"Lastochka" trains from Ufa to Chelyabinsk to be launched in July

Suburban trains will be launched from Ufa to Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk, and Samara. This was announced at a meeting with the Head of Bashkiria by Vyacheslav Dmitriev, the head of the Kuibyshev Railway. The parties discussed the prospects for developing passenger and freight transport, as well as the modernization of the railway infrastructure in the region.

"Lastochka" trains from Ufa to Chelyabinsk will start running in July of this year. Modern electric trains to Samara and Magnitogorsk are planned to be launched in 2026, according to the head of the Kuibyshev Railway. For example, for the high-speed route to Magnitogorsk, near which are the Abzelilovsky, Baimaksky districts, and Sibay, trains are needed that can run on both direct and alternating current.

Also, this year, a transport hub will be launched at the Dema station. And a new stop, Pink Rocks, will open on the Ufa-Beloretsk route in September.

“We have a systematic work in place. We effectively cooperate with the company in developing passenger and freight transportation, as well as modernizing its rolling stock. This is particularly important for the region, as it enhances the comfort of our residents. The launch of the Southern, Western, Eastern Express creates new opportunities for increasing the mobility of the population and developing tourism,” said Radiy Khabirov.

The head of the Kuibyshev Railway noted that the volume of passenger transportation by the end of 2024 increased by 20% year-on-year and reached 6.4 million people.

Such significant results were achieved, in part, thanks to new projects being implemented in Bashkiria. Thus, since December 2024, the Ufa-Moscow train has resumed operation (via Ulyanovsk and Bugulma). Following a major overhaul, the Service Sales Center in Ufa will open, serving as a one-stop shop for shippers in the region.

In total, RUB 5.7 billion will be invested in the development of railway infrastructure and equipment in 2024 — 37.5% more than in 2023, noted the head of the Kuibyshev Railway.

At the end of the meeting, Radiy Khabirov and Vyacheslav Dmitriev signed a cooperation agreement between the Government of Bashkortostan and Russian Railways, which will remain in effect until 2029.

Author: Elina Akhmetova