Decline in freight volumes through the Kaliningrad Railway (KR, KZD, a branch of Russian Railways) was caused by poor transit policy, Ivan Besedin, general director of Kaliningrad Railroad said speaking at the II International Regional Rail Business Forum "1520 Strategic Partnership: The Baltic region".
Disagreement between railroads authorities in countries - members of the transportation process and the absence of tariff policy were proved by a 2009 large drop in commodities volumes through railroads of Kaliningrad, Belarus and Lithuania. "In 2009, Kaliningrad Railroad had a 32% cutback in cargo volumes, exports fell to 12 million tons from 19 million tons in 2008", Ivan Besedin was quoted as saying.
National railroads representatives discussing measures to improve competitiveness of the transport network of the Baltic States, its profitability for freight owners agreed a coordinated tariff regulation approved by all rail freight carriers is urgently needed.
Besides, to make Baltic railroads attractive for cargo owners the regional freight movers should coordinate price as a determining element, the quality of transport services, shipping commodities from the cargo owner to the consumer.
Despite a standard gauge of Russian and the Baltic railroads, a unifying factor, interaction between the rail movers in the countries lacks coordination. Rene Varek, Railcar Ltd. Board member presented as an example the EU standard regulations of port, rail, trucking services. "There is also a strategy for Russia, which develops and operates its own schemes in the transport sector", Rene Varek said.
The seminar participants concluded the harmonization of documents and other issues must be resolved jointly by all market participants, involving governments’ officials, as well as EU and Russia expert working groups.
The II regional railway international business forum "1520 Strategic Partnership: The Baltic Sea Region" was held 8 - 10 February 2010 in Tallinn. The Forum was attended by over 300 delegates from 16 countries and more than 50 companies. More than 70 journalists gave coverage of the event.
Disagreement between railroads authorities in countries - members of the transportation process and the absence of tariff policy were proved by a 2009 large drop in commodities volumes through railroads of Kaliningrad, Belarus and Lithuania. "In 2009, Kaliningrad Railroad had a 32% cutback in cargo volumes, exports fell to 12 million tons from 19 million tons in 2008", Ivan Besedin was quoted as saying.
National railroads representatives discussing measures to improve competitiveness of the transport network of the Baltic States, its profitability for freight owners agreed a coordinated tariff regulation approved by all rail freight carriers is urgently needed.
Besides, to make Baltic railroads attractive for cargo owners the regional freight movers should coordinate price as a determining element, the quality of transport services, shipping commodities from the cargo owner to the consumer.
Despite a standard gauge of Russian and the Baltic railroads, a unifying factor, interaction between the rail movers in the countries lacks coordination. Rene Varek, Railcar Ltd. Board member presented as an example the EU standard regulations of port, rail, trucking services. "There is also a strategy for Russia, which develops and operates its own schemes in the transport sector", Rene Varek said.
The seminar participants concluded the harmonization of documents and other issues must be resolved jointly by all market participants, involving governments’ officials, as well as EU and Russia expert working groups.
The II regional railway international business forum "1520 Strategic Partnership: The Baltic Sea Region" was held 8 - 10 February 2010 in Tallinn. The Forum was attended by over 300 delegates from 16 countries and more than 50 companies. More than 70 journalists gave coverage of the event.