ArmInfo.In general, this event is important in that it reflects the approach of South Caucasus Railways and the parent company represented by Russian Railways to fulfill their obligations under the concession agreement. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin stated this on June 8 at a solemn event at the Yerevan railway station on the dispatch of new passenger compartments purchased by the South Caucasian Railway Company at the Tver Carriage Works for the first test run.
According to him, we are talking about a very important and significant event, which gives a start to the renewal of the entire passenger fleet of the South Caucasus Railway. The Ambassador stated that the renewal of the campaign park will be carried out in a fairly short period.
"So we went through this line-up, and I realized for myself that without some instructions it will not be easy to ride on such a train for the first time. There are a lot of new technologies, and you feel like you are in a kind of sci-fi movie. This is wonderful, and we are keeping pace with the times. It is also comfort, safety, and therefore an additional incentive for passengers to travel. Thus, the economy of the Republic of Armenia will receive a new impetus, and citizens will live a more interesting life and travel, "Kopyrkin said.
The Ambassador also stated that the supply of these carriages became possible as a result of the adjusted investment program for 2021. "It was adjusted at the request of the Armenian side. That is, SCR and Russian Railways, despite the fact that it required serious efforts to mobilize additional funds, went to the meeting, realizing how important it is for the Republic of Armenia. In total, during their work here as a concessionaire Armenian Railways, Russian Railways have invested more than $ 300 million and as we can see, this figure is by no means finite, "the Ambassador said, while expressing the hope that the SCR will continue to work effectively for the benefit of Armenia and the Armenian-Russian relations. In conclusion, the diplomat expressed confidence that the constructive attitude that has developed between the company, the relevant ministries and the leadership of the Republic of Armenia will continue and will bring important results.
To note, today, on June 8, new passenger carriages purchased by the South Caucasian Railway Company at the Tver Carriage Works (part of Transmashholding) departed from the Yerevan railway station for the first test run. The company has purchased 27 passenger carriages, 20 of which have already been delivered to its disposal. Another 7 carriages will be delivered by the end of June. The new rolling stock is the most modern serial production of the Tver Carriage Works, which is part of Transmashholding. It became possible to place a service area in the carriages with the installation of vending machines and coffee machines. They are equipped with toilet complexes with a shower cabin and purifiers for drinking water. All seats in passenger carriages are equipped with sockets or USB connectors.
TV sets will be installed in two-seater compartments of model 61-4517 carriages. In accordance with the wishes of the SCR, a special color scheme is used in the upholstery of the sleeping places. The carriages will be operated on the routes Yerevan - Tbilisi and Yerevan - Batumi. A long-term investment loan to pay for the SCR order was provided by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). The bank provided funds in Russian rubles in the amount of up to 1.2 billion for a period of eight years. The South Caucasus Railway has been the concessionaire of the Armenian railway since 2008; over this period, more than $ 300 million was invested in the country's infrastructure. The South Caucasian Railway CJSC is a 100% subsidiary of the Russian Railways OJSC and carries out concession management of the Armenian railways. The railway infrastructure of Armenia was transferred to the concession management of the SCR CJSC in accordance with the Concession Agreement signed on February 13, 2008. The term of the concession management is 30 years with the right to extend it for another 10 years.