Belarus has started reconstructing its railway in the direction of St. Petersburg in Russia. A joint railway project with Russia aims to secure an export route through the port of the Russian city for Belarus. The staunch Russian ally has lost alternative routes westward since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to Belarusian transport minister Alyaksey Lyakhnovich, Belarus has now started its part of the railway corridor to St. Petersburg. It provides the shortest and cheapest route to a maritime port. The reconstruction will allow Belarus to increase freight volumes transported to the Russian port in the coming years. This year, Belarus expects to export up to 13 million tonnes of freight to St. Petersburg by rail.

The Belarusian minister expects his Russian partners to start working on their part of the corridor in March, which also includes road infrastructure alongside rail.

Partnership

Russia and Belarus have engaged in an increasingly tight rail partnership. In order to facilitate the integration of their rail markets, Russia has given Belarusian rail operators a 40 per cent discount on rail transportation on particular Russian routes. This move is also expected to improve the competitiveness of Belarusian companies, which are dependent on Russia as their sole remaining rail export route.

Also read:

• Belarusian rail workers highly concerned over Russian influence
• EU allocates funds meant for Russia-Belarus to Ukraine and Moldova
• ‘Virtual coupling’: new technology increases Russian railway capacity