Mikhail Mishustin holds strategic session on rapid transport system development

Mikhail Mishustin: "As per the President's instructions, we continue working comprehensively to ensure the connectivity of our territories and to enhance the mobility of our people. First of all, we are building a backbone road network that will interconnect all Russian regions. We are building railway lines. Airports and passenger terminals are being actively renovated in the regions."

Mikhail Mishustin's opening remarks:

Good afternoon, colleagues. Today we will talk about the development of our transport infrastructure.

As per the President's instructions, we continue working comprehensively to ensure the connectivity of our territories and to enhance the mobility of our people. Ambitious tasks are being implemented towards this end under new national projects - Effective Transport System and Infrastructure for Life.

First of all, we are building a backbone road network that will interconnect all Russian regions. We are building railway lines, including in the Far East. We are increasing the capabilities of inland waterways for passenger transportation. Airports and passenger terminals are being actively renovated in the regions

Advanced digital technologies and services are implemented for the convenience of the people and businesses. They can be used to buy air, rail and commuter bus tickets and to check in in advance. Our business people can use them to determine the best route via cargo shipment logistics platforms, or to register nearly all shipping documents online without unnecessary paperwork.

At the same time, we are renewing our transport park, primarily by creating high-tech domestic models and increasing their manufacture. Support measures for these efforts are stipulated under the Industrial Support for Transport Mobility national project.

It is notable that new solutions and innovations give an additional boost to the national science, industry and related sectors. Taken together, this is strengthening our technological sovereignty.

Time is becoming increasingly more valuable in this world. Travelling between cities should not only be safe and comfortable but also quicker. That is why we are working harder to create technologies for faster travel.

The development scheme of high-speed rail travel has been approved by the President. The total length of the future high-speed rail network will exceed 4,500 kilometres.

This will not only reduce distance between our two capital cities. High-speed rail lines will connect Moscow with the friendly city of Minsk, as well as with Yekaterinburg, Adler and Ryazan. They will harmoniously integrate into the existing transport network, offering new opportunities to over 100 million people.

In the next six months, we must coordinate the details of this future-oriented model, determine the stages and priorities of focus areas, and submit our proposals to the President. The implementation of these projects will have a major positive effect on the economy and the social sphere, and will help unlock the tourism potential of our country.

The construction of the first high-speed rail line between Moscow and St Petersburg was launched at the beginning of 2024.

To date, we have completed organisational procedures, identified funding sources and signed essential agreements with key stakeholders. The construction and assembly stage in the pilot section is about to start, the other sections currently in the preparatory phase.

The planned route will stretch for 679 km. New-generation trains will operate on the route, setting the highest bar in terms of speed - around 400 km per hour. The entire journey will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes, which is roughly half as the maximum time shown by our currently best electric trains such as Sapsan, Lastochka and Finist. We will certainly continue developing transit operations using these trains as well since they are quite popular among passengers. Hundreds of these trains operate on suburban and long-distance routes. We will consistently increase this number.

Since last year, we have expedited upgrading motorways under the industry plan, which has the record scope in modern history.

We particularly focus on high-speed motorways. They provide for significantly shorter journey times while creating drivers for urban and rural transformation, higher business activities, and new jobs.

We plan to allocate over 1 trillion roubles as state and private investment for the construction of high-speed motorways during six years..

At least 50 detours are included in the projects planned until 2030. The President set this goal. Detours will lower straight-through traffic in cities and redirect it to thoroughfares, improving interregional transport logistics.

Another priority for the next few years is building south- and eastbound transport corridors, including the key route called Russia. As you might remember, it will connect St Petersburg and Vladivostok. In July, seamless traffic along this corridor was extended to Yekaterinburg, with Western Siberia's cities now being the next stage.

The total length of high-speed motorways in Russia is nearly 9,000 km. We plan to go over 10,000 within six years. Our goal is to ensure the annual launch of at least 700 km of new sections. It goes without saying that we want to connect all major metropolitan areas.

Colleagues,

Today we will discuss strategic approaches to the country's connectivity for the period until 2050. We will also set key benchmarks.

I would like to point out that it is important to develop infrastructure for all modes of transport concurrently. Therefore, solutions must be comprehensive and focused on the specifics of multi-modal transportation. It is extremely important to expedite main processes at every stage.

Transport development initiatives contribute to achieving the national goals set by the President and improving the quality of life for millions of Russian citizens.