Russian Railways

{{Main|History of rail transport in Russia|Soviet Railways}}

File:Former RZD logo.jpg

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation inherited 17 of the 32 regions of the former Soviet Railways (SZD).{{Cite web |last=Avdakov |first=Igor Yurievich |date=September 1999 |title=Russian Rail Reforms |url=http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr21/pdf/F31_Avdakov.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=Japan Railway & Transport Review}}

In the mid-1990s, the profitability of railway transportation of the Russian Ministry of Railways fell to negative values, the bureaucratization of the ministry itself was publicly criticized, which became an occasion for reforms. Shortly after being elected president of Russia in 2000, Vladimir Putin approved the idea of reforming the railway transport, according to which all economic functions on the railway should be transferred to a joint-stock company with 100% state participation. The start of the state program for reforming the Russian railway sector was given by the establishment of Russian Railways in October 2003. The new company received over 95% of the assets belonging to the Ministry of Railways of the Russian Federation.{{Cite web |date=2000-08-07 |title=Путин высказался за раздел МПС - |url=http://www.ural.ru/news/business/2000/08/07/news-4170.html |access-date=2020-01-06 |publisher=www.ural.ru |language=ru |archive-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005153711/http://www.ural.ru/news/business/2000/08/07/news-4170.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2008-07-25 |title=ОАО "Российские железные дороги" (РЖД). Справка |url=https://ria.ru/20080725/114902184.html |access-date=2020-01-06 |publisher=РИА Новости |language=ru}}[http://www.morvesti.ru/analitika/1687/58404/ По какому пути направить РЖД] // 20.09.2016. «Морские вести России».

In 2003, the Federal Law on Railway Transport divided the Ministry of Railways into the Federal Railway Transport Agency (FRTA) and Russian Railways (RZD).{{Cite web |title=Case Study: Russian Railways |url=https://ppiaf.org/sites/ppiaf.org/files/documents/toolkits/railways_toolkit/PDFs/RR%20Toolkit%20EN%20New%202017%2012%2027%20CASE13%20RUSSIA.pdf |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=World Bank}} The reform also required RZD to provide access to railway infrastructure to other carriers and operators. As the law requires carriers to provide service to customers anywhere in Russia, RZD retained its dominant position.

Later in 2003, the Decree No. 585 established RZD as a joint stock company, making it a holding in charge of 63 subsidiaries, including TransContainer, RailTranAuto, Rail Passenger Directorate, Russian Troika, TransGroup, and Refservis. RZD acquired 987 companies (95% in asset value) out of the 2046 that had formed the MR system.{{Cite web |title=History – Russian Railways |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201074052/http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=30 |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=9 December 2016}} Gennady Fadeyev, the Railways Minister, became the company's first president.{{Cite news |date=24 September 2003 |title=Press Review |work=The Moscow Times |url=http://old.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2003/9/article/press-review/235697.html/ |access-date=5 October 2018}}

The reform saw the creation of a new market segment following the privatization of the network's rolling stock. The company divided the bulk of its wagon fleet between two new operating companies, Freight One (which was later privatised) and Freight Two (renamed Federal Freight in 2012), and private players such as GlobalTrans also entering the market.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

File:Platz-karte car rzd new style.jpg

In 2003, RZD launched a project to replace the narrow gauge on Sakhalin Railway to the broad gauge used in the rest of Russia, which it formally completed in August 2019.{{cite web|url=http://press.rzd.ru/news/public/ru?STRUCTURE_ID=654&layer_id=4069&refererLayerId=4065&refererVpId=1&refererPageId=704&id=94410|title=Пресс-релизы|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230532/https://company.rzd.ru/ru/9354|archive-date=2021-10-06|access-date=20 August 2024}} The share of privately owned wagons in the freight transport increased to one-third of the total by 2005. On 18 May 2006, the company signed an agreement with Siemens for the delivery of eight high-speed trains.{{Cite journal |last1=Thurner |first1=Thomas |last2=Gershman |first2=Mikhail |date=2014 |title=Catching the Runaway Train Innovation Management in Russian Railways |journal=Journal of Technology Management & Innovation |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=158–168 |doi=10.4067/S0718-27242014000300012 |doi-access=free}}

On 23 May 2007, Russian Railways adopted a new corporate style which changed fundamentally the way the Company presented itself visually to the outside world. The change of corporate identity underwent several stages during the 2007–2010 period.{{Cite web |title=ОАО "РЖД" |url=http://rzd.ru/isvp/public/rzd?STRUCTURE_ID=704&layer_id=3347&id=60229 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606201121/http://rzd.ru/isvp/public/rzd?STRUCTURE_ID=704&layer_id=3347&id=60229 |archive-date=6 June 2015 |access-date=9 December 2016}} The final version of the logo was designed by BBDO Branding.{{Cite web |last=Сазонтов |first=((РГ DEPOT WPF, Семен Слива, Юрий)) |title=BBDO Branding подрезало крылья РЖД – Sostav.ru: Сотка |url=http://www.sostav.ru/sotka/news/2007/05/23/60/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217182218/http://www.sostav.ru/sotka/news/2007/05/23/60 |archive-date=17 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

