The Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Boris Dubrovsky and the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuyvashev joined the Association of the constituent entities and cities of Russia connected by a high-speed network. The corresponding declaration was signed on July 12, 2016 during the trade fair INNOPROM 2016. The Association was established at the initiative of the heads of constituent entities of the Russian Federation in order to develop high-speed rail traffic in Russia and coordinate activities of the heads of the Russian constituent entities and local governments in the implementation of high-speed rail construction projects.
“I am confident that this step will lay the foundation for the development of regions for many generations to come”, said the General Director of JSC High-Speed Rail Lines Alexander Misharin. “More than 500 Russian companies have expressed their interest in constructing high-speed rail network; about 50 companies will supply components for high-speed trains. The Association will have a business platform where all issues concerning supply, manufacture and human resource development. High-speed rail line is project of the development of regions, so it is very important that the Governors of the Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk Regions are making efforts to construct a high-speed rail line Chelyabinsk - Ekaterinburg”, Alexander Misharin added. “High-speed rail will contribute to creation of Russian high-tech products which will be immediately in demand in the market. We will not have to replace import products - we will have our own products!”
During the trade fair INNOPROM-2016, a trilateral agreement of strategic cooperation in implementation of the “Chelyabinsk - Ekaterinburg” HSR project was signed by the government of the Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk Regions and the Federal Center for Project Finance (VEB Group).
"The development of the HSR project is essential for the Chelyabinsk Region as its implementation will include our region in the new transport logistics Moscow-Beijing", - said the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Boris Dubrovsky.
The project of construction of high-speed rail line linking two capitals of the Ural regions with population above one million people is included in the strategy for social and economic development until 2020. À preliminary study of the project concept was performed by the specialists of the Federal Center for Project Finance with the participation of Infrastructure Economics Center. As a first approximation by creating lines projected significant agglomeration, social and economic effects. Preparation of the project carries a special project company "Ural Highway", established by the Chelyabinsk region and the FCPF”.
Significant agglomeration and socio-economic impacts are expected at first approximation of the mainline construction. The project is prepared by a special project company “Ural High-Speed Line” established by the Chelyabinsk Region and the Federal Center for Project Finance.
Cooperation of the regions and the Federal Center for Project Finance in the implementation of the project involves the participation of the parties in the capital of the special project company.
The Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk Regions will ensure the solution of all technical, land and organizational issues for conducting pre-engineering surveys on their territories and the Federal Center for Project Finance will provide expert support and assistance in fundraising.
“The development of inter-regional transport links including high-speed ones is one of the most promising directions of the development of the constituent entities of the Federation”, said the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuóvashev. “Today, under conditions of the global competition of the regions, only those who are able to create the most favorable environment for both residents and investors can win. In this regard, the improvement of rail transportation is a major contribution to the strengthening of the competitive advantages of territories. This ensures the ability of fast delivery of goods, increase in mobility and life quality improvement. Today's signing of the agreement is the confirmation of the readiness of the regions to work in cooperation on the project that can be a driver for economic development of several territories”.
Let’s recall that the “Chelyabinsk - Ekaterinburg” HSR was included in the first stage of the Programme of JSC Russian Railways on Development of Fast and High-Speed Rail Travel in the Russian Federation until 2020. According to preliminary investigations, the length of the high-speed line will be little more than 200 km and the travel time between the two cities will be about an hour. Such travel time between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg will allow crating the agglomeration of the Ural region with a population of over three million people which will become the third largest agglomeration in Russia. According to preliminary calculations, the cumulative growth of GDP in the result of construction and operation of the high-speed rail could exceed a trillion rubles for the period until 2030. This agglomeration with two international airports, two major railway junctions in the region, unique recreational capabilities and human resources potential of the largest defense-industrial, scientific and industrial centers of the Urals will form a completely new field of investment opportunities. The launch of the mainline is planned to be in late 2021.
The construction of the line will be funded by the private investor (concessionaire) and from raise funds and the return on investments is expected at the stage of the rail line operation due to the effects of the implementation of the project.
Source: http://www.hsrail.ru/
