Ukraine makes a next step in implementation of the joint Ukraine-Russia-Austria-Slovakia project
The Cabinet of Ministers approved of the proposal of the Transport and Communications Ministry that the state rail transport administration Ukrzaliznytsia acquire from Express Bank 25% of a Ukraine-Russia-Austria-Slovakia joint venture OBB-Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft mbH, engaged in organisation of a broad-gauge railway corridor to Vienna, Austria.
According to Government Executive Order 1681-r issued on December 29, 2009 the Cabinet ordered the State Property Fund, the Transport and Communications Ministry, and Ukrzaliznytsia to buy 25% of this company and pass the stake to Ukrzaliznytsia for management.
For this purpose, the government directed the Transport and Communications Ministry and Ukrzaliznytsia to foresee in the railway administration's 2010 financial plan EUR 1.525 million to acquire 25% of the joint venture.
Thus, the government sanctioned the state's participation in the implementation of the project for building a broad-gauge railway corridor to Vienna.
As earlier reported, railways of Ukraine, Russia, Austria and Slovakia founded the joint venture OBB-Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft mbH in May 2009.
In June 2007, Ukrzaliznytsia and Russian Railways unveiled their intent of building a railway with the track width of 1,520 millimeters from Kosice, Slovakia to Vienna, Austria.
In Europe rail track is 1,435 millimeters wide, while in the ex-USSR 1,520 millimeters.
