Belarusian, Russian railway operators to ship more using electronic documents

MINSK, 6 March (BelTA) – Representatives of Belarusian Railways and OAO Russian Railways discussed prospects of building up freight transportation using the electronic document flow at a meeting that took place in Moscow a while ago, the press service of Belarusian Railways told BelTA.

At the meeting the sides discussed results of the work already done to introduce paperless technologies for freight transportation as well as plans to advance this avenue between Belarus and Russia.

Participants of the meeting spoke in positive terms about the implementation of the project launched in December 2012 to enable cargo transportation and empty railcar haulage between the Belarusian and Russian railways using digitally signed legally binding documents. It was the first time such a project for the transportation of loaded railcars on international routes had been accomplished in the CIS. This year the Belarusian and Russian railway operators will work to advance the project.

BelTA has been told that the Moscow meeting also touched upon ways to increase the quality of data shared between the information systems of the Belarusian and Russian railway operators and the need to work out technical regulations for the process.

This year the Belarusian and Russian railway operators have set out to improve the organization, supervision and control over international cargo transportation. The introduction of innovative ways to accelerate and facilitate technological operations and increase labor productivity should be a priority.

The transportation of international cargoes along Belarusian railways using digital document procedures relies on using several domestic information systems. The introduction of the novelty was preceded by successful tests in 2011-2012. The tests involved the transportation of cargoes inside Belarus using digitally signed documents. Apart from that, in February 2012 Belarusian Railways fully switched to accepting digitally signed applications for cargo transportation inside the country and for export.