OREANDA-NEWS. On December 18, 2007 in Moscow, Vladimir Yakunin and Edward Rossel signed a cooperation agreement between Russian Railways and Sverdlovsk Region to develop rail transport between 2008 and 2010 as the Region’s industry and production are set to expand, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways. 
 
According to Vladimir Yakunin, this is the first such agreement Russian Railways has signed with a Russian region.
 
"This is a real business contract which envisages a whole series of specific projects and provides an integrated approach for developing the economy and rail transport in the Region. The document also reflects a common understanding of the tasks which the Company and Region face," said Vladimir Yakunin.   

In essence, the signed agreement is the first stage in implementing the Strategy to Develop Rail Transport in the Russian Federation until 2030. Its preparation also took into account the "Plans for the Development and Distribution of Production in Sverdlovsk Region up to 2015."  
 
The document aims at compiling and implementing plans to expand Russian Railways’ infrastructure in Sverdlovsk Region to ensure high rates of industrial development. It provides for the development of rail access tracks to industrial companies and plans to attract investment to develop company stations which connect with Russian Railways.  
 
Russian Railways plans to invest 31,5 billion roubles in the development of its own rail infrastructure in the Region between 2008 and 2010, while 3,2 billion roubles are to be sought from industrial enterprises in the Sverdlovsk Region to develop company stations connecting to Russian Railways.
 
Over 6 billion roubles from companies of the Sverdlovsk Region are needed to develop their own rail infrastructure.
 
Under the signed agreement, Sverdlovsk Region will in addition develop and adopt a law "On Organising Suburban Rail Transport Services in the Sverdlovsk Region" and the adoption of a resolution "On the Introduction of Government Tariff Regulation of Passenger and Luggage on Suburban Rail Services in Sverdlovsk Region."
 
Sverdlovsk Region has also said that by 2010 it would compensate fully the lost revenues of the Company due to the regulation of tariffs on suburban rail services and the losses due to the Company’s provision of discounts to various categories of passengers on the Region’s suburban railways.