Also, commissioned by BBDO Branding The Agency HardCase Design created a family of corporate fonts RussianRail, consisting of 15 fonts. In the new company logo Sans-serif RussianRail Grotesque Medium was used. In 2008, the new logo of Russian Railways became a runner-up for the international design competition WOLDA '08 award.{{Cite web |title=logo at wolda.org |url=http://www.wolda.org/showcase/logo/543 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416230248/http://www.wolda.org/showcase/logo/543 |archive-date=16 April 2013 |access-date=6 March 2018}}

Strategy 2030, an investment plan to expand and modernize the railway network, was approved by the Russian government in 2008.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2008 |title=RZD adopts long-range development strategy |language=en |work=Railway Gazette |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/rzd-adopts-long-range-development-strategy.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201111858/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/rzd-adopts-long-range-development-strategy.html |archive-date=1 December 2017}} Since 2008, as part of the structural reform of rail transport, with separation of the services infrastructure of transportation activity and the emergence of a competitive environment, Russian Railways has been transformed into a vertically oriented holding company.

In 2009, the investment budget was 262.8 billion rubles (excluding VAT), of which 47.4 billion for projects related to the preparation and staging of the Olympic Games in Sochi; 58.7 billion for the renovation of the rolling stock (including supply of Sapsan trains).{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

File:2005-2010 modernization program of Russian Railways.jpg

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In 2010, Federal Passenger Company was established as a fully owned subsidiary of Russian Railways, providing long-distance passenger services both in Russia and abroad. By the end of 2013, it operated all long-distance routes, except for high-speed Sapsan lines, which are operated by RZD.

File:Плащкарт.jpg

RZD issued its first dollar-denominated bond in 2010, raising $1.5 billion.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Harry |date=22 February 2011 |title=Russian Railways will sell sterling debt to upgrade network |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/8341398/Russian-Railways-will-sell-sterling-debt-to-upgrade-network.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000805/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/8341398/Russian-Railways-will-sell-sterling-debt-to-upgrade-network.html |archive-date=6 October 2018}} On 28 October 2011, the Joint Stock Company Freight One, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, sold 75% of its shares minus two shares for 125.5 billion rubles (about 4 billion $) to Independent Transport Company owned by Vladimir Lisin.{{Cite web |title=Reform – Russian Railways |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201073915/http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=23 |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=9 December 2016}} Thus, Lisin as Russia's largest operator of rolling stock acquired control of a quarter of the freight market.{{Cite web |title=Ежедневная деловая газета РБК – главные новости дня в России и в мире |url=http://www.rbcdaily.ru/industry/562949981917472 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201140055/http://www.rbcdaily.ru/industry/562949981917472 |archive-date=1 February 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

As part of its reform efforts, RZD massively reduced its workforce, from 2.2 million in the 1990s to 934,000 people in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Bruce |first=Murray |date=June 2014 |title=Railway Sector Reform Programme |url=https://www.ebrd.com/downloads/about/evaluation/140811RailWP1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706115015/http://www.ebrd.com/downloads/about/evaluation/140811RailWP1.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2016 |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development}} In 2012, it became one of the three largest transport companies in the world.{{Cite web |title=РЖД собираются увеличить свою инвестпрограмму до 460 млрд рублей |url=http://top.rbc.ru/economics/05/08/2012/663159.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015005828/http://top.rbc.ru/economics/05/08/2012/663159.shtml |archive-date=15 October 2014 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

According to a Reuters inquiry, RZD procurement activities in 2012 amounted to $22.5 billion; part of this was awarded to private contractors with no genuine operations in de facto noncompetitive tenders.{{Cite news |last=Busvine |first=Douglas |date=23 May 2014 |title=Comrade Capitalism: Hidden Tracks |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/comrade-capitalism-hidden-tracks/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226194134/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/comrade-capitalism-hidden-tracks/ |archive-date=26 February 2018}} Some of the company addresses listed on the tenders turned out to be private apartments, car repair shops or department stores. It was alleged that the contractors were actually shell companies, used to convey billions of dollars in tenders to close associates of Yakunin, president of RZD.{{Cite news |date=16 December 2016 |title=Bombardier and the Putin connection |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bombardier-and-the-putin-connection/article33354878/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712051409/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bombardier-and-the-putin-connection/article33354878/ |archive-date=12 July 2018}}

Zheldoripoteka, RZD's real estate arm, was revealed to have sold land plots located close to railway stations in major cities to the son of Russian Railways president Vladimir Yakunin.{{Cite news |last=Busvine |first=Douglas |date=25 July 2012 |title=Special Report: Russian Railways' family connections |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-railways-idUSBRE86O06U20120725 |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715054314/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-railways-idUSBRE86O06U20120725 |archive-date=15 July 2017}} Far East Land Bridge, a company partnered with a Russian Railways subsidiary, was also linked to Yakunin's son.{{Cite news |last=Oliphant |first=Roland |date=9 October 2015 |title=Vladimir Putin 'fires close ally Vladimir Yakunin after son applied for British citizenship' |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11923174/Vladimir-Putin-fires-close-ally-Vladimir-Yakunin-after-son-applied-for-British-citizenship.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725040221/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11923174/Vladimir-Putin-fires-close-ally-Vladimir-Yakunin-after-son-applied-for-British-citizenship.html |archive-date=25 July 2018}}

