The Core Mission of International Activities:

The main objective of our international activities is to create conditions for the development of foreign trade transportation. For Russian Railways, international operations have become increasingly important in today's economic environment. Sergey Pavlov, Russian Railways’ First Deputy General Director, discusses with 1520International the results achieved by the holding company’s international division in 2025 and plans for 2026.

Everyone is summing up the results of last year now. How would you assess the results of Russian Railways' international performance?

Our international strategy boils down to one core objective: creating the right conditions for international trade flows. This encompasses all our relationships with foreign partners—bilateral agreements, multilateral initiatives, the full spectrum.

Given the volatile economic environment we're operating in, we've essentially held our own. International freight volumes stayed steady at 529 million tons in 2025, matching 2024's figures. What's encouraging is that container exports tell a different story—they jumped nearly 9%, hitting 1.8 million TEU.

Is China still the main growth driver?

China is the principal trading partner of our country. Last year, the volume of rail freight with China increased by 7%, exceeding 186 million tons. If we take 2021 as the starting point, we see that freight volumes have doubled.

This year we have set the task of expanding regular expedited container trains through Zabaikalsk, where we see significant potential for growth.

Where do things stand with Kazakhstan as another strategic logistics partner?

Last year was marked by the signing of several important bilateral agreements with Kazakhstan Railways, including action plans for implementing the main directions of strategic cooperation between our companies. The culmination was the signing of an agreement on developing interstate border crossing points in the presence of the heads of our states. 

When we talk about Kazakhstan, we also remember the North-South Corridor. What is being done to develop this route?

Work is actively moving forward on multiple fronts, not only on the eastern route of the corridor, which goes to Iran through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, but also on the western branch—through Azerbaijan.

In November 2025 in Baku, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Iranian Railways signed a Memorandum on establishing competitive through-tariffs, developing logistics services, and a Plan of joint actions for organizing transportation in the first half of 2026.

The provisions on the intention to develop the corridor were also included in the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that Russia and Iran concluded last year. Russian Railways took direct part in its development.

For the convenience of freight customers, we are transferring into digital format the logistics services that Russian Railways offers on the North-South Corridor. The relevant agreements have been reached with Azerbaijani and Iranian Railways.

In addition, on the eastern route of the corridor, we have extended the preferential tariffs once again—they will now be in effect until the end of 2026. 

How is work progressing in international organizations? 

 Work is underway at all key venues.

Within the Eurasian Economic Union, we have launched a new consultative format on our initiative—a Meeting of Heads of Railways of EAEU member states. Focus is put on joint logistics projects, digital technologies, and other areas.

In the Organization for Cooperation of Railways, we are working on coordinating freight volumes across all border crossing points with the "eastern" group of railways of OSR member countries.
In addition, this year we plan to develop and agree on functional requirements for an innovative railway telecommunications system based on 4G/5G technology.

The Strategic Group for the Development of International Transport Corridors, established under the Railway Transport Council of Commonwealth member states, has begun its work. A draft concept for developing transport corridors running through the territories of member states has been prepared. The next step is its review and approval by the Council.

Russian Railways representatives also take an active stance in specialized UN structures. As a result, the Coordination Committee for managing Euro-Asian Transport Links rail corridor No. 1 (EATL No. 1) (the Trans-Siberian Railway and its branches) has started operations. The committee's mandate and roadmap have already been approved.

At the initiative of Russian Railways, work on transport issues has intensified within the BRICS Business Council. To identify barriers to the development of BRICS routes and prepare recommendations for overcoming them, test container shipments were organized from Russia to member countries. Containers were sent to India and South Africa via the North-South Corridor, to China via the East-West route, to India and the UAE through ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin, and to Brazil through ports of the Northwest.

At the BRICS Transport Academy platform, master classes were held with speakers from Brazil, India, Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia, Russia, and the Republic of Belarus, attracting more than 2,500 listeners from all member countries in total. Technical visits on transport topics were also organized for young specialists from China.

Within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in 2025 the regulations and thematic directions of the Working Group on Railway Transport Research were agreed upon at a meeting of heads of railway administrations of SCO member states. In 2026, we plan to approve these documents. The Working Group will become an important platform for coordinating interaction on key issues such as the exchange of innovations and best practices, human resource development, and the development of SCO transport corridors.

Does the company continue to manage railways abroad?

We're actively involved in railway operations overseas—Mongolia is a good example. It's an asset of particular strategic importance for us. Mongolia serves as a key transit route for growing exports to China, creating opportunities not only for Russian exporters but also for our joint Russian-Mongolian railway venture, as it boosts transit revenues. As the trustee managing the Russian shareholding in JSC "Ulan Bator Railway," we're focused on operational efficiency and tackling the railway's core development challenges. The growth potential here is substantial.

We've also given considerable attention to improving performance at LLC "South Caucasus Railway" in Armenia. We're fully honoring our commitments under the concession agreement. Notably, at the end of last year we saw the first train in years carrying Russian grain travel from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan and Georgia. We're now working to expand transportation along this corridor.

We've also made a priority of enhancing operational efficiency at LLC "South Caucasus Railway" in Armenia, and we're meeting all our commitments under the concession agreement in full. What's particularly significant is that late last year, we saw the first grain train from Russia reach Armenia in years, traveling through Azerbaijan and Georgia. We're now focused on developing this corridor further and expanding shipments along the route.

You mentioned social and humanitarian cooperation. What's being done in that area? 

A modern railway is about more than infrastructure and logistics—it's fundamentally about connecting people. Last year, we provided technical equipment to Russian-language schools and railway lyceums across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. We also held "Russian Railways Days" at educational institutions, and our medical staff participated in the federal volunteer program "Mission of Good."

In essence, we're fostering cultural and humanitarian partnerships, promoting the Russian language internationally, and investing in railway education. We support communities wherever we can make a real difference. This foundation of trust becomes the basis for building lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships.