Magazines — RZD-Partner International — 2 (6) June - August 2006
2 (6) June - August 2006
USING ONE GAUGE: Many experts believe that in the near future Russia can become Finland's largest trade partner. Naturally,the transport sector, including railway, occupies one of the key positions in the process.RUSSIAN TIMBER: RAW MATERIAL OR PRODUCT?: Russian timber transportation is on the rise nowadays. However, the tendency may turn out to be a temporary one, since timber producers face the growth of prices for energy carriers and raw timber, as well as tariff increase on transportation. Consequently, in the near future timber transportation volume can significantly reduce in Russia.
LOST ON THEIR OWN FIELD: The Board of OAO RZD set a target to increase their loading volume by 2.8% in 2006. However, in the first quarter of 2006, transportation volume increased by 1.4% only; thus, in the second quarter the task was corrected.
Contents
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
Cooperation with neighbouring countries has been extremely important for almost all branches of Russian economy and the transport sector is of no exception in this respect. In this issue The RZD-Partner International starts a series of special projects in the Theme section devoted to aspects of this partnership. The series starts with an overview of Russian-Finnish cooperation (see pp. 10-19). Many experts believe that in the near future Russia can become the largest trade partner of Finland. Naturally, the transport sector, including railway communication, occupies one of the key positions in the process. According to the data of Finnish specialists, nowadays 17 million tons of different cargoes is transported by railway between Finland and Russia. In 2005, over 250 thousand people were transported by railway. Such a stable passenger route and impressive figures of freight flow prove that the infrastructure should be developed, modern rolling stock should be purchased, and new IT technologies should be implemented. That is why much attention is paid to the modernization of Russian-Finnish railway communication. In this issue you will find articles about joint projects pursued by the Russian and Finnish railways (see pp. 10-19), handling of Russian cargoes in the ports of Finland, and cooperation in IT sphere. You will also read an interview with Director General of VR Ltd. In the forthcoming issues of The RZD-Partner International, overviews of Russia's cooperation with China and Germany will be published.
Using One Gauge
RUSSIA AND FINLAND: / COOPERATION IN TRANSPORT SPHERE
According to the official data, during the last three years the export flow from Russia to Finland grew by 50%, and import from Finland to Russia increased by 39%. These figures prove that the relations are being strengthened between the two countries. Many experts believe that in the near future Russia can become Finland's largest trade partner. Naturally, the transport sector, including railway communication, occupies one of the key positions in the process.
Kotka and Hamina Grasped Leadership
RUSSIA AND FINLAND: / COOPERATION IN TRANSPORT SPHERE
Ports of Kotka and Hamina tell us a modern-day story of success. It is no wonder that these fast growing enterprises are not threatened in the least by their Russian competitors in the Baltic region. Their key strategy is to provide good service with reasonable value for money. Their developed infrastructure and equal approach to every client and partner are other reasons why customers keep coming back.Keep Track
RUSSIA AND FINLAND: / COOPERATION IN TRANSPORT SPHERE
Nowadays it becomes more and more important in international trade and logistics to find real-time solutions for monitoring goods transportation and safety, as well as facilitate co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region by developing new methods and systems.Foreign Capital In Its Path To Russia
PROJECTS AND INVESTMENT
Nowadays one of the crucial issues for the Russian economy is attraction of private investment, which is both a natural result of the economy's strengthening anda "must" for its further development. More and more often expectations are laid upon not only Russian, but also foreign companies. In this respect the transport sector, which badly needs implementation of infrastructure projects of high capital capacity, receives special attention from both investors and officials.
Stake On Transit
CIS AND BALTIC STATES
Until 2015 in Kazakhstan about 2,000 kilometers of railways are planned to be built and over 2,700 kilometers of railway to be electrified. Moreover, great attention will be paid to development and modernization of present-day border check-points. Project of the new border check-point (Saryozek-Horgos) on the border with China is also discussed. This project clearly shows Kazakstan is going to develop as a transit corridor which could become a serious competitor to the Russian Transsib in terms of foreign trade transportation to the countries of the Asian-Pacific region.
Russian Timber: Raw Material Or Product?
