Affected by the geopolitical risks of key shipping routes, Russia has begun to study the concept of a land railway to India, hoping to open up new logistics routes. This idea is based on the International North South Transport Corridor, but it has not yet been approved and the actual implementation process still faces multiple obstacles.

Channel conceptual framework

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Malat Hussain proposed the need to study a railway route to the Indian Ocean, which could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This concept relies on the 7200 kilometer international north-south transportation corridor, which includes multiple intermodal routes. The Russian side has not yet approved the direct railway between Russia and India, and there are no plans to implement direct trains. The goal is to enrich the trade and transportation channels between Russia and India. Russia and India have also carried out cooperation and exchanges on the construction of quasi high speed train signaling systems for railway infrastructure. Keywords: Russia India Railway Concept, North South Transport Corridor

Obstacles to the advancement of reality

There are many difficulties in the implementation of this cross-border railway concept, as some sections lack railway connectivity and the infrastructure transportation capacity and technical standards of countries along the route do not match each other. Once the concept makes substantial progress, it will enhance the efficiency of the international north-south transportation corridor, create a land trade channel for Russia to connect with the Indian and Asian markets, and bring new changes to logistics in the Asia Europe region.Editor/Min Jing