OREANDA-NEWS. September 8, 2010. First Vice-President of Russian Railways, Inc., Vadim Morozov and chief of Oktyabrskaya Railway railway Victor Stepov arrived in Karelia on a working visit. Head of Karelia Andrey Nelidov met with guests of the republic.

Andrei Nelidov and Vadim Morozov have known each other for a long time, therefore, conversation concerned specific proposals on development of cooperation between the republic and Russian Railways, Inc. "Currently the republic has connection to the outside world only by ways provided by Russian Railways, Inc. We should work in close cooperation, taking into account that life of people in the republic depends on it," - Andrei Nelidov said in the beginning of the meeting. Vadim Morozov has supported Head of Karelia having noted, that in the first six months of the year railroaders have felt good dynamics of volumes of freight transportation in the republic, increase has made over 11%.

Matters at the meeting concerned development of passenger and freight service of Karelian enterprises' products.

Vadim Morozov has told good news to many inhabitants of Karelia who travel to Moscow by train. Since October, 31 on numerous requests Russian Railways, Inc. is ready to change the Moscow-Petrozavodsk train schedule. The train will depart from Moscow at 7:55 p.m. instead of 5.25 p.m., and arrive in Petrozavodsk at 10:55 a.m. instead of 8:50 a.m. The new schedule will reduce journey time by almost one hour, and the main thing, people will have more time to do what they need in the capital.

Andrei Nelidov has announced more news for those who travel by train. In 2011 railway station of Petrozavodsk will be reconstructed. The building will keep its historical shape, but its functional inside part will start to correspond to modern requirements.

At the meeting it was possible to develop ways for solution of the most complicated issue on passenger transportations - preservation of traffic and allocation of investment support for suburban railway transportation. In 2011 powers on transportation of passengers in Karelia will be delegated to Northwest Suburban Passenger Company, Inc. To compensate obviously unprofitable transportations it will be possible at the support of the federal budget, the corresponding normative base is already developed and adopted at the Russian level.

The second block of questions discussed at the meeting, was freight traffic. At revival of economy after the crisis and transportation growth shortage of cars for road metal transportation is observed. Transportation in cost of Karelian road metal makes up to 70% that makes its noncompetitive. Andrei Nelidov and Vadim Morozov have agreed to form a working group to analyse the situation and elaborate measures to ride out the present situation.

Head of the republic has offered to cut fares for the road metal transit by rail freightage that will make Karelian enterprises' commodity prices attractive and will make it possible to enhance the volume of transportation considerably. Russian Railways, Inc., will also benefot from it.

In turn, railroaders intend to use road metal from the republic more actively at maintenance and reconstruction of railway tracks. In the nearest years this need will increase that will provide many Karelian enterprises with stable orders. Thus, matters concent not only road metal, but also engineering industry and woodworking.

All the arrangements achieved are stated in the protocol signed by Andrei Nelidov and Vadim Morozov on results of the working meeting.