OREANDA-NEWS. February 28, 2011. Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin has discussed cooperation on railway transport with Jan Figel, Slovakia’s First Vice-Premier and Minister of Transport, Post and Telecommunications, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.    

The discussions took place on 22 February 2011 in Moscow during an official visit to Russia by a delegation of the Slovak Republic headed by Figel.

The Slovak delegation also visited Russian Railways’ Main Computer Centre and Transportation Management Centre, where the President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin talked about the Company’s operations.

In addition, the Russian and Slovak sides discussed progress on the project to build a 1520mm broad-gauge railway line to Bratislava and Vienna. Russian Railways has been working on this project in cooperation with the railway and transport authorities in Slovakia, Austria and Ukraine since 2007.

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In May 2009, a Memorandum on Establishing a Joint Venture with the participation of Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Austria was signed. The jv began operations in December 2009.

It is planned to carry out a feasibility study with a full business plan and the actual construction plans between 2011 and 2013, with construction of the new line scheduled to begin in 2013-2015 and commercial operations due to start from 2016.