On the pressing issue: Russian Railways and delivery deadlines

In the last couple of months, almost every shipment by rail has been off schedule (and the delays are significant). From the latest examples. We shipped cargo on June 11, it was supposed to arrive in Vladivostok on June 23. And on July 07 (2 weeks to spare) the transportation of containers to Chukotka (port Egvekinot) was scheduled. We specially worked out this delivery to get on the ship, which goes from Vladivostok once a month. But our containers ended up in an “abandoned” train*, and traveled not 12, but more than 30 days, with the actual arrival on July 14. We found a solution, of course, but it involved serious difficulties and additional costs. In addition, it led to the failure of the contract and a serious penalty.

There are many such stories now. You have to take into account that railroad train operators rent containers and platforms. And each additional day costs money. The question arises, who will pay for it? The customer, the carrier, Russian Railways or the end consumer...?

Now the volume of transportation has fallen by times: where 8-10 trains used to be sent, now there are 2-3 trains; where 500-600 containers were handled per month, now there are 200-300. Delivery times have increased, and the number of “abandoned” trains has increased. Let us understand what is the reason?

In an earlier article, I wrote about the denial of approvals for trains to China. It was assumed that the Chinese infrastructure could not cope with the volumes. But the other day I talked to a colleague from China, who said that their stations were empty. It turns out that there are no objective reasons for cutting plans. So, artificial restrictions on cargo flows are created. At the same time, coordination of transportation plans of manufacturing factories is carried out in full. As a consequence, transportation companies suffer. There is a tendency to monopolization of the industry or inability to agree with the receiving party.

And now, against this background, we read the news: the State Duma proposes to cancel fines for Russian Railways for failure to meet delivery deadlines. I wonder how this will help to solve the described problems with rail transportation? The consequences of such decisions are obvious: shippers will start to refuse rail transportation, returning to road transportation. Now more and more customers are giving them preference, and there is competitive dumping on the part of this industry. Besides, road carriers are more flexible and try to adjust to new circumstances. Railroad transportation has long been reoriented, developed, and accustomed customers to its service. But today we see a return to the old principles of work....

*The “abandoned” train status appears when an accelerated container train is stopped on the tracks for some reason for an indefinite period of time, “abandoned”. Such stops may occur repeatedly and do not correspond to the train's schedule.