RUSSIAN CARGO CARRIERS OPEN NEW TRANSCONTINENTAL ROUTE

VLADIVOSTOK, March 28 (RIA Novosti's Anatoli Ilyukhov) - Russian cargo carriers have opened a new transcontinental rote, sending on Monday the first rapid train from the Nakhodka-Eastern station to Taganrog.

"Containers will be taken from the Pacific to the Azov Sea on special fitting platforms capable of carrying them at 120 kilometers/hour. The green light will be given on the entire length of the route", RIA Novosti was told at the press service of the Far Eastern railway administration.

"The first train has 56 platforms with accessories and parts from South Korea for the automobile assembly plant in Taganrog. This train opens the new sea-land bridge South Korea-Vostochny port-Russian Railways-Azov sea coast", the press service said.

The cargo-carrying operator is the company Russian Troika, set up on the parity basis by the OAO RZhD (Russian Railways) and the OAO Far Eastern Steamship Company.

The operator plans carrying 28,320 containers this year.