On 16 October 2012, Russian Railways has completed competitive negotiations with potential buyers of the remaining 25-percent plus 1 share stake in JSC Freight One. The best binding offer was received from the Independent Transport Company LLC. The assets were sold for 50 billion rubles.{{Cite web |title=Russian Railways to sell Freight One stake to Lisin – Reuters |url=http://ru.reuters.com/article/idUKL5E8LGP2P20121016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220103500/http://ru.reuters.com/article/idUKL5E8LGP2P20121016 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

In early November 2012, Russian Railways announced the purchase of 75% of the French logistics company Gefco SA. The total value of the transaction was 800 million euros, the seller being PSA Peugeot Citroen, the parent company of Gefco.{{Cite web |date=21 September 2012 |title=Russian Railways in Gefco talks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/russian-railways-in-gefco-talks-8160790.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220152213/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/russian-railways-in-gefco-talks-8160790.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016 |website=Independent.co.uk}} A program to modernize the Baikal–Amur Mainline was launched in 2013, costing the equivalent of £4 billion by 2018.{{Cite news |date=8 March 2018 |title=Russian Railways completes the second bore of BAM's Baikal Tunnel |work=Global Rail News |url=https://www.globalrailnews.com/2018/03/08/russian-railways-completes-the-second-bore-of-bams-baikal-tunnel/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615080327/https://www.globalrailnews.com/2018/03/08/russian-railways-completes-the-second-bore-of-bams-baikal-tunnel/ |archive-date=15 June 2018}}

In 2015, RZD International won a €1.2 billion contract to electrify the Garmsar–Inche Bourun line in Iran.{{Cite news |date=12 September 2017 |title=International rail insights from Sochi |work=Rail Engineer |url=https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/09/12/international-rail-insights-from-sochi/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002041137/https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/09/12/international-rail-insights-from-sochi/ |archive-date=2 October 2017}}

In August 2015, company president Vladimir Yakunin was dismissed,{{Cite news |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=21 August 2015 |title=Head of Russian Railways, Close to Putin, Resigns |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/world/europe/vladimir-yakunin-russia-railways-resignation.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135848/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/22/world/europe/vladimir-yakunin-russia-railways-resignation.html |archive-date=1 January 2018}} allegedly because of poor performance and mismanagement.{{Cite news |last=Adomanis |first=Mark |date=4 July 2016 |title=COMMENT: Russian Railways – the good, the bad, and the ugly |work=BNE Intellinews |url=http://www.intellinews.com/comment-russian-railways-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-101218/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028212451/http://www.intellinews.com/comment-russian-railways-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-101218 |archive-date=28 October 2016}} Yakunin was replaced by Oleg Belozyorov.

RZD International began works on the reconstruction of the Serbian Vinarci – Djordjevo line in 2016.{{Cite news |date=19 October 2016 |title=Serbia: RZD International launched works on Vinarci – Djordjevo |work=Railway PRO Communication Platform |url=https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/serbia-rzd-international-launched-works-on-vinarci-djordjevo/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023174628/http://www.railwaypro.com/wp/serbia-rzd-international-launched-works-on-vinarci-djordjevo/ |archive-date=23 October 2016}} The Moscow Central Circle railway, designed and managed by Roszheldorproject, an RZD subsidiary, opened in September 2016.{{Cite news |date=5 December 2017 |title=Moscow's new ring |work=Rail Engineer |url=https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/12/05/moscows-new-ring/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816173222/https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/12/05/moscows-new-ring/ |archive-date=16 August 2018}} In July 2018, the company announced plans to phase out third-class carriages on long-distance trains by 2025.{{Cite news |date=3 July 2018 |title=Russian Railways Says Goodbye to Historic Carriages |language=en |work=The Moscow Times |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-railways-says-goodbye-to-historic-carriages-62093 |access-date=5 October 2018}}

On 8 April 2022, the shipping company CMA CGM announced to be acquiring the French logistics company Gefco SA from Russian Railways and minority shareholder Stellantis.{{Cite web |date=8 April 2022 |title=CMA CGM Group strengthens strategic logistics development with GEFCO acquisition |url=https://www.cmacgm-group.com/en/news-media/strengthen-strategic-logistics-development-with-gefco-acquisition |access-date=14 November 2022 |publisher=CMA CGM}}

On 11 April 2022, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported that the International Swaps and Derivatives Association had determined a "failure to pay" credit event occurred on 250 million CHF worth of Swiss franc loan participation notes linked to an entity related to Russian Railways, RZD Capital. The determination is considered the first step to triggering a credit default swap.{{Cite news |last1=Strohecker |first1=Karin |last2=Rosario |first2=Jorgelina Do |date=2022-04-11 |title=Credit committee asked about Russia gov't bonds after railways ruling |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/credit-derivatives-committee-says-failure-pay-has-occurred-russian-railways-2022-04-11/ |access-date=2022-04-12}}{{Cite news |last=Saeedy |first=Alexander Gladstone and Alexander |date=2022-04-11 |title=Russian Railways Ruled in Default as Sanctions Ensnarl Payments |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-railways-ruled-in-default-as-sanctions-ensnarl-payments-11649693669 |access-date=2022-04-12 |issn=0099-9660}}

