09:00, 7 August 2010

Sukhumi-Sochi railway to start in 2011

As announced by Igor Shuvalov, First Vice-Premier of Russia, in 2011 the railway communication between Sukhumi and Sochi will restart.

"The Russian Railways were ordered to ensure railway communication between Sukhumi and Sochi. It is now carried out; there are agreements, and we found financing. In 2011, an electric train will go from Sukhumi to Sochi and back," said Mr Shuvalov.

"We proceed from the fact that when the electric train starts next year between Sukhumi and Sochi by the new season, the respective frontier and customs procedures will be organized tight in the train, on the way, or otherwise, most friendly for passengers," the "Echo Moskvy" Radio quotes the Vice-Premier as saying.

Earlier Abkhazia has restored the marine communication with Russia; buses also run between Sukhumi and Sochi.