The number of international railway passengers on  CIS and Baltic countries railway networks has dropped by 40.5 percent compared to the same period last year, stated Vladimir Yakunin, President  of Russian Railways, during the 61st meeting of the Council for Rail Transport of CIS and Baltic states in Baku. 

During the first nine months of 2014, over 22.3 million passengers were transported in CIS and Baltic, which is 40.5 percent less compared to the same period of 2013 ( around 37.5 million). The situation is caused by the volatile economic and political environment. The only two countries which registered an increase in this segment are Estonia ( 1%) and Georgia (11%).

In order to attract additional passengers to the railways of the CIS and Baltic countries, the Council concluded to adopt a set of measures aimed at improve the attractiveness of the railway service in international rail passenger transport.

The Council unites the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia and Finland are associate members.

Photo: SJSRC Uzbekistan Railways