RSPP asks the government as soon as possible to lift the ban on the carriage of containers in gondola cars. This can lead to the involvement of an idle universal Park, but will break the existing business operators flatcars. Proponents of lifting the ban believe that as a result of reduced cost of transportation, as the gondola is cheaper to rent than the platform. Opponents say that the carriage in open wagons was a forced measure in conditions of deficiency of platforms, which is now gone.The head of RSPP Alexander Shokhin, 22 Jun sent first Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov, who oversees transportation, the proposed resumption of transportation of containers in gondola cars. The Minister confirmed “Kommersant” the authenticity of the letter. The Secretariat of mister Belousova declined to comment.Campaign for the removal of introduced in 2014 the ban on transportation of containers in open wagons began June 15. It was initiated by the owner of the First truck of the company Vladimir Lisin, stressing the possibility of thereby be involved in the turnover of 100 thousand idle gondolas. The head of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov “99% support” the initiative. Practically, this means a serious change of rules in the container segment, where significantly weaken the position of the players who bought expensive flatcars. Their market consists of operators of gondola, which will, with the already lower rates, significantly lower prices, because they need to reverse the download of the ports of the Far East.Operators flatcar trying to prevent the revision of the rules of the game. In his letters Andrei Belousov and Oleg Belozerova they talked about the fact that the transport of containers in cars threatens the safety of traffic (for these reasons it was cancelled), contrary to the requirements of GOST, creates an unnecessary burden on infrastructure leads to an increase in the time of transshipment of containers and deprives railcar orders for container platforms. Operators noted that when changing coal market, the gondola will return to regular operations, and container transportation will not be provided rolling stock.In his letter, Mr. Shokhin said that the RZD and the transport Ministry should give local technical conditions (mtcs) for the transportation of containers in gondola cars and to introduce a measure for the resolution of such transport in the national action plan for the restoration of employment and incomes. The letter explained that, when he introduced the ban, actual security breaches were not, and checking his obosnovyvaetsya, was conducted with “flagrant violation of the relevant technical terms.” The lifting of the ban, wrote Mr. Shokhin, will allow Russian Railways to raise the efficiency of operation of rolling stock by reducing��allow empty running, reduce costs to shippers through lower rates for gondolas in comparison with platforms and so on. A telegram RZD, the requirements of supervision and other acts, which imposed the ban should be lifted, said in the letter.Supporters of lifting the ban — in the first place, gondola operators and shippers — expect a massive drop in the cost of transportation of containers: 1.3 thousand rubles per platform per day to 800 rubles. per gondola. Thus, the “Russian steel” at the meeting of head of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov with shippers on 30 June, was asked to introduce the measure to improve the competitiveness of products on external markets by lowering transportation costs.Ten years ago, the permit for the transportation of the gondolas was a necessary measure, says the interlocutor of Kommersant in the industry: Park platforms numbered only 20 thousand units. But today it has grown almost four times, and in attracting gondolas there is no need. Another source notes that the Railways gets a lot of revenue for empty run of wagons, and shippers benefit if you return empty innovative rolling stock, so the interest of the monopoly to reduce empty run may not be evident.Natalia Skorlygina
