ArmInfo.Presentation of two new EP2D electric trains of the South Caucasus Railway, which will run from Yerevan in the direction of Gyumri and Yeraskh, took place at the Yerevan railway station.
The electric trains comply with international requirements for the safety and comfort of passenger transportation.
During the solemn presentation of the new electric trains, General Director of "South Caucasus Railway" CJSC Aleksey Melnikov noted that the acquisition of the latter would increase the attractiveness of the railway and enable our passengers to more comfortably travel through the territory of Armenia.
According to him, this year the SCR investment program includes almost 17 billion drams, of which most of it is directed to renewing the rolling stock. Melnikov said that 10 billion drams were allocated for the purchase of new 27 units of carriage and 2.5 billion drams for the purchase of electric trains.
At the same time, Melnikov expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures: "Over the past few years, we have made serious progress in matters of interaction in terms of rolling stock renewal and infrastructure repair. I am sure that we will continue this practice so that passengers and guests of Armenia know that the railway has been, and will always operate>, noted the Director General of the SCR.
Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan, who previously held the post of Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, was also present at the ceremony. "Today we are reaping the benefits of working together," he said. In this vein, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Armen Simonyan. He informed about the agreement, in the coming months to create an opportunity for electric trains to carry out the route in the direction of Sevan and Shorzhi.
In turn, newly appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan noted that the role of railway transport in Armenia is growing, both in terms of passenger transportation and cargo transportation. "The new electric trains comply with all international standards in terms of comfort and safety," the minister said.
This year, according to him, a major overhaul of 9.5 km of railway lines is expected, for which 2.7 billion drams were allocated, and 15 billion drams have already been spent on replenishing the rolling stock. "The volume of work and funding is growing from year to year," he said.
Representative of the Russian Embassy Alexey Sinegubov noted that the purchase of electric trains is another step of the SCR towards a complete renewal of the rolling stock within the framework of the investment program adjusted at the request of the Armenian side. "Investments in transport infrastructure will give an additional impetus to the development of the economy as a whole, and will have the most positive effect on increasing the tourism potential of Armenia," he stressed.
It should be noted that the Director General of the SCR presented the Badge of the Honorary Railwayman to Suren Papikyan for effective and successful cooperation: "I always knew that SCR has strong support in your person. Thank you for the constructive working approach to our work. Congratulations, during this time you have become a real railroad worker.
On the same day, an open door day was held in the SCR, during which about 100 schoolchildren arrived at the station to get acquainted with the exposition of the Museum of the Railway of Armenia and the new rolling stock.
It should be reminded that 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 renew for another 10 years.