The quality of services for Russian Railways passengers has been steadily improving, a trajectory highlighted by top government officials as part of a comprehensive effort to modernize the country’s rail network. In a session with government ministers reviewing the railway’s financial plan and investment program, the Prime Minister underscored a long-term commitment to reliability, efficiency, and user-centered improvements that benefit passengers and freight shippers alike across the nation.
Official documents outline a major investment program surpassing 1.27 trillion rubles, with roughly half allocated to erecting and upgrading backbone infrastructure. This substantial commitment is part of a broad modernization agenda designed to boost network capacity, raise service quality, and strengthen the overall resilience of both passenger and freight operations. The long-term aim is to deliver faster journeys, more dependable schedules, and smoother cargo flows, creating a robust backbone for Russia’s regional and national economies.
Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Modernization and Expansion of the National Mainline Infrastructure, first approved in 2018, remains a central policy track through the current phase of development. The Eastern Test Site continues to receive priority attention due to its strategic corridors, including the Baikal–Amur–Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway, with ongoing projects to improve regional connectivity and logistics capacity. These efforts are aligned with broader goals to enhance cross-regional mobility and to strengthen logistics links that support both industry and communities along critical routes.
Officials stressed the importance of completing all development plans on schedule, noting that timely execution is essential to widening travel zones, establishing new logistics routes, and increasing overall transport volumes. The result is expected to be faster, more comfortable travel for passengers and more efficient freight movements for businesses that depend on reliable rail service for supply chains and regional economic activity.
The Prime Minister highlighted Russian Railways as a leading customer and employer across multiple sectors, including mechanical engineering, mining, manufacturing, and construction. This reflects the broader economic ripple effects of rail modernization on the supply chain and regional development, where improved rail performance supports industrial growth, job creation, and regional prosperity. The modernization program also signals a commitment to upgrading the asset base that underpins a wide array of domestic industries and export activities.
There are concrete plans to modernize rolling stock to enhance freight carriage and suburban comfort. The program envisions purchasing more than 500 modern locomotives and 280 electric train cars, with an investment approaching 230 billion rubles to support these updates. These acquisitions are intended to elevate reliability, reduce maintenance downtime, and improve passenger amenities across core routes, thereby elevating the perceived quality of rail travel for daily commuters and long-distance riders alike.
Then Prime Minister urged travelers to consider service quality, comfort, and the ability to reach destinations quickly and reliably when choosing rail options. This emphasis on user experience mirrors a broader policy shift toward customer-centric rail services and transparent, predictable operations that meet rising demand while strengthening confidence in rail travel as a preferred mode of transport.
Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev reported that passenger rail transportation is projected to reach 1.147 billion trips by year end, with passenger turnover rising by about 3.6 percent. By the end of 2022, passenger traffic on the Russian Railways network had already reached 1.136 billion riders. These figures illustrate ongoing growth in the passenger segment, underscoring the imperative to continually upgrade infrastructure, expand service coverage, and improve the reliability and speed of journeys across large geographic areas.
The investment plan is expected to reach a record level of 1.2 trillion rubles, with plans to increase the company’s registered capital by 162 billion rubles by year-end. The funds will support continued work on the Central Transport Hub, advances in quantum communications, and the procurement of new, modern rail vehicles. The hub development aims to create interconnected, multimodal transfer points that reduce transit times and simplify routing for both passengers and freight alike, contributing to a more cohesive national transport system.
Officials highlighted the development of a supply-side economy tied to export growth, with expanding transport and logistics links to new markets and growing foreign economic cooperation with friendly countries. These factors are being integrated into the planning framework for Russian Railways Open Joint Stock Company to ensure a coherent approach to investment, capacity expansion, and service improvement across Russia’s rail system. The strategy envisions a sustained push to diversify export channels, enhance cargo handling capabilities, and strengthen cross-border logistics in collaboration with partner nations.
As the country advances, the focus remains on delivering tangible improvements in reliability, speed, and comfort for passengers while reinforcing the railway network’s role in regional economic growth and international trade routes. The ongoing modernization effort aims to create a more integrated, efficient, and user-friendly rail system capable of meeting rising demand and supporting cross-border commerce and travel corridors among Canada, Russia, and the United States. This includes enhanced cross-border logistics, standardized operations, and cooperative initiatives designed to facilitate smoother, more predictable travel and trade flows between the three economies over time, backed by sustained investment and policy alignment. [citation attribution: government planning documents and impact assessments]”