ArmInfo. The delegation of "Russian Railways" CJSC, led by First Deputy General Director of the company Alexander Misharin, took part in the events dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the South Caucasian Railway, the press center of the holding informs.
The delegation of the company visited the Transport Service Center and the Road Transportation Management Center of the SCR CJSC, and also met with veterans-railway workers. Within the framework of the visit, Alexander Misharin also met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Avinyan and Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies Ashot Hakobyan.
Since 2008, the management function of the Armenian railways has been carried out by the South Caucasus Railways CJSC, a company specially esdtablished in Armenia, a 100% subsidiary of Russian Railways. In September 2007, the Armenian government announced a tender for the concession management of the railway, invitations to participate were sent to the railway companies of 40 countries. The technical and financial proposals by the Russian Railways were highly appreciated by the Armenian side, and the Russian company was declared the winner of the tender.
In February 2008, a concession agreement was signed in Yerevan on management for a period of 30 years with the right of extension for another 10 years.
Under the concession agreement, the total investment volume of SCR in2008-2038 should amount to 175.9 billion drams (approximately 570 million dollars at the time of signing). In fact, for the period 2008-2017 the concessionaire upgraded infrastructure and rolling stock for 110.07 billion drams, or 100% of the investment planned for 10 years.
According to the company's own version, investments in modernization of the railway infrastructure and rolling stock made it possible to significantly improve the quality of the services provided and the efficiency of the work. WIthin 10 years, the turnover of a freight car has accelerated by 48%, the average weight of a freight train has increased by 34%, and labor productivity has increased by 46%. In 2011 for the convenience of consignors, the Center for Transport Services was established, which became a single center for working with clients. The company offers services for the transportation of goods from Armenia to Russia, the countries of the EEU and back via through tariff rate involving a ferry that runs along the Caucasus Harbor-Poti route. According to the company, for the past time, SCR experts repaired 468 km of track, 52 crossing overs, over 412 km of the contact network and 48 substations, restored 9 traction substations, reconstructed about 40 bridges, including the oldest and largest Zamanli railway bridge. It is also noted that much attention is paid to the introduction of new services in the development of passenger traffic, the renewal of infrastructure and the reduction of the time for trains en route. In the current year, a new electric train of Russian production EP2D, which serves the Yerevan-Gyumri route, was put into operation and is almost one hour faster than the usual train. The repair of the station buildings in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, 48 buildings and structures of the passenger complex was carried out. The reconstruction of the locomotive and wagon depot complex in Yerevan and Gyumri has been completed, new equipment has allowed to improve the quality of work and to reduce operating costs. According to the SCR statistics, by the results of the first half of 2018 the volume of cargo transportation at SCR amounted to 1.4 million tons, which is 7% higher compared to January-June 2017, the turnover of the Armenian Railway exceeded 357.9 thousand km, which is 2% more than a year ago. Passenger transportation increased by 7.5% to 159.6 thousand passengers, passenger turnover exceeded 15.9 million passenger-kilometers, compared to the first half of 2017, the increase was 11%.
Meanwhile, a letter from a group of former and current employees of the SCR to the Prime Minister of Armenia regarding the real state of affairs in the company was spread in the Armenian media and strictly contradicts to official figures and successes of SCR. In a letter spread by the Armenian media, it is noted that the figures and reports published by the company do not correspond to the real state of affairs. The authors of the letter note that over the years, the SCR closed nine railway stations, sold the equipment, and reduced the number of jobs, which, in their opinion, is a gross violation of the conditions for concession management. The letter also says that the major share of electric locomotives and wagons, including passenger cars operated by the company, were produced in the 1960s and 1970s of the last century, and only occasionally were colored, being face-lifted at fabulous prices and completely do not meet modern requirements for carriage of passengers. For 10 years of concession management, SCR has replenished with only one two-car train. For this train, now running between Yerevan and Gyumri, as noted in the letter, the company paid 2.5 million US dollars, whereas, according to the authors of the letter, its real cost is about $ 0.5 million. The authors of the letter accuse the SCR leadership of numerous corruption schemes and hope that law enforcement agencies of the country will be able to establish order in the sector.
According to independent analysts, it is possible that such letters sent through the Armenian media on behalf of dissatisfied or offended former and current employees, may pursue a certain political goal of discrediting the work of Russian investors in Armenia. Nevertheless, they note that the facts of excessive investments in the modernization of the railway infrastructure of Armenia may take place today, since it was for this reason and for the abuse of the value of contracts that one of the previous SCR leaders was dismissed. The fact is that the citizens of Armenia and numerous tourists are quite dissatisfied with the state of Soviet-style passenger trains that run during the hot months of summer holidays between Armenia and Georgia, which do not have not only air conditioning, but even a normal ventilation system. All such trains have long ago been written off for scrap metal in Russia. One should just look at the operating passenger stations in the areas of mass recreation near the shoreline of Lake Sevan, such as Shorzha, which leave an impression of buildings of post-war disruption.