Moscow Central Diameters (MCDs) is the key project of the Programme for the Development of Railway Infrastructure of the Central Transport Hub Together with Prospective Diameter Routes planned for 2019–2024 in accordance with the Russian President’s Decree No. 204 of 7 May 2018. The project is being implemented jointly by Russian Railways, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, and the governments of Moscow and the Moscow Region. It involves the development of commuter rail lines connecting Moscow districts and adjacent suburbs with the city centre.

Sapsan ultra high-speed trains have been operating on Moscow— St Petersburg—Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod—St Petersburg—Moscow routes since 2009. To mark the anniversary, Russian Railways presented an upgraded Sapsan. The Company’s Long-Term Development Programme until 2025 envisages the signing of life cycle contracts with manufacturers to renew the rolling stock, providing for a higher level of comfort and service for passengers and making trains suitable for use by people with disabilities.

The Baikal—Amur Mainline (BAM) is the fastest transcontinental railway on the East—West axis. As a route, the BAM is a full-fledged backup for the Trans-Siberian Railway and the key development driver for adjacent areas totalling 1.5 m sq km. July 2019 marked 45 years since the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union issued a resolution on the construction of BAM. The new railway was built in severe and challenging weather conditions.