Integration of Eurasia railways to be discussed in Sochi

SOCHI, June 1 (Itar-Tass) - The integration of the railways of Eurasia
will be discussed by participants in an international forum opening
Wednesday in this city which is the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
The theme of the forum is "Strategic Partnership 1,520". The forum
has drawn several hundreds of representatives of the railway industry,
business, and authorities.
An official in the organizing committee has told Itar-Tass, "It is the
first time that the problems of cooperation among the railways of Eurasia
is examined on such a wide scale". The purpose of the discussions here
will be "to expedite the development of international transport corridors,
increase transit flows and broaden the introduction of transport
innovation approaches".
Participants in the forum will also consider the application of
advanced international experience in the development of Euro-Asia railway
system. "Topical matters connected with the development of high-speed
railway traffic and large-scale infrastructure projects, such as, for
example, the construction of of a broad-gauge railway leading to Vienna
will not remain unheeded either," the committee official said.
A Russian deputation at the forum is headed by Vladimir Yakunin,
president of the Russian Railways Company (RZD). Speaking of the forum,
which is held for a sixth time now, he emphasized many times that the
sectoral discussion ground in Sochi "has gained in scope not only by the
(increasing) number of participants but also by the list of matters
examined". "The economies of our countries undergo development, and
competition is also developing both inside the sector and with with other
types of transport. All this adds to the significance of the forum and to
respect for it," Yakunin said.