Moscow - Kazan HSR Commissioning Shifted to 2022

OAO RZD moved the deadline of the Moscow - Kazan high-speed railway completion to 2022 - 2023, the Kommersant quotes OAO RZD President Oleg Belozerov. Earlier the company expected to complete the project by 2020.

Mr. Belozerov confirmed that the work on this project “has never been stopped for a single minute”, the draft project is being finalized and the documentation on the Moscow - Vladimir section is to be handed over to Glavgosexpertiza, Russian federal expert authority that has to approve any construction documents.

OAO RZD commented that the reason for the project postponement is lack of funding in 2015 - 2016.

The Moscow - Kazan high-speed railway was to be built in two phases. During phase 1 a link between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod was to be built and during phase 2 a link between Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan was to be completed. After the railway is built the travel time at this 770 km route is to be reduced from 11.5 to 3.5 hours. The Moscow - Kazan railway is to become a part of the Moscow - Beijing high-speed link and “Silk Way” route that will link China to Europe and the Middle East.