For the first time in the 170-year history of Russia’s railways, a broad-based major forum has been organised to discuss the sector’s future and development plans. More than 4,000 railway sector workers are attending the Congress, which is taking place in the State Kremlin Palace.
In his address to the Congress, Mr Putin stressed the importance of developing the railways in Russia and said that work needs to begin rapidly on implementing the strategy for developing the sector through to 2030, which has already received the Government’s overall approval.
The main priorities set out in the strategy include overhauling the existing railways network and modernising rolling stock.
The President said that developing rail transport and infrastructure in general can make an important contribution to making Russia more competitive and strengthening its geopolitical position, as well as removing infrastructure bottlenecks in the way of growth.
Mr Putin said that the country needs a new development impulse in the railways sector, like the rapid development of the country’s railways at the turn of the twentieth century, but based on today’s most advanced technology.