Russia to Develop Transport Infrastructure in Kaliningrad Region

Russia has taken a number of steps to ensure that the Kaliningrad Region is not left isolated after the next wave of EU expansion. This was announced by Kaliningrad Governor Vladimir Yegorov yesterday at a meeting of the 'Russia in a United Europe' committee in Kaliningrad.

The governor referred to the Baltiisk - Ust-Luga ferry service, which is to connect the region with Russia by sea, and the reconstruction of the Bagrationovsk - Bezledy crossing point on the Polish border, which has received EUR 15 million of investment from Russia and EUR 3 million from the EU. The Chernyshevskaya station, which is a crossing point on the Lithuanian border, is also being developed. The first construction phase, which will see 24 tracks laid to handle 20 million tonnes of freight, is currently underway.

Developing the transport infrastructure is an important factor in maintaining trade levels with neighbouring countries. Last year, according to Yegorov, trade with Poland was worth USD 370 million and trade with Lithuania USD 300 million.