Authorities of major railroad companies from CIS and Baltic countries as well as 100 delegates from 14 countries gathered today in Saratov at the international meeting. The companies will be focused on developing a fundamental document defining a coherent system of managing transits and route traffics, requirements for freight trains, containers laden cars, Volga Railroad (RZD, Russian Railways branch) press office reports. The international railroad conference will be working from February 8 to 11, 2010.

Victor Gapanenok, the deputy chairman of the Directorate of the Council for Rail Transport said the international meeting targeted optimization of rail traffics and smooth transit operations between the countries.

"The meeting is of great importance for all participants, as the conference may help in trade volumes via railroads as well as lead to economic development in our countries. As for the Saratov region, the growth in freight volumes via the Volga Railroad means an increase in tax revenues to the budget,” the Volga Railroad head Alexander Khrapaty was quoted as saying.

Delegates from Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, etc. agree that all the participants expect the conference decisions may increase transit trades due to optimization of car traffics and rule out delays at border crossing points.