Russia is launching preliminary studies for two major high-speed railway projects that could connect Moscow with Kazan via Nizhny Novgorod and, separately, with the Belarusian capital Minsk. The decision was made after discussions on transport prospects during a meeting between Head of State Vladimir Putin and the leadership of the Ministry of Transport.
The initiative to develop the HSM network was presented as the next step in expanding the country's transport infrastructure. Two directions with different development logics were in focus: the internal route via Nizhny Novgorod to Kazan, which is considered the most efficient in terms of load and economics, and the international Moscow–Minsk route, which strengthens connectivity with the Union State.
The Head of the Ministry of Transport noted that possible configurations of future lines are already being studied at the conceptual level and through preliminary calculations. He emphasized the priority of the route towards Kazan as a key internal corridor and separately highlighted the international direction as the next most important project. After presenting the approaches, the minister requested permission to begin the preparatory stage. The President supported the initiative with a short remark: "Of course."
Earlier, "Pervy Tekhnichesky" reported that 11 car bodies for the first HSM train have already been welded, and five have already been painted. The Ministry of Transport has set the task of starting high-speed line tests in 2027.