South Caucasian Railways invests 1.15 billion rubles into upgrading system’s infrastructure

YEREVAN, December 21. / ARKA /. The Russian-run South Caucasus Railways (SCR) operating Armenia’s railroads, has invested this year 1.15 billion rubles into upgrading the system’s infrastructure, including repair of tracks, power and automatic locking systems, SCR CEO, Viktor Rebets said today. Speaking to a news conference he said part of investment was channeled into reconstruction of a locomotive and car depo in Gyumri.

"In April, we completed the reconstruction of Zamanlin bridge, the construction of two new bridges from Vanadzor to Ayrum, “ Rebets said.

The company has also rehabilitated some 100 km long railway tracks to improve the safety and reliability of cargo and people transportation.

In Armenian drams the company has invested 13.5 billion, of which 12 billion 147 million drams have been spent on the modernization of infrastructure, and 313 million drams on upgrading the rolling stock.

From 2008 to 2012 the company has invested about 90 billion drams into the improvement of the system , of which 50 billion drams were spent on upgrading the infrastructure  The company has already repaired about 300 kilometers of tracks, more than 160  technological structures,  130 km long  contact network and  more than 140 km long transmission lines.

South Caucasus Railways is a 100% subsidiary of state-run Russian Railways that was awarded a concesional management of SCR. The 30 year contract was signed in 2008. It can be prolonged for another 10 years. ($ 1 - 405.52 drams). -0-