Russian Railways: Empowering Action

Sustainable Development Report 2023

Results of the anniversary year

20th anniversary of Russian Railways

It has been two decades that Russian Railways has been continuously undertaking large-scale efforts to consolidate, preserve, and develop the railway industry.

Today, Russian Railways stands as Russia’s backbone transportation company, evolving as a modern, competitive, and high-tech business.

23 billion
people transported by the Company over 20 years
47.2%
of freight traffic
24.1%
of passenger traffic

Russian Railways Group’s positions globally

No. 1

  • Precise schedule for passenger trains
  • Traffic density
  • Freight turnoverThe railway network in Russia operates around 1.3 m freight cars. Russian Railways Group accounts for more than a fifth of global railway freight turnover

No. 2

  • Operational length of railways The operational length of railways stands at around 86,000 km, more than twice the length of the equator
Outcomes of the Year of Health at Russian Railways

Outcomes of the Year of Health at Russian Railways

More than
11,800 events
were held, engaging over 7.3 million people (including an informational reach of 5.6 million people).

Nationwide Health Train:
Together Against Diabetes awareness campaign

6,400
patients examined
The train also conducted
13,000
medical examinations

Medical outreach campaign

71
medical outreach trips
>5,100
people examined
Sustainable development management

Russian Railways continues to offer training to employees as part of its Sustainable Development Management educational initiative

2,172 employees
successfully completed training in 2023
9.2 out of 10
training satisfaction score among employees

The Sustainable Development Management course explores the principles of sustainable development that are gaining traction among companies worldwide. These principles foster the growth of responsible, socially-oriented, and environmentally-friendly businesses.

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Natalia Kartasheva

Head of the Environmental and Technosphere Safety Department

Aware that sustainable development can be a complex and unfamiliar topic to many, we aimed to create an engaging and accessible training course, opting for a long- read format. Instead of following the traditional e-learning approach with sequential slides and numerous tests, the course is designed more like a media experience. We also plan to enhance the course by incorporating case studies that feature creative solutions to practical challenges and engage students in real-life scenarios, making the training even more practical.

Environmental aspect

Russian Railways became the first company in Russia to safely dispose of electrical equipment containing oils with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In 2023, the first batch of such waste was neutralised using an environmentally safe method. The project was implemented by the Company together with the Federal Environmental Operator.

Project stages

Electrical equipment assessed

Cooperation agreement signed with the Federal Environmental Operator

Best neutralisation method selected

Russian Railways was the first in the country to neutralise a batch of PCB-containing waste capacitors at the site of the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology in Shikhany, Saratov Region.

According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Russia is supposed to have fully decommissioned the equipment containing PCBs by 2025, and to have neutralised PCB-containing production waste associated with extra high health or environmental hazard by 2028.

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Maxim Polishchuk

Deputy Head of Environment and Technosphere Safety Department at Russian Railways

A responsible user of natural resources, Russian Railways takes measures to dispose of PCB-containing equipment, meeting commitments assumed by Russia as part of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. We bore witness of the waste being neutralised in an environmentally safe manner based on the principles of best available techniques. Russian Railways will keep doing that, and, in line with the roadmap, we plan to have fully disposed of such equipment by the year 2028.

Social aspect

A major milestone of the Company’s Year of Health in 2023 was a nationwide awareness campaign titled Health Train: Together Against Diabetes

66 days
along the Vladivostok–Moscow route
>20,000 km
travelled
Stops in
37
cities and towns

Medical professionals extended their services not just to railway employees but also to the general populace residing in distant rural areas.

A specialised train, equipped with modern medical devices and staffed by highly qualified healthcare professionals of the RZD-Medicine network, travelled along the Vladivostok–Moscow route, making stops in 37 cities and towns. En route, healthcare professionals offered screenings and diagnostic tests to detect diabetes or its potential onset.

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Elena Zhidkova

Head of the Central Healthcare Directorate

Upon assessment completion, all individuals received detailed health reports, tailored advice on reducing risk factors, and a wellness improvement plan. Referrals to specialty doctors were provided when necessary. Beyond mere medical outreach, the Health Train represents a tangible commitment to enhancing national health.

Managerial aspect

In 2023, Russian Railways continued to implement a roadmap for developing the hi-tech Quantum Communications sector through 2030

3,295 km
total network length as at the end of 2023
25
R&D projects run by the Company

The roadmap sets out three key objectives to help Russia achieve a leading position in quantum communications:

  • Creating an infrastructure for quantum communications networks
  • Developing quantum communications technology
  • Building a relevant ecosystem
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Continuous efforts are being made to develop the ecosystem, which includes refining regulatory frameworks, standardisation, building human capital, and promoting awareness.

>140 organisations
in the ecosystem registry
1 2 3 4 5 6