RUSSIAN RAILWAY MAY ASSUME MANAGEMENT OF ARMENIAN RAILWAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 13:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Railway Ltd. (RR) is ready to consider the
question of participation in the tender for concession management of
Armenian Railways CJSC (AR), RR President Vladimir Yakunin stated in
Yerevan October 12. In his words, the decision on participation in the
tender should be taken at the level of the RR Council of Directors and,
to all appearance, at the level of the Russian Government, as it is
"a matter of state transport policy."

In his turn Armenian Railways Director General Ararat Khrimyan informed
that a decision will be passed at the next session of the Government
of Armenia over a tender for passing AR CJSC to concession management
for 30-40 years. "All railways in the world experience structural
reforms and we also approach that phase," Khrimyan added. AR need
much investment, he said. "The rolling stock is in a condition
that in two years it will be out of use. According to WB estimates,
$170-180 million needs to be invested in the AR within 15 years. "The
arrangement of the tender documents will demand about a year,"
Khrimyan said, reports IA Regnum.