Opinions & Interviews

MOLODECHNO DISTRICT, 18 September (BelTA) – The opening of an electrified railway section Molodechno-Gudogai-Kena is a great boon for the Belarusian economy, Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin told journalists following the formal launch of the electric train traffic on 16 September, BelTA has learned.

"The new transport corridor and modern logistics are the great boon for the Belarusian economy," the deputy prime minister said. "The Belarusian-Lithuanian cross-border project connects us with the Baltic seaports. Therefore, we can realize more ambitions in trade. The second most important thing is the creating of comfort conditions for passengers," he said.

It will be easier for passengers to get from Minsk to Vilnius and vice versa. "I believe that we will launch the electric train service connecting Minsk and Vilnius in the nearest future,” he said and added that it will come in handy during the 2019 European Games," he said. The increase in the number of new business-class trains will make trips more comfortable. "The plant in Fanipol will provide us with an opportunity to buy more of these great, comfortable and safe trains which will ply across the country," he added.

The deputy prime minister noted that the electrification project was implemented jointly with the Chinese partners. "This project is one of the many that we are implementing together. We construct roads, establish companies and expand services industry. The most important is that we build up good friendly relations between China, Belarus and the European countries," Anatoly Kalinin said.

He stressed that with the completion of electrification of the Molodechno-Gudogai-state border section, the electrification of the two main transport corridors going through Belarus was completed.

The deputy prime minister took note of the successes of the Belarusian Railways in project implementation. "The rail operator demonstrates good technological and economic results, cuts expenses, improves efficiency and reduces environmental footprint. In January-August the freight traffic rose by 17%. The Belarusian Railways runs like clockwork," Anatoly Kalinin stated.

The ceremony to launch the electric train service at the Molodechno-Gudogai-Kena section took place at Prudy railway station on 16 September. The first freight train driven by the electric locomotive BKG1 with the Belarusian exports started from Belarus towards Lithuania. "The Belarusian and Lithuanian railway administrations implemented the project to electrify the railways in international traffic for the first time in recent history. This is a result of the coordinated actions during all the stages of the project implementation," the Belarusian Railways said.

The Belarusian Railways electrified the 84km long Molodechno-Gudogai-state border section, while the Lithuanian Railways electrified the 27km long state border-Naujoji Vilnia section.