OREANDA-NEWS. January 31, 2012. The Russian Railways’ exhibition "Eurasian Bridge - Cooperating with United Europe" has been launched at the European Parliament in Brussels, reported the press-centre of RZD.

"The development of a unified Eurasian transport system will contribute to a harmonious economic community and a single trade area from Lisbon to Vladivostok," said Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways.

The exhibition is dedicated to the development of international projects that promote the integration of Russia’s railway system into the Eurasian and world transport network.

The exhibition began with a meeting between Vladimir Yakunin and two representatives of the European Parliament, Brian Simpson from the United Kingdom, who is the head of the EU’s Transport Committee, and Knut Fleckenstein from Germany, who is Chairman of the EU - Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

"The best routes between Europe and Asia run across Russia’s territory, and EU countries are showing interest in building transcontinental land corridors," said Vladimir Yakunin.

"Russian Railways is the first railway company from a country outside the European Union to be honoured with opening its own exhibition in the European Parliament. Russian Railways has extensive experience in transcontinental transportation and has everything in place to link the Far East with the very centre of Europe," said Brian Simpson.

Russian Railways is actively involved in the development of international transport corridors and is seeking to strengthen international cooperation after establishing active cooperation with the leadership of the transport block at the European Commission.

A number of joint integration initiatives are aimed at developing economic partnership between the EU and Russia by strengthening relations between the railways. These include the formation of an integrated railway infrastructure on the East - West and North - South International Transport Corridors (ITCs) by confirming the routes of key railway corridors at intergovernmental level.

The modernisation of the railway infrastructure along the key international corridors is also necessary to meet the economy’s growing need for uninterrupted passenger and freight traffic, efficient multi-modal transportation and transportation and logistics schemes.

Russian Railways has also developed a special programme to create a new transport product, the "Trans-Siberian Railway in 7 days," as a result of which im 2012 it will be possible to ship goods from Russia’s eastern border to its western border in just 7 days.

By 2015, the trains will cover 1,500 kilometres a day and be able to transport goods to the borders of the EU in 7 days.