In December 2023 the joint venture with the VR Group, Finnish Railways, to run the Karelian Trains ceased, the trains having stopped running in March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Russian Railways having failed to meet their portion of the financing obligations, VR Group assumed the whole financial obligations and took over the rolling stock.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vrgroup.fi/en/vrgroup/news/allegro-trains-to-be-deployed-in-vr-s-domestic-long-distance-traffic-from-2025-141220230921/|title=Allegro trains to be deployed in VR's domestic long-distance traffic from 2025|language=en|date=2023-12-14|website=vrgroup.fi}}

In March 2016, RZD approved an updated version of high-speed rail development program until 2030. The 5 trillion ruble program includes the construction of Moscow–Kazan–Yekaterinburg, Moscow–Adler and Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed lines, as well as other high-speed lines connecting regional cities.{{Cite web |date=25 December 2016 |title=Russia – RailExport.gov |url=http://apps.export.gov/article?id=Russia-Rail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225001302/http://apps.export.gov/article?id=Russia-Rail |archive-date=25 December 2016 |access-date=6 October 2018 |publisher=Export.gov}} {{PD-notice}}

The construction program is divided into three stages. By 2020, Russian Railways planned to put into operation the high-speed rail sections linking Moscow–Kazan (1.2 trillion rubles), Moscow–Tula (268.6 billion rubles), Chelyabinsk–Yekaterinburg (122.6 billion rubles), Tula–Belgorod (86.8 billion rubles), Yekaterinburg–Nizhny Tagil (12.9 billion rubles) and Novosibirsk–Barnaul (62.3 billion rubles). The project design of the largest container port in Ust-Luga for reception and distribution of containerized freight on China–Europe route is also part of the program.

Between 2021 and 2025 RZD plans to build Rostov–Krasnodar–Adler, Tula–Voronezh high-speed rail and the extension of Kazan-Yelabuga high-speed rail, as well as other regional high-speed rail links.

During the 2026–2030 third phase of the program, Russian Railways will build Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed rail section; the railway line will be extended from Yelabuga to Yekaterinburg, and from Voronezh to Rostov-on-Don.

In March 2015, at a meeting of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladimir Yakunin presented an ambitious new transport route called the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development (TEPR) which would go "through Russia with a mega road and high-speed rail network to link Asia with Europe' and with the opportunity to go to Chukotka and Bering Strait and then to the American continent"{{Cite web |date=23 March 2015 |title=Plans for new transport route unveiled to link Pacific with Atlantic |url=http://siberiantimes.com/business/investment/news/n0160-plans-for-new-transport-route-unveiled-to-link-pacific-with-atlantic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326023412/http://siberiantimes.com/business/investment/news/n0160-plans-for-new-transport-route-unveiled-to-link-pacific-with-atlantic/ |archive-date=26 March 2015 |access-date=26 March 2015 |website=The Siberian Times}} to Alaska, "making overland trips from Britain to the US (via the Channel Tunnel) a possibility."{{Cite web |last=Smith, Oliver |date=25 March 2015 |title=Russia is considering plans for a 12,400-mile superhighway from London to Alaska |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-considering-plans-for-a-12400-mile-superhighway-from-london-to-alaska-2015-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327154502/http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-considering-plans-for-a-12400-mile-superhighway-from-london-to-alaska-2015-3 |archive-date=27 March 2015 |access-date=26 March 2015 |publisher=The Business Insider}}

Limited railway capacity is the main bottleneck for Russian coal exports to Asia.{{Cite journal |last1=Overland |first1=Indra |last2=Loginova |first2=Julia |date=2023-08-01 |title=The Russian coal industry in an uncertain world: Finally pivoting to Asia? |journal=Energy Research & Social Science |volume=102 |pages=103150 |doi=10.1016/j.erss.2023.103150 |issn=2214-6296|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023ERSS..10203150O }} Demand for Russian coal in Europe has declined due to the energy transition and Russia's invasion of Ukraine and this reinforces the need for Russia to reorient coal exports to Asia. Various Russian actors have therefore proposed the rapid expansion of the country's eastward rail capacity.

File:V.I. Yakunin, President of Russian Railways in 2010.jpg, former president of Russian Railways]]

The Russian Federation is the founder and sole shareholder of JSC Russian Railways. On behalf of its shareholders the powers are exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation.{{Cite web |title=The structure, at eng.rzd.ru |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/factorye/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=31&layer_id=4523&refererLayerId=4503&id=81 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201074059/http://eng.rzd.ru/factorye/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=31 |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=6 March 2018}} It approves the president of the company, forms the board of directors annually and approves the annual reports.{{Cite web |title=Share capital, at eng.rzd.ru |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=292 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201084623/http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=292 |archive-date=1 February 2013 |access-date=6 March 2018}}

An IPO for the company was considered in 2012,{{Cite news |date=16 August 2012 |title=Russian Railways Considers London IPO |language=en |work=The Moscow Times |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-railways-considers-london-ipo-17060 |access-date=5 October 2018}} but it was pushed back to after 2020.{{Cite news |date=7 February 2017 |title=No Privatization for Russian Railways Until 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Claims |language=en |work=The Moscow Times |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/no-privatization-for-russian-railways-until-2020-top-official-claims-57061 |access-date=5 October 2018}}

