Children’s railway in Yerevan resumes its full operation

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. The Children’s Railway in Yerevan reconstructed by the South Caucasus Railway company resumed full operation on August 5, Railwayman Day, the company reported.

“The Children’s Railway was built 75 years ago. Unfortunately, it was in a bad condition, that is why we decided to renovate the infrastructure, rolling stock, locomotive and cars. Today, on Railwayman Day, we are putting in operation the upgraded Children’s Railway,” SCR CEO Viktor Rebets said at the event. 

Mr. Rebets said next year the SCR in cooperation with Yerevan Municipality is planning to open a permanent school of young railroader on the side, where children could spend some time after school lessons and receive the first information about the railroads and the people operating railway systems. 

During the solemn event dedicated to Railwayman Day, SCR CEO Viktor Rebets, Minister of Transport and Communication Gagik Beglaryan, Deputy Speaker of the parliament Hermine Nagdalyan congratulated railroad workers with their professional holiday. Congratulatory messages of Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan and Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan were also read at the event.

“The railway has always played an important role in the development of Armenia, and each of you contributed to prosperity of our state,” Mr. Beglaryan said in a statement.

The priority activities for the government and the transport ministry are modernization of the infrastructure, increase of transportation volume, enhance of safety.

“SCR is scrupulously fulfilling its commitments identified by the investment program,” Mr. Beglaryan added. 

During the event SCR CEO and Transport Minister handed in certificates of recognition to a group of railwaymen.

Reconstruction is also one of the ways to support the development of urban infrastructure of the capital of Armenia carried out in the framework of the agreement signed in 2011 on the socio-economic cooperation between SCR and Yerevan Municipality.

Upgrading of the Children’s Railway is a two-phase project. At the first phase the SCR helped rehabilitee and modernize the cars and the track along with improving its safety. The second phase involves renovation of the station building.

The Children's Railway was opened in Yerevan on June 9, 1937. It has two stations and a platform and runs also through a 45 meter -long tunnel 

South Caucasus Railways, a 100-percent subsidiary of Russian Railways, runs Armenian Railway.  Armenian Railways was handed over to the South Caucasus Railways on February 13, 2008 for 30-year concession management with a right to prolong the management term for other 10 years. -0-