OREANDA-NEWS. January 14, 2011. From 2011, all suburban passenger services will be carried out only by suburban rail companies as part of the structural reform of commuter rail services.

Rail reform is being carried out in accordance with the “Programme of Structural Reform of Rail Transport”, which was approved by Russian government Decree No. 384 on 18.05.2001.

The basic principles of the programme are to improve the sustainability, accessibility and safety of rail transport, to separate the functions of passenger transport from the provision of infrastructure services and to abolish the cross-subsidisation of passenger services by freight.

In accordance with the adopted plan to implement structural reform in rail transport approved by Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on 28 May, 2010 (No. 2515p-P9), in 2011 passengers transport will be completely removed from the activities of Russian Railways on suburban routes by setting up suburban rail companies.

By the end of 2011, the total number of suburban rail companies will rise to 27, including the company Aeroexpress, which links Moscow with its three main airports.

These companies will implement passenger transport in all 73 constituent parts or subjects of the Russian Federation where there is a commuter rail service.

Suburban rail companies are being set up in cooperation with the subjects of the Russian Federation, but also without their participation where the local or regional authorities do not agree to participate in the share capital of the suburban rail companies.

22 suburban passenger companies, including Aeroexpress, are already working commercially.

In 2011, another 5 companies will start services: South Urals Suburban Passenger Company, Central Black Earth Suburban Passenger Company, Baikal Suburban Passenger Company, Zabaikalsk Suburban Passenger Company and Sakhalin Passenger Company.