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Russian Railways is Oleg Belozerov.{{Cite web | url=http://www.rzd.ru/ent/public/ru?STRUCTURE_ID=5185&layer_id=5554&refererLayerId=5553&id=1133 | title=Структура ОАО "РЖД" - Правление ОАО "РЖД" | trans-title=Structure of JSC "Russian Railways" - Management Board of JSC "Russian Railways" | language=ru | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701172254/http://www.rzd.ru/ent/public/ru?STRUCTURE_ID=5185&layer_id=5554&refererLayerId=5553&id=1133 | archive-date=1 July 2019 }} Before him, the position was occupied by Kirill Androsov from September 2011 till June 2015,{{Cite web |title=Андросов Кирилл Геннадьевич, at rzd.ru |url=http://rzd.ru/enterprise/public/rzd?STRUCTURE_ID=5010&layer_id=5060&refererLayerId=5040&id=5237 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214011854/http://rzd.ru/enterprise/public/rzd?STRUCTURE_ID=5010&layer_id=5060&refererLayerId=5040&id=5237 |archive-date=14 February 2013 |access-date=6 March 2018}} and previously by Alexander Zhukov – from 20 July 2004 to September 2011 and Viktor Khristenko – from 16 October 2003 – 20 July 2004.

Gennady Fadeev was President of JSC Russian Railways from 23 September 2003 – 14 June 2005. He was succeeded by Vladimir Yakunin – from 14 June 2005 to 20 August 2015. Oleg Belozyorov has been president of the company since 20 August 2015.{{Cite web |title=Структура ОАО "РЖД" – ОАО "РЖД" |url=http://rzd.ru/ent/public/ru?STRUCTURE_ID=5185&layer_id=5554&refererLayerId=5553&id=1209 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126085001/http://rzd.ru/ent/public/ru?STRUCTURE_ID=5185&layer_id=5554&refererLayerId=5553&id=1209 |archive-date=26 November 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

As of December 2013, Russian Railways has controlling interests in the following companies:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Federal Passenger Company (100%);
• Gefco S.A. (75%);
• Federal Freight (100%);
• TransContainer (50.6%);
• Refservice (100%);
• RailTransAuto (51%);
• High-speed Rail Lines (100%);
• RZDstroy (100%);
• Roszheldorproject (55.56%);
• RZD Trading Company (50% + 1)
• TransTeleCom (100%);
• Zhilsotsipoteka (100%);
• Zheldoripoteka (100%);
• TransWoodService (100%);
• BetElTrans (100%);
• First Nonmetallic Company (100%);
• Zeleznodorozhnaya Torgovaya Kompaniya (100%);
• Wagon Repair Company – 1 (100%);
• Wagon Repair Company – 2 (100%);
• Wagon Repair Company – 3 (100%);
• Kaluga Plant Remputmash (100%);
• Incorporated Electrotechnical Plants (50 + 1).

{{div col end}}

On 24 February 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden announced economic sanctions against several Russian companies, including Russian Railways.{{Cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title=FACT SHEET: Joined by Allies and Partners, the United States Imposes Devastating Costs on Russia |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/24/fact-sheet-joined-by-allies-and-partners-the-united-states-imposes-devastating-costs-on-russia/ |access-date=25 February 2022 |website=The White House}}{{cite web |title=U.S. Treasury Announces Unprecedented & Expansive Sanctions Against Russia, Imposing Swift and Severe Economic Costs |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0608 |date=24 February 2022}}

File:RZD personnel during a visit to a maintenance depot at the Moscow-Kievskaya railway station.jpg

The main activities of Russian Railways involve freight and passenger traffic. In Russia, railways carry 42% of the total cargo traffic, and about 33% of passenger traffic. Some passenger categories, such as pensioners, members of parliament, and holders of Soviet and Russian state decorations, receive free or subsidized tickets.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2013 railways carried nearly 90% of Russia's freight, excluding pipelines.{{Cite news |last=Chris Lo |date=1 May 2013 |title=Russian railways: connecting a growing economy |work=railway-technology.com |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/features/featurerussia-railways-connecting-growing-economy/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001052412/http://www.railway-technology.com/features/featurerussia-railways-connecting-growing-economy/ |archive-date=1 October 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Courtney Weaver |date=17 June 2013 |title=Russian rail freight proves a worthy investment |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1e9728ac-cf62-11e2-a050-00144feab7de.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725040825/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1e9728ac-cf62-11e2-a050-00144feab7de.html |archive-date=25 July 2013}} In 2014, railway infrastructure and locomotive services accounted for 74% of the company's total revenue.{{Cite news |date=4 May 2014 |title=Russian Railways Calls For More Government Support |language=en |work=The Moscow Times |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-railways-calls-for-more-government-support-34949 |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075436/https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russian-railways-calls-for-more-government-support-34949 |archive-date=6 October 2018}}

The cost of freight tariff is determined by the Federal Tariff Service at net cost or higher.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

Limited railway capacity is the main factor limiting Russian coal exports to Asia. Demand for Russian coal in Europe has declined due to the energy transition and Russia's invasion of Ukraine and this reinforces the need for Russia to reorient coal exports to Asia.

