MINSK, 12 June (BelTA) – OOO BelVEBleasing will finance the acquisition of new passenger cars for Belarusian Railways on leasing terms, the BelVEB Bank press service told BelTA.
A total of 14 open-plan carriages, eight compartment carriages, and eight staff compartment carriages will be acquired. BelVEBleasing has signed the relevant contracts with the Minsk branch and the Brest branch of Belarusian Railways.
The carriages will be equipped with air conditioning, environmentally friendly hygienic amenities, a water and air purification system, CCTV cameras, and fire alarms. Every passenger will be able to use a personal power socket or a USB socket to charge mobile devices. Apart from that, the carriages will have equipment for people with challenges. Special handrails and footboards will be part of the package. Information about seat numbers and information in public places will also have text in Braille script.
The railway cars are designed to travel at speeds as high as 160kmph. They are fitted with automatic systems to open, close, and block doors. The carriages are designed to last for up to 40 years.
Fourteen open-plan carriages reached the Minsk railway station on 11 June. Belarusian Railways will get the other 16 carriages by the end of the month.
OOO BelVEBleasing has been cooperating with Belarusian Railways since 2018. In July 2018 a leasing contract was signed for the acquisition of 20 open-plan carriages of Russian make. OOO BelVEBleasing is part of the banking holding company OAO BelVEB Bank. The leasing company was established by OAO BelVEB Bank and AO VEB-leasing (Russia) in 2018. BelVEB Bank's share in the charter capital of the leasing company stands at 49%.
