Russian Railways JSC

Russian Railways (RZD) is the state‑owned joint‑stock company that operates the national railway system of the Russian Federation, providing both freight and passenger transportation services across the country and to neighbouring states. It owns and maintains the rail infrastructure, manages train operations, handles logistics and cargo handling, and offers a range of passenger products from suburban commuter trains to long‑distance and high‑speed services. The company also engages in ancillary activities such as real‑estate management, telecommunications, and tourism related to rail travel.

The organisation oversees one of the most extensive rail networks in the world, stretching across multiple time zones and linking major industrial centres, resource extraction sites, ports and urban agglomerations. Its network serves as a critical artery for the movement of goods such as energy products, raw materials and manufactured goods, as well as for domestic and international passenger travel. Because of its geographic reach and the volume of traffic it carries, Russian Railways plays a pivotal role in the national economy and in Russia’s integration with Eurasian transport corridors.

A distinguishing feature of Russian Railways is its vertically integrated structure, whereby the same entity controls both the infrastructure and the rolling stock, allowing for coordinated scheduling, maintenance and capacity planning. The company operates flagship high‑speed trains like the Sapsan on the Moscow–Saint Petersburg route and participates in major international corridors including the Trans‑Siberian Railway and the Europe‑Asia freight lines. Ownership-wise, Russian Railways JSC is wholly owned by the Russian Federation, with the state exercising control through its shareholding and appointing the company’s leadership. This public ownership underscores its role as a strategic instrument of national transport policy.