South Caucasus Railways calls on residents of villages in Gegharkunik region to minimize presence of cattle on tracks

YEREVAN, March 27. / ARKA /. The South Caucasus Railways (SCR), a Russian company operating Armenia’s railways, called today on residents of villages in Gegharkunik region, which are located close to the railway, to not let their cattle on tracks to avoid their hitting by cars.  Many cattle owners in these villages take their animals to green areas near rail tracks for grazing

Several senior officials of the company met today with heads of these rural communities, and called on them to convey this message to villagers.

According to deputy director general of SCR, Levon Hakobyan, large and small cattle have long been a serious problem for the railroad.

"In 2012 we had 28 cases of collision with animals. The latest incident cost the company 1.75 million drams (about $2600). We do not take such cases to court to demand compensations, because we know that the villagers also sustain damage, but the fact is that from April we are going to raise the speed of trains to 60 km / h instead of 20 km / h, and this in view we see that the problem becomes more serious. Engine drivers will not be able to slow down or stop the train to avoid hitting the cows on the tracks, «he said.

He said also the risk of collision with cattle is growing because the number of trains will increase to 6-7 a day instead of two.

The journalists together with SCR officials traveled today by train from Vardenis to Tsovagyuh witnessing cases when  the train driver had to repeatedly stop the train to allow cattle to go over the tracks.

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.-0-