Russian Railways (RZD) has decided to reduce its stake in airport rail link operator Aeroexpress from 50 to 25 per cent.
RZD said it is interested in developing Aeroexpress but that it doesn’t have the financial resources to invest in improving the service.
The sale will be completed through RZD subsidiary Delta-Trans-Invest, which owns a 25 per cent share in Aeroexpress, at a price set by an independent appraiser.
RZD obtained its stake in Aeroexpress in 2008 to further integrate national rail services with air-rail links.
Aeroexpress currently operates services between Moscow’s Savyolovsky station and all of the capital’s major airports – Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo – and Lobnya. It also runs trains in Vladivostok, between the city centre and Knevichi Airport, and Kazan.
Just over 20 million passengers travelled on Aeroexpress trains in 2013, an increase of more than 13 per cent on 2012. To meet the rising demand, double-deck trains will be introduced on Aeroexpress routes in 2015.