File:Tolstoi Train (Helsinki-Saint Petersburg) Russian Railways 2016, Lahti-Kerava railroad track 01.jpg line 2016]]

Russian Railways has a near-monopoly on long-distance train travel, with its subsidiary, Federal Passenger Company, accounting for 90% of total passenger turnover in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Passenger transportation |url=https://ar2017.rzd.ru/pdf/ar/en/results-review_operational_passenger.pdf |access-date=6 October 2018 |website=Concise Annual Report 2017 |publisher=Russian Railways}} Passenger transportation accounted for 10.6% of the company's revenue in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Business model |url=https://ar2017.rzd.ru/en/strategic-report/business-model |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006154941/https://ar2017.rzd.ru/en/strategic-report/business-model |archive-date=6 October 2018 |access-date=6 October 2018 |website=2017 Annual Report |publisher=Russian Railways}} The long-distance passenger fleet includes 19,386 rail cars as of 2017, with an average age of 19.1 years.{{Cite web |title=2017 Annual Report |url=https://ar2017.fpc.ru/download/full-reports/ar_en_annual-report_pages.pdf |access-date=13 October 2018 |publisher=Federal Passenger Company}} Over 60% of long-distance passengers travel in third-class sleeping carriages.

The long-distance rail passenger business is under increasing competition from airlines, due to their aggressive domestic pricing policies and generally shorter travel times for routes under 1,000 km.{{Cite web |title=Market Overview |url=https://ar2017.fpc.ru/en/results/market-overview |access-date=13 October 2018 |website=Federal Passenger Company 2017 Annual Report |language=en}} International rail passenger traffic dropped from 19.4 million passengers in 2013 to 6.8 million in 2017.

In 2005–2010, JSC Russian Railways has launched a program to introduce new high-speed trains.{{Cite web |title=High-speed trains, at eng.rzd.ru |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=4054 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502000223/http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=4054 |archive-date=2 May 2013 |access-date=6 March 2018}} The first train, Sapsan, commenced service in December 2009 and connects Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod and is operated with trains manufactured by the German company Siemens.{{Cite web |title=Press Releases |url=https://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/?press=/en/pressrelease/2011/rail-systems/icrl201112003.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831220454/https://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/?press=%2Fen%2Fpressrelease%2F2011%2Frail-systems%2Ficrl201112003.htm |archive-date=31 August 2017 |access-date=2017-06-17 |website=www.siemens.com |language=en}}

The second train, Allegro, has run from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki via Vyborg since December 2010 and is owned and operated together with the Finnish VR Group.

Sapsan was the most successful passenger train of JSC Russian Railways with occupancy rate of 84.5% (according to RZD in 2010) and profitability of 30% (although capital costs were not included in its calculation).{{Cite web |last=Ведомости |date=26 October 2010 |title="Сапсан" стал самым прибыльным проектом РЖД |url=http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/248388/skoraya_pribyl_sapsana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712061821/http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/248388/skoraya_pribyl_sapsana |archive-date=12 July 2014 |access-date=9 December 2016}}

File:Allegro train ticket.JPG train ticket]]

Passenger tariffs (except for travelling in the stateroom, sleeping and VIP-cars) are approved by the State, represented by the Federal Tariff Service with social orientation of its traffic operations below cost. Passenger fare is divided into two components: «ticket» (which includes the cost of transport infrastructure, locomotive traction and the Station component) and «reserved seat» (service of transport company, which is the owner of the car). Since 2003, the flexible schedule tariffs (FST) to travel on long-distance trains is used:

• in the period of keen demand the rate is above the annual average by 5–20% (earlier it was up to +45%)
• approximately the third part of the year the base rate is active
• during the periods of low passenger's traffic the rate is lower by 5–20%. On certain days of the year (from 1 to 3 days, at different times on such days as 31.12, 01.01 and dates around 9 May) the index of 45–50% is valid when tickets are twice cheaper.

FST is calculated in such a way as to stimulate passengers to undertake a trip on the date with the lowest index. In 2010 and 2011, the average weighted index for calendar periods was 0.97 and the average volume of passenger traffic – 1.00.

According to the JSC Russian Railways statement, the passenger transportation – except for some highly profitable directions – is unprofitable. These losses are partly compensated from the budget, and for the most part – with the help of cross-subsidies by income from freight.

{{see also|Central Suburban Passenger Company}}

File:Торжественный запуск электропоезда "Ласточка" по маршруту СПб-Выборг 2 сентября 2015 года..jpg train on the Saint Petersburg-Vyborg route]]

File:ЭС104-038 на перегоне ЛИГОВО-БРОНЕВАЯ.jpg

Since 2009, the company is not a direct carrier of suburban passengers. Suburban transport is now operated by passenger companies founded by the executive agencies of the Russian Federation, Russian Railways and private investors.{{Cite web |title=СМИ об РЖД – Пресс-Центр |url=http://press.rzd.ru/smi/err403/press?STRUCTURE_ID=2&layer_id=5050&id=262435 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204212728/http://press.rzd.ru/smi/err403/press?STRUCTURE_ID=2&layer_id=5050&id=262435 |archive-date=4 February 2017 |access-date=9 December 2016}} As of 2016, there are 25 suburban passenger companies (SPC), and Russian Railways owns a majority stake in 19 of them.{{Cite web |title=Suburban transportation infrastructure |url=https://ar2016.rzd.ru/en/operating-results/passenger/suburban-transportation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124171203/http://ar2016.rzd.ru/en/operating-results/passenger/suburban-transportation |archive-date=24 November 2017 |access-date=7 October 2018 |website=2016 Annual Report |publisher=Russian Railways}}

Especially for the SPC a zero tariff for the use of railway infrastructure was introduced. Russian Railways receives 25 billion rubles subsidies as compensation annually from the State.{{Cite web |title=Регионы хотят лишить права занижать цену билетов на электрички |url=http://top.rbc.ru/economics/07/12/2012/835442.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005041059/http://top.rbc.ru/economics/07/12/2012/835442.shtml |archive-date=5 October 2015 |access-date=9 December 2016}} Commuter traffic in the whole network increased in 2011 on 5.6% and is about 878.33 million people. Passenger turnover rail in the Russian regions ranges from 5% to 30% in total passenger traffic.

