OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2012. "In the first half of 2013 we shall finish the certification of the Russian piggyback platform in Russia, the CIS countries and the European Union. We have received support from the Eurasian Economic Community to explore the feasibility of piggyback container transportation between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.    

This project was fully supported at a session of the Eurasian Economic Community’s Innovation Committee," said Valentin Gapanovich, Senior Vice President at Russian Railways.

Gapanovich was speaking at the III International Business Forum "Strategic Partnership 1520: Central Asia" on 14 November 2012 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan

According to Gapanovich, Finnish Railways expects the first piggyback train to depart from Helsinki for St. Petersburg and Moscow. The most likely timeframe is during the third or fourth quarter of 2013.

Valentin Gapanovich also reported that Russian Railways was working with Russia’s Federal Tariffs Service on introducing discounts when using innovative rolling stock.

"We have put forward a proposal to the Federal Tariffs Service and also addressed the subject at the Public Council under the Russian President. According to our calculations, a discount on the basic tariff for innovative freight rolling stock should be between 4% and 6%. This would allow reductions in the cost of introducing new technology for domestic business. A working group has been set up. I hope that our proposal will be supported," said Gapanovich, who added that introducing innovative technology would also facilitate tax deductions and allowances.

In addition, Gapanovich emphasised that commissioning new types of railway equipment, especially piggyback platforms, had a direct impact on reducing CO2 emissions and improving the environmental performance of different types of transport.