News / China's gaze now on Central Asia – at the expense of Russian railfreight

Russian Railways’ diminishing volumes have coincided with further efforts by the Chinese to develop alternative routings into Europe, but the smart money is on Central Asia becoming a destination in its own right.

Reports suggest that last year, Russia’s state-owned rail operator experienced a 25% downturn in import volumes from the Far East.

The blame has been levelled at substantial drop-offs in the availability of locomotives, which the country struggled to maintain, and crew, as western ...