MOSCOW, 1 April (BelTA) – In an interview with Yekaterina Abramova, Director of the Media Company of the Union State, Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Yuri Seliverstov explained why cross-border suburban rail services are being introduced and what advantages they offer. The interview will be aired by the new Soyuzny TV channel on 2 April at 16:05, the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.
Regular suburban train services between Orsha and Smolensk, and between Vitebsk and Smolensk will begin on 2 April. These routes are in demand among citizens of both countries, but meeting this demand by adding long-distance trains would not be cost-effective. “If we launch a train from Brest or Minsk to Moscow, knowing that most people will only travel from Orsha to Smolensk while other sections have very few passengers, this creates additional costs for the railway. Therefore, if we focus specifically on the section where service is needed and avoid running empty trains over long distances, it will likely be cheaper,” the ambassador said.
“But there is another aspect: the Union State budget will also be involved, as the proposed ticket prices will be comparable to domestic fares. We understand that international train tickets are typically more expensive,” Ambassador Yuri Seliverstov noted. In addition, all existing travel benefits for citizens of both countries will remain in place for cross-border suburban services, and these costs will also be subsidized.
“In any case, we are doing this for people, making travel more affordable within the framework of national legislation. So here, I believe, the main goal is ensuring convenience for citizens and their ability to travel along this specific route,” the diplomat added.
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