Finmeccanica and Russian Railways (RZD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Rome for industrial programmes in the areas of railway signalling, telecommunications, automation and safety & security. The agreement relates to the supply of technology for 100 stations, 100 vehicles and 50 railway lines by 2020 for a combined value that could be up to EUR 1,5 billion.
Finmeccanica, through its companies Ansaldo STS, SELEX Sistemi Integrati, SELEX Communications, Elsag Datamat and Telespazio, will contribute its technological capabilities and experience in the high-tech rail transport sector. The agreement follows on from the contract signed last year by Ansaldo STS and NIIAS (a subsidiary of Russian Railways JSC RZD) to test ITARUSATC, the innovative railway signalling system, and provides for the creation of a joint venture between Ansaldo STS (49%), a Finmeccanica Group company, and two subsidiaries of Russian Railways, NIIAS (49%) and SM (2%).
The agreement signed forms part of the intergovernmental co-operation agreements signed by Finmeccanica and Russian Railways for the joint development of high-tech industrial projects relating to rail vehicles, signalling, telecommunications and satellite remote sensing. The co-operation with Russian Railways strengthens Finmeccanica’s presence in Russia and confirms the excellent partnership between the two countries in the civil sector.