Since its establishment in 2003, Russian Railways sponsoring FC Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Since February 2016 Russian Railways is the sponsor of Rodina Kirov, a bandy team in the Russian Bandy Super League.{{Cite web |title=Google Translate |url=https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=ru&u=http://www.bandyvesti.ru/?p=20150&usg=ALkJrhiaZYVq20e7d9_E-1pLs_dOD4DRbQ |access-date=9 December 2016}}

{{Infobox rail

|railroad_name = {{lang|ru|Российские железные дороги (РЖД)}}
Russian Railways (RZD)

|logo = Russian Railways Logo.svg

|logo_size = 150px

|locale = {{RUS}}

|start_year = 2004

|end_year = present

|marks = RZD, RZhD

|system_map = Russia Rail Map.svg

|map_caption =

|map_size =

|gauge = {{plainlist|

• {{RailGauge|1520mm}}
• {{RailGauge|1435mm}} (from Kaliningrad to Russian-Polish border)

}}

|electrification = 3 kV DC, 25 kV AC Main

|length = {{convert|85500|km|mi|abbr=on}}

}}

As of 31 December 2009, the total operational length of railway is 85 281 km, including the track gauge of {{RailGauge|1520mm}} – 84 446 km, the length of continuous welded rails 74.4 thousand km, the railway network operated by 166 975 switches, 138 tunnels and 30,727 bridges.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

The length of lines equipped with automatic block (AB) and centralized control, is 62,055 km, or 72.9%. Devices of railway automation and remote control on the Russian railway network served with 203 distance signaling, centralization and blocking and with one technical center of automation and remote control.

RZD has the following 16 railway branches:{{Cite web |title=Territorial Branches |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/en?STRUCTURE_ID=175 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006194705/http://eng.rzd.ru/statice/public/en?STRUCTURE_ID=175 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |access-date=6 October 2018 |website=Russian Railways}}

• {{flag|Abkhazia}} - RZD had a 10-year management lease between 2009-2019 with Abkhazian railway.{{Cite news |date=15 May 2009 |title=Абхазия отдает РФ в управление желдорогу и аэропорт – Багапш |language=ru |work=РИА Новости |url=https://ria.ru/economy/20090515/171184705.html |access-date=5 October 2018}}
• {{flag|Armenia}} - RZD owns and operates South Caucasus Railway in Armenia.{{Cite news |date=18 January 2008 |title=Armenia confirms rail concession award |work=Railway Gazette |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/armenia-confirms-rail-concession-award.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703163953/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/armenia-confirms-rail-concession-award.html |archive-date=3 July 2017}}
• {{flag|Mongolia}} - RZD also manages a 50% share in UBTZ on behalf of the Government of Russia.{{Cite web |title=Russia: Ulaanbaatar Railways to become part of the Russia-Mongolia-China economic corridor |url=https://uic.org/com/uic-e-news/585/article/russia-ulaanbaatar-railways-to-become-part-of-the-russia-mongolia-china-7558?page=iframe_enews |access-date=13 October 2018 |website=UIC Communications}}

File:EXPO-1520_train_parade_in_2015.webm

Traction rolling stock includes diesel locomotives, electric locomotives, electric trains, diesel trains, railcars, railway handcar, other self-propelled equipment and non-tractive rolling stock – different cars (passenger, freight) and a special rolling stock.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

The main producer of passenger cars (95%) is Tver Carriage Works.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

At the end of 2012, the rolling stock inventory included 20,618 locomotives, including 2,543 electric passenger locomotives, 578 diesel passenger locomotives, 7,837 electric freight locomotives, 3,556 diesel freight locomotives, 6,104 shunting locomotives.{{Cite web |title=2012 Annual Report |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/dbmm/download?vp=49&load=y&col_id=121&id=15408 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705124602/http://eng.rzd.ru/dbmm/download?vp=49&load=y&col_id=121&id=15408 |archive-date=5 July 2014 |access-date=7 October 2018 |publisher=Russian Railways |page=63}}

In 2017 RZD purchased 459 locomotives, including four EP1M, 13 EP2K, 19 TEP70 and four EP20 passenger units, as well as 84 2ES6, 10 2ES10, 51 2ES5K, 45 3ES5K, four 3ES4K, 86 2TE25KM, and five 4ES5K freight units.{{Cite web |title=Russian Railways purchased 459 new locomotives in 2017 |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/newse/public/en?STRUCTURE_ID=15&layer_id=4839&refererLayerId=3920&refererPageId=131&id=107212 |access-date=7 October 2018 |website=Russian Railways}}

In 2013, the RZD holding owned 252,900 freight cars, including 54,200 owned directly by Russian Railways, with the rest owned by company subsidiaries and affiliates, such as Federal Freight and TransContainer.{{Cite web |title=2013 Annual Report |url=http://eng.rzd.ru/dbmm/download?vp=49&load=y&col_id=121&id=15608 |access-date=7 October 2018 |publisher=Russian Railways |page=33}}

Annually JSC Russian Railways carries over 1 billion passengers and 1 billion tons of freight.

