[Deltic]

A new freight train linking Berlin and Moscow via Minsk and Warsaw is scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year. Polish rail infrastructure is almost ready. CEOs of DB - Hartmut Mehdorn, RZD- Vladimir Yakunin and PKP - Andrzej Wach met in Sankt Petersburg and signed an agreement on the project.

CEOs also agreed that it is necessary to create a special working group to analyse all the potential obstacles and propose solutions to shorten the time of travel. What is most important is to eliminate customs and border crossing problems. There are also some technical difficulties with changing gauge between Poland and Bielarus in Brześć -Terespol crossing. The German network is supported by a different than Polish power system. The first meeting of the working group is scheduled for 20th September in Warsaw.

CEO of PKP Andrzej Wach says, that it is possible to run a testing train in November. Eliminating all the key obstacles will allow launching a regular connection.

Polish network is also almost ready for the train. E 20 line from German border in Kunowice to Belarus in Terespol, which is a part of Moscow - Minsk - Warsaw - Berlin corridor is already modernised between Kunowice and Siedlce. Works on the last section - between Siedlce and Terespol are in progress. Modernizations are scheduled to finish in 2008.