vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #527 / Business / Reading article...

A total of seven million tons of cargo are expected to be transported through the Russian-Chinese railway border checkpoint Grodekovo - Suifenhe in 2006, was mentioned at the meeting of Far Eastern Railways’ delegation and Harbin Railways in the Chinese city of Harbin, Monday.

The delegation’s visit, headed by director of the Vladivostok branch of Far Eastern Railways Viktor Osipov, aims to tabulate the results of cargo transportation through the checkpoint for the first half of 2006, a press statement from the company said.

For the first six months, the volume of exports through the checkpoint has increased up to 50.5 railroad freight cars per day showing a 15.5 percent growth to projections.

The companies’ heads also discussed prospective measures for increasing its carrying capacity, the statement reported.

During the past few years, the cargo flow through Grodekovo – Suifenhe has revealed considerable expansion. In 2000, the checkpoint recorded 1.2 million tons of cargo transported in both directions, while in 2005 the number increased to over six million tons.

This visit also brought about further discussion of the mutual venture of the railway passenger line between Vladivostok and Harbin planned for launch this year.

According to the project details, which have been developed by Russian and Chinese railway specialists for several years, the route will be served by two Russian and two Chinese trains four times a week. The route will reduce traveling time to an average of 16-18 hours due to simplification of border and customs procedures, with passengers inspected en route, the statement said.