February 25, 2009 - 21:38 AMT
SCR director general: there no dead-end roads, there are non-transit roads
South Caucasus Railways director general Shevket Shaydullin said that establishment of logistic center and matching with the other modes of transport are the major directions of the SCR integration.
Asked whether dead-end Armenian roads will allow SCR integration, Shaydullin said, "There are no dead-end roads, there are non-transit roads."
"Establishment of a logistic center will help match SCR with the other modes of transport," he said.
"The railroad should secure transportation of people and goods," he added.
South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has officially started business operations under a concession agreement to manage Armenian Railways on June 1, 2008.
The SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways, received property owned by Armenian Railways consisting of 2,000 freight cars, 58 passenger coaches, 85 locomotives and 30 electric trains. All 4,300 employees employed by Armenian Railways have retained their jobs.
The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of operation.
Under the agreement, Russian Railways will invest USD400 million in infrastructure at Armenian Railways and another USD170 million to upgrade its rolling stock.