SPECIAL PROJECT: / TIMBER INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION
Russian timber transportation is on the rise nowadays. However, the tendency may turn out to be a temporary one, since timber producers face the growth of prices for energy carriers and raw timber, as well as tariff increase on transportation. Consequently, in the near future timber transportation volume can significantly reduce in Russia.Forest Sector Needs Efficient Regulation
SPECIAL PROJECT: / TIMBER INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION
Russian forest sector shivers with fever because the Government cannot set clear and stable rules for it in the conditions of the market economy. Passing of a new edition of the Forest Code is to solve all the problems. However, the idea of the new edition has been put on hold for several years. Nowadays the State Duma of the Russian Federationis discussing the 28th version of the Forest Code.
Newcomer on Russian Timber Transportation Market
SPECIAL PROJECT: / TIMBER INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION
OAO RZD is launching a daughter company Transles specializing in timber transportation. Private companies-operators fear that this will force them out of the market.
To Roll On And Off In Russian Way
FERRY TRANSPORTATION
Ferry transportation market is one of the most promising and enhancing in international shipping. Whereas in Russia ro-ro transportation only a little time ago was the weakest market segment. Today we are facing a change in this situation.At the same time, we can claim that Russian ferry transportation development has taken its own path and can easily demonstrate its "national" specifics.Motor Trucks Need Roads Badly
ROAD HAULAGE
Russia's intention to join the WTO will result in a significant increase of foreign trade turnover volumes and an increase of international truck cargo transportation, which is forecasted at 35-40 mln. tons in 2010. Experts believe foreign motor trucks flows can practically destroy the Russian roads.Lost On Their Own Field
OAO RZD
The Board of OAO RZD set a target to increase their loading volume by 2.8% in 2006. However, in the first quarter of 2006, transportation volume increased by 1.4% only; thus, in the second quarter the task was corrected. To increase the loading volume to the set 4.1% (to the figures of Q2 of 2005), the railway network is to load no less than 3.62 million tons daily.Everyone Should Participate
OAO RZD
On the whole, cooperation between OAO Russian Railways and the portsis characterized by plenty of unsolved problems, and it becomes a hot topic for discussion when a lot of wagons waiting to be unloaded are accumulated on railway approaches to port terminals. Both sides ask who is to blame and what should be done. Meanwhile, railmen continue to implement conventional prohibitions.Baltic Competition: Innovations As Key To Success
PORT
Cargo flows from European countries and Russia traditionally go via the Baltic ports. They are sea port complexes comfortably located and that allow to handle cargo with the least expenditures. Now the ports of the Baltic region unleashed the heated struggle for cargo handling in which general development of transport complex of the rival countries has great importance As a result nowadays the Russian and foreign ports of the North-West region have to expand handling capacities constantly, develop port infrastructures and update technologies.Alien Game
CARRIER
OAO RZD believes that the competition with the companies-operators is one of the main reasons negatively influencing the company's revenue base. On the whole, an increase of competition in the railway freight transportation sector is a strategic target of the sector's reform. The direction set in the framework of the railway transport restructuring programme led to the emergence of new transport business structures creating competition in the market sector, and completely changed relations between the players. That is why the railmen are facing the following question: is it good or bad?The Trans-Siberian Railway: Long Way to Quality
FREIGHT FORWARDING
The basic condition for business development, including transport logistics, is the correct ratio of price and quality. Nowadays, the ratio is not perfect for transit transportation along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
There Is A Choice!
PRODUCTION AND SERVICES / Rolling Stock
What do Russian transport market businessmen choose: rent, lease or purchase of rolling stock?Transparent Cargo
CUSTOMS
In the near future Russia intends to increase safety for cargo flows transported via its territory. The programme approved by the RF Federal customs service that aims to equip the state border with inspection complexes can help to do this.Russian Transport Sector In January-March 2006
STATISTICS AND DOCUMENTS
In Q1 of 2006, transport throughput amounted to 1,159.1 billion t/km, wherein 456.5 billion t/km was made by railway transport, 44.3 billion t/km by road haulers, 12.5 billion t/km by sea transport, 5.4 billion t/km by river transport, 0.6 billion t/km by air transport, and 639.8 billion t/km by the pipeline network.