Russia may introduce a recycling fee for railway cars, locomotives, and individual components – both domestic and imported. The proceeds are planned to be directed to the budget and then used to support industry. Details were revealed by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, at Innoprom-2026.

According to the minister, the department receives appeals regarding the recycling fee from governors and representatives of the railway industry. Currently, a similar mechanism applies to wheeled and self-propelled vehicles.

At the same time, the minister added that more money has already been allocated for major programs in the budget for the next two years than for the current year.

The idea of a recycling fee for railway equipment was discussed earlier

In June 2024, the expert council of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade held a meeting dedicated to the introduction of a fee for railway rolling stock and components.

It was proposed to collect the fee for each unit, section, car, or car set of railway rolling stock. The mechanism could also extend to metro cars, passenger tram cars, and individual components: diesel and electric engines, including traction, synchronous generators, and power units, excluding gasoline ones. The payment was intended for both imported and domestically produced equipment in Russia.

For rolling stock and components, it was proposed to issue a document confirming the payment of the recycling fee or the availability of a benefit. Without compliance with these requirements, the equipment could be prohibited from registration, sale, purchase, acceptance, and operation. Roszheldor was proposed to check documents when registering railway rolling stock.

Exceptions were provided for some cases. It was proposed not to collect the fee from rolling stock older than 40 years that is not used for commercial purposes, including museum exhibits. Temporarily imported and transit railway equipment could also be exempted from payment.