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Belarussian-Swiss JV to build double-decker trains for Russian Railways

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday he would personally control the construction of a plant to manufacture rail and urban electric passenger transport

MINSK, April 4 (Itar-Tass) – The Belarusian-Swiss joint stock company Electric Transport will build double-decker trains for the Russian Railways Company by December 2014.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday he would personally control the construction of a plant to manufacture rail and urban electric passenger transport in the Minsk region.

“This is a very important project and no delays can be there,” he said at the talks with Peter Spuhler, Director-General of Stadler Rail Group that represents Switzerland in the investment project with Belarus.

Lukashenko expressed the hope that in 2013–2014 Belarus will build modern electric trains and trams that will not yield to Swiss-made trains in quality.

Spuhler especially noted support of the Belarussian side saying that by December 2014 the Belarussian plant will manufacture first double-decker trains for the Russian Railways Company.

He said Stadler Rail Group had won Russia’s tender and will supply passenger trains made in Belarus to Aeroexpress Ltd., the operator of air rail link services in Moscow.

On Thursday Lukashenko instructed officials responsible to design a rail link with Minsk National Airport.

“It is necessary to urgently fulfil this project, which will expand people’s opportunities for using our airport,” Lukashenko said.

Stadler Rail Group is one of Europe’s leading producers of locomotives and rolling stock. In March 2010 the company won Belarus’s tender and signed the contract to supply ten modern electric passenger trains for the Belarussian Railway.

Stadler Rail Group and Belkommunmash Holding Management Company implement the joint investment project to manufacture rail and urban electric passenger transport in Belarus. In January 2012 the joint stock company Electric Transport was registered in Belarus.

Stadler Rail Group won Moscow’s tender to deliver 24 passenger train sets to Aeroexpress until 2016. It is expected that these trains will be built at Belarus’s new plant.

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