Railways have historically held special, strategic significance for the CIS member states, supporting various economic sectors, playing a paramount role in ensuring stable interstate communications and freight transportation, facilitating efficient movement of goods within the CIS region, and creating conditions for market accessibility and competitiveness of goods. At the same time, they serve not only as a connecting link in the economic system but also as the most accessible mode of transport for millions of citizens.
Extensive railway infrastructure ensures territorial accessibility of remote regions in the CIS member states, which in turn creates favorable conditions for industrial progress and job creation, consequently accelerating economic growth and raising citizens' living standards.
The railway network of the CIS member states, being one of the largest transport systems in the world, has reached a length of 156.400 kilometers. The length of electrified lines is 68.500 kilometers, with their share in the total network length accounting for 43.8%.
The sectoral cooperation body responsible for coordinating activities in the railway transport sector is the Council on Railway Transport of the Commonwealth Member States, established on February 14, 1992.
The Council regularly considers and addresses issues related to:
- operational work of railways;
- development of train schedules and train formation plans for international services;
- ensuring train traffic safety;
- joint use and technical maintenance of freight cars and containers;
- rules and conditions for passenger and freight transportation;
- accounting and settlements for work performed and services rendered;
- scientific and technical cooperation among railway administrations;
- informatization and digitalization, etc.
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