Russian Railways and Vossloh have agreed to co-operate in the development of track components for high-speed rail lines and localised production.
The companies have been testing a turnout designed for 27t axleloads and an expected life of 500 million tonnes (Mt), which is claimed to be 1.5 times more than its Russian equivalents.
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Under the Memorandum of Cooperation, the companies will collaborate on developing new rail fastening elements and high-speed line components, as per Russian standards and requirements.
The parties will also evaluate the prospects for milling and grinding using a high-speed rail grinding train, and localising the production of turnout components in Russia.
For the project, Germany-based Vossloh will consider setting-up a production base in Russia.
Russian Railways senior vice-president Valentin Gapanovich said: "We are already connected with Vossloh by the installation of the first turnout for heavy traffic in Russia, at the Orekhovo-Zuyevo station on the Moscow railway.
"The experience of Vossloh in the European market, including in the field of high-speed traffic, will enable us to make a technological foundation for a HSR project in Russia."
Russian Railways is the second-largest network in the world with 85,200km of track. It carries more than 0.95 billion passengers and 1.2 billion tonnes of freight a year across 11 time zones.
