ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2007

Armenian parliament approves bill on railway transport

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. The RA Parliament has approved in the
second reading the bill `On railway transport’. RA Minister of
Transport Andranik Manukyan said that the new law will serve as legal
underpinnings for private management of the railway.

The bill regulates the legal and economic relations in the operation
of railway transport in Armenia.

`The bill is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and stable operation of
railway transport,’ Manukyan said.
The bill entitles the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission to set
rates and make calculations.

The Minister reported that special tariffs for goods of strategic
importance will be set. In presenting reports on the maximum tariff,
the manager is supposed to inform the Government of the tariffs for
strategic goods.

On October 12, 2006, the RA Government made a decision on 30-year
concession of the Armenian Railway Company, with the right to 20-year
prolongation. Two companies won a tender for concession – Russian
Railways Company and Rail India Technical and Economic Services
(RITES).

The envelope with the feasibility report is to be opened on December
21, and the financial proposals are to be made public on January 8,
2008. The tender winner will be known on January 15.

The Armenian Railway Company is owned by the Government.-0–