ALSTOM and its Russian partner Transmashholding (TMH) are carrying out static and dynamic tests on the first 2ES5 double-unit electric locomotive for Russian Railways (RZD) at TMH's Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NVEZ) in southwest Russia.

STADLER has beaten Alstom and Skoda, Czech Republic, in a tender to supply a fleet of double-deck emus to Aeroexpress for operation on services to Moscow's three airports. Stadler will supply 112 cars with an option for 60 more in a deal worth around €350m.

THE Russian Railway Research Institute (VNIIZhT) has signed a supplementary agreement with Talgo to define the services it will provide during the project to develop Talgo passenger coaches for use on 1520mm-gauge infrastructure.

RUSSIA's Ministry of Transport says construction could begin on the country's first high-speed lines within a year, allowing commercial services to start in time for the 2018 soccer World Cup.

THE inaugural passenger services with Desiro Rus emus built by Siemens for Russian Railways (RZD) commenced on Wednesday following a ceremony at Moscow Station in St Petersburg.

BELARUSSIAN Railways (BC), in partnership with Russian Railways (RZD), has launched a pilot project to trial paperless processing of some cross-border railfreight services between the two countries.

RUSSIA's Gorkovskay Railway announced on January 11 that it will invest an additional Roubles 1.4bn ($US 46.1m) in 2013 to complete improvements to railway infrastructure in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan ahead of the World Student Games that is being held in the region in July.

ONE of Russia's largest private railfreight operators, NefteTrans Service (NTS), plans an initial public offering of ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange during the first half of this year.

INDEPENDENT Transport Company (ITC) is set to complete its takeover of Freight One after the board of Russian Railways (RZD) approved the sale of its remaining 25% plus one shareholding in the company.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has signed a letter of intent with Ural Locomotives (UL), the joint venture of Sinara Group and Siemens with RZD concerning contracts to supply 675 electric freight locomotives between 2016 and 2020.