Since Russia's economy has gained momentum, the modernization of the RZD (generally known as "the Russian Railways") has finally started, first slowly, but we expect it to gain more speed given a few years.


To modernize the rolling stock the RZD has created cooperation in various forms with major western builders like Bombardier, Siemens and Alstom. The mighty RZD alone invested in 2007 for 760 new locomotives! For the year 2008 the target was to have a respectable 940 new locomotives out of shops. Although this was not achieved, the numbers being the same as years before, the production very slowly ramping up and plans of more production lines published. By 2011 the Siemens-Sinara cooperations seemed to have taken the initiative and their production numbers of first Granit electric loco and the "Latoshka" (Desiro-RUS) EMU are convincing. Siemens is also supplying Russia with the next 8 Velaro-RUS trains shortly, the first 8 units have been an immense success story with over 90% occupancy rate!


Russia is one of the countries where there is a real competition on rails. The public sector owns the rail infrastructure and basically any one with needed resources, skills and knowledge can operate. This has created an environment of heavy investment to rail rolling stock, with tens of thousands freight cars built every year. Only locomotive resources seem to have been lagging behind until now.

An important segment on modernizing is the high speed EMUs where Russia is moving forward with determination, the start with 8 + 8 Velaro-RUS units built and maintained by Siemens is just a beginning, expect the numbers ramp up to several dozen units in the next 10 years. It is also likely, that "normal high speed" trains like Pendolinos will accompany the respectable Velaro fleet. And there will also be place for semi high speed trains like CHS200 locomotive pulled coach passenger trains.


Since Russia is a vast country rich with natural resources, we have now just seen the beginning of the railroad expansion. In the coming years there will be numerous ugrades for the system, including high speed lines, firther electrification to both 25 KV AC and 3000V DC and new lines added. We will also see more and better connections to the neigboring countries railnetworks. There will also be additions to the Transsiberian raillinks and even the constant topic that has been discussed for over a century, the Bering strait tunnel, might pop up again to the discussions, _if_ Americans see they might have use for the Siberian resources. The tunnel has been planned ever since the 19th century. The endeav our is not just aobut the tunnel, building on the permafrost melting can also be quite a project! For now the rail link is being built for Vladivostok towards Bering strait area. Meanwhile Russia is investing heavily for its connections to Europe and China.