speed passenger services between the two countries, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

This follows the agreement on joint action to develop high-speed passenger services signed on 14 June 2010 in Kiev by Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, and Michael Kostiuk, Chief Executive Officer of the State Administration of Rail Transport of Ukraine (Ukrainian Railways).

The two sides have agreed on the following international routes being developed for high-speed passenger services:

Moscow - Bryansk - Suzemka - Kiev
Moscow - Kursk - Belgorod - Kharkov - Rostov - Adler
Moscow - Kursk - Belgorod - Kharkiv – Simferopol - Sevastopol - Theodosia.

The Moscow - Kiev route was selected by the working group as a priority for a high-speed dedicated passenger rail line, although it is still too early to estimate the time and cost of the project and the rolling stock to be used.