May 20, 2009 - 14:37 AMT
51 per cent of Caucasus-Poti train ferry's operator belong to Russian Railways
OJSC Russian Railways has obtained 51 per cent of shares of the Black Sea Ferry Investment (BFI), the operator of Caucasus-Poti train ferry, reports RBC quoting a representative of Russian Railways.

"The purchase is aimed at establishing through rate in the fringes of operating Caucasus-Poti train ferry, said a representative of Russian Railways, explaining that a common tariff for railway and overseas transport in that direction is discussed.

Memorandum on Caucasus-Poti train ferry was signed in Yerevan on February 13, 2007 between the Government of Armenia and the Swiss Reserve Capital Corporation. Capacity of the first Smat ferry, owned by Reserve Capital Corporation, is 50 wagons.

The train ferry was experimentally launched in April of 2007. The в 315-mile distance between two seaports can be passed by ships within 31 hours. Ferry boat from Russia to Armenia mainly transports grain and provisions, and from Armenia to Russia construction materials.