Russische Eisenbahnen erhöhen die Frachttarife aufgrund der finanziellen Belastung

Submission Statement: The Russian government, via a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, will raise cargo freight rates by about 1 % from March 1, 2026, as part of efforts to boost the Russian Railways (RZD) revenues and cover costs linked to transport security.

The state-owned railway company has faced a sustained drop in freight traffic since 2022 and has accumulated substantial debt, recording its first net loss since the pandemic as cargo volumes declined.The company previously sought urgent financial support from the state’s sovereign wealth fund but received a smaller allocation than requested, prompting cost-saving measures and cuts to investment plans.

The tariff increase comes as Russian Railways battles falling traffic and large liabilities, with cargo volumes down sharply since the invasion of Ukraine and debt reaching into the trillions of rubles.