The Moscow–Minsk high-speed rail (HSR) project, with a potential extension to Brest, is part of the national high-speed transport network scheme approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 17, 2023, during the launch ceremony of the third Moscow Central Diameter. The total length of the line is expected to be approximately 1,000 km (with the Moscow–Minsk section accounting for around 700 km). Travel time between Moscow and Brest will be cut by more than half, down to 4.5–5 hours (around 3 hours from Moscow to Minsk), said Irina Magnushevskaya, General Director of the Institute for Transport Economics and Development (JSC “IEDT”), in a comment to Gudok. A joint working group between Russian Railways (RZD) and Belarusian Railway is currently in operation. Based on the group’s work, a feasibility study will define the preliminary scope of the project, as well as financing volumes and sources. One possible financing mechanism for the Moscow–Minsk–Brest HSR project is a concession agreement, which would allow for the pooling of resources from both governments and private investors, including banks and infrastructure funds. “Intergovernmental support would help mitigate political and regulatory risks, while a private concessionaire could take on the construction and operation responsibilities, minimizing the fiscal burden,” believes Irina Magnushevskaya.

The full article is available on Gudok website.