Think Railways

Russian Railways and Vossloh AG have signed a memorandum of understanding for implementing and localising production high speed rail components in Russia. The document was signed by the Senior Vice President of Russian Railways Valentin Gapanovich and Member of the Board of Vossloh AG (Germany) Volker Schenk, within the framework of the 10th International Railway Business Forum Strategic Partnership 1520.

"We are already connected with Vossloh by the installation of the first turnout for heavy traffic in Russia at the Orekhovo-Zuyevo station on the Moscow railway. It has shown good results," said Gapanovich.

In 2014, Russian Railways, together with Vossloh initiated tests of the new turnouts for heavy traffic at the Orekhovo-Zuyevo railway station. The device is designed for the transit of freight wagons with axle loads of 27 t, and can handle 500 million gross tons, which is 1.5 times more than its Russian counterpart.

According to the  MoU, the parties will jointly examine the prospects for developing rail services, including milling and grinding (including the use of a high-speed rail-grinding train) to extend the life of rails.

Russian Railways is planning the development of new Russian standards and requirements for rail-fastening assemblies and components for high-speed rail.

"The experience of Vossloh in the European market, including in the field of high-speed traffic, will enable us to make a technological foundation for a HSR project in Russia," said the senior vice president of Russian Railways.

According to the memorandum, the parties will also consider the possibility of localizing the production of individual parts of turnouts in the Russian Federation with the use of advanced technical and technological solutions.