SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAY TO LAUNCH THROUGH RATES IN ARMENIA

ARKA
June 5, 2009

YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. The South Caucasus Railway (SCR) plans
to implement through tariff rates in Armenia, SCR Director General
Shevket Shaidulin said Thursday at Novosti International Press Centre
in Yerevan.

Expeditors and operators are currently looking for ferrymen
via different transport systems. "We are planning to follow the
single-window principle and launch the so-called from-door- to-door
through rate, irrespective of transport means and territories,"
Shaidulin was quoted as saying.

The Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin is to supervise the
activities. The company is currently collaborating with the Georgian
railway and the leaderships of both companies are to meet at Ayrum
station on June 13 to discuss the quality of shipment services.

"At present, we deliver a totally new service that must be in demand,
for the trough tariff rates offer equal terms for shippers and
ferrymen," the SCR general director said, adding Armenian ferrymen
are already using services of train ferries.

The new tariffs will help provide cheaper services to ferrymen
cooperating with Russian, Georgian and Armenian railways.

According to Shaidulin, SCR stands ready to demand the Russian Railway
to lower tariffs for some of the carriers.

On 1 June 2008, SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways,
received property owned by Armenian Railways under the February 13,
2008 concession agreement the parties concluded for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress