Nikolai Mikhailov, a representative of the Information Center of Railway Rolling Stock Operators (ICO), announced the cessation of growth in the number of wagons on the Russian network, predicting their total number to be 1 million 405 thousand by the end of the year. At the same time, since mid-summer, there has been a steady reduction in the working fleet of freight cars. This is due to an increase in the number of faulty units that cannot be quickly repaired and remain idle.
Analysts predict that there will be no significant increase in the fleet in 2026. The production and modernization of rolling stock will depend on write-offs: it is planned to write off 26,000 wagons, and the premature withdrawal of obsolete models will continue.
Experts note that the introduction of a trade-in mechanism could stimulate fleet renewal: when old wagons are written off early, owners will receive subsidies for the purchase of new ones. If the initiative is implemented, annual production could reach 35,000 units.
