MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The investment program of Russian Railways for 2025 was approved by the national government in the amount of 890 bln rubles ($8.5 bln), Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt told TASS.

The program for 2025 was lowered by 30.2% as compared to this year.

"The program for the next year was discussed at the government floor. It is about 890 bln rubles - the next-year investment program," the minister said.

The visible decline was largely driven by key rate growth. "Nevertheless, main tasks of forming additional throughput capacities in the Eastern Range, the railroad of the Azov-Black Sea basin, and the Northwest - all of them will be implemented," Starovoyt noted.

The investment program of the holding provides for acquisition of railcars and locomotives, the minister said. "Particular attention was paid there to avoid a significant drop in purchasing such equipment and so that our industry does not find itself in a challenging situation," he added.