In 2011, freight traffic of Russian Railways totaled about 1.4 billion tons. Passenger traffic for the year 2011 reached 992.4 million people.

The average salary on the network in October 2011 – 31 thousand rubles a month.{{Cite web |title=Региональные газеты |url=http://zdr.gudok.ru/pub/20/174338/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321040103/http://zdr.gudok.ru/pub/20/174338/ |archive-date=21 March 2013 |access-date=9 December 2016}} Loading volume for the year 2012 amounted to 1 billion 274.7 million tons (+2.7% compared to 2011), the share in the total turnover of the country (except pipelines) — 85.5%. In 2012, the network carried 1 bln 56.7 million passengers (+6.4% compared to 2011). Net income from the basic activities using Russian GAAP was in 2012 almost 5.3 billion rubles, which is a decrease compared to 2011 (13.7 billion rubles) of almost 3 times.{{Cite web |title=Пресс-релизы – Пресс-Центр |url=http://press.rzd.ru/news/public/press?STRUCTURE_ID=654&layer_id=4069&refererVpId=1&refererPageId=704&refererLayerId=4065&id=81252 |access-date=9 December 2016}} The company's revenue in 2021 amounted to 2 trillion rubles.{{Cite web |title=ОАО "РЖД" |url=https://www.rusprofile.ru/id/2868600 |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=www.rusprofile.ru |language=ru}}

In total, Russian Railways receives 112 billion roubles (around US$1.5 billion) annually from the government.{{Cite web |title=Government support for Russian Railways |url=http://ar2014.rzd.ru/en/financial-and-economic/state-support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093659/http://ar2014.rzd.ru/en/financial-and-economic/state-support/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=26 February 2016}}

• Russian Railway Museum, in Saint Petersburg
• Emperor railway station in Pushkin town

{{Reflist}}

• Collins, D. N. "The Franco-Russian Alliance and Russian Railways, 1891–1914." Historical Journal 16, no. 4 (1973): 777-88. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2638282 online].
• Haywood, Richard M. "The question of a standard gauge for Russian railways, 1836–1860." Slavic Review 28.1 (1969): 72-80 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2493039 online].
• Starns, Karl Edward McDaniel. "The Russian Railways and Imperial Intersections in the Russian Empire." (Diss. 2013). [https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/21998/Starns_washington_0250O_10676.pdf online]
• Westwood, John Norton. A history of Russian railways (G. Allen and Unwin, 1964).
• Westwood, J. Soviet railways to Russian railways (Springer, 2001).

• Госкомстат СССР (Gov't Statistical Committee ) "Народное хозяйство СССР: статистический ежегодник" (The national economy of the USSR, statistical yearbook),Финансы и статистика, Москва (various years till 1990).
• Госкомстат СССР (Уманский, Л.), "Народное хозяйство СССР за 70 лет: юбилейный статистический ежегодник". Москва, "Финансы и статистика", 1987.
• Госкомстат СССР "Транспорт и связь СССР: Статистический сборник" (USSR Transportation and Communications: statistics). Москва. 1990 (and other editions: 1967, 1972, etc.)
• ЖТ = Железнодорожный Транспорт (Railroad Transportation) a monthly magazine published since 1826. The month designation is numeric; e.g. 10-1998 is the November issue.
• Плакс, А.В. & Пупынин, В.Н., "Электрические железные дороги" (Electric Railroads), Москва, "Транспорт", 1993.
• Резер, С.М., "Взаимодействие транспортных систем", Москва, "Наука", 1985.
• Шадур, Л.А. ed., "Вагоны: конструкция, теория и расчёт" (Railroad cars: construction, theory and calculations), Москва, "Транспорт", 1980.
• Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal government statistical service) "Транспорт в России" (Transportation in Russia) (annual) [http://www.gks.ru/bgd/regl/B09_55/Main.htm Available online]
• Филиппов, М.М. (editor), "Железные дороги. Общий курс" (Railroads, General Course) Москва, Транспорт, 3rd ed. 1981. 4th ed. 1991 with new editor: Уздин, М.М.
• Шафиркин, Б.И, "Единая транспортная система СССР и взаимодействие различных видов транспорта" (Unified Transportation System of the USSR and interaction of various modes of transportation), Москва, "Высшая школа", 1983.
• Шадур. Л. А. (ed.), "Вагоны" (Railway cars), Moscow, "Транспорт", 1980.

{{commons category|Russian Railways}}

• [https://eng.rzd.ru Russian Railways Official Site] {{in lang|en}}
• {{Twitter|rurailways|Russian Railways}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130310045811/http://www.cbonds.info/eng/organisations/organisation.phtml/params/id/1402 Financial Information]

{{Russian Railways}}

{{Railway companies of Russia}}

{{National railway companies of Europe}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 establishments in Russia

Category:Companies based in Moscow

Category:Government-owned companies of Russia

Category:Government-owned railway companies

Category:Railway companies established in 2003

Category:Railway companies of Russia

Category:Russian brands

Category:Russian entities subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions