RZD to invest more than RUR 6 billion in fire safety

15.03.2010 (12:58)

RZD is planning to invest more than 6 billion rubles in 2010 to ensure fire safety, the press service of the carrier states in its message.

"Along with the safety of trains moving, the investment priority will be given to the areas where many people are staying," the press service message quotes the words of Vladimir Yakunin, President of RZD.

In 2010, 40 stations will be equipped with fire-fighting systems and 35 stations surveyed.

Mr Yakunin said that since 2003 the number of fires has decreased by 40%. A fire safety control system was put into operation in 2009. Also, the organization of fire-control status of passenger cars was modified. Thus, RZD provided the right for the departmental fire safety control to suspend work at stations and to prohibit operation of the carriages which do not meet fire safety requirements.

RZD is working to increase the efficiency of firefighting trains. In 2008, GiprotransTEI fulfilled the company’s order to work out a better project for dislocation of such units, and currently works are in progress to improve their technical characteristics, with consideration of high-speed traffic, anhydrous and inaccessible areas and tunnels, said the statement.

Firefighting trains were involved in more than 1,000 emergency cases in 2009, by requests of the Ministry of Emergencies, where 36 people were rescued and material assets worth 94 million rubles were saved. 304 firefighting trains will be operating on the railway network in 2010.