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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Current and former workers of the Russian railway transport sector,

Congratulations on your professional holiday, the Railway Workers’ Day.

This event brings together several generations of people whose efforts enabled our country to build a one-of-a-kind network of railways and a robust infrastructural core. This, in turn, ensured Russia’s steady development for Russia by enhancing its economic resilience and defence capabilities.

We are marking this day as we celebrate the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025. During the harsh years of the war, our railway workers demonstrated outstanding courage and resilience by making it possible for manufacturers to do their jobs and supplying the front, and alongside the entire nation brought the long-awaited Victory closer.

Even today, the feats accomplished by those who came before you keep inspiring you, as Russia faces external threats, has to promptly resolve new challenges and guarantee that its Arms Forces get the supplies they need. And our railway workers have been up to this task.

It is thanks to your responsible and hard work that Russia’s railway network has been operating with precision and in a well-coordinated manner by linking regions and cities, serving passenger and cargo traffic from our western borders and the northern seas all the way to the coasts of the Azov Sea, the Caspian and Black seas, and the Pacific Ocean.

Let me add that the railway sector forms a high-technology structure – it has been proactive in introducing innovative and digital solutions and enhancing the quality of passenger service and freight traffic. Russian machine builders, its manufacturing and construction sectors also benefit from the fact that the railways have always been a major customer of their products.

Railway transport in Russia enjoys positive momentum and launches large-scale, landmark projects. There is an ongoing effort to expand the Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway, while also upgrading other routes and approaches to seaports and terminals, including on the Kola Peninsula and in Russia’s Far East.

Moving forward, there are plans to create or upgrade railway routes in Russia’s northern, Arctic territories, in the Komi Republic and Yamal, as well as in other regions. We are also building a high-speed rail from Moscow to St Petersburg, the first of its kind in Russia. In the future, we will have an entire network of these high-speed rail links.

I am confident that these projects matter for our people and our expanding economy. They will reinforce Russia’s standing as a major logistics hub for the entire Eurasian continent by creating new opportunities for competitive international routes, including the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.

I would like to stress that hundreds of thousands of people provide for the reliable operation of the rail network. There are traffic operators and engineers, train drivers and attendants, construction workers and many other professionals. I would like to thank all those who work on Russia’s railways, as well as the veterans of this sector for your hard work and dedication.

When it comes to railways, labour conditions, offering workers and their families a good safety net have always been a priority. This sector invests heavily in improving healthcare and social services, developing cities and villages and, of course, training young specialists and improving its talent pool.

We reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to enable railway workers, who are true professionals, to achieve their goals so that they can make a meaningful contribution to national development and be part of team devoted to developing and defending Russia.

Congratulations on this holiday, dear friends. I wish you every success and new, landmark achievements.