On October 8, 2026, the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin and the president of Russian Railways (OJSC), Oleg Belozerov, held a working meeting in Moscow, at which they discussed further steps toward implementing the high-speed railway (HSR) project along the route Moscow — Nizhny Novgorod — Kazan — Yekaterinburg.[1]

Context and background

By the time of the meeting, the project was at the development stage within Russian Railways. On the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the company was to prepare a feasibility study for the project and terms of reference for designing the infrastructure of the future line.[1] Earlier, on October 1–2, 2026, Russian Railways began the preliminary technical feasibility study of the line, as reported by Russian Minister of Transport Andrey Nikitin.[2][3] In April 2026, the Moscow — Nizhny Novgorod — Kazan HSR was included in the updated territorial planning scheme of Russia in the field of federal transport.[2]

Negotiation agenda

At the meeting, the parties discussed the upcoming work of specialists to determine the preliminary sequence of construction stages, the possible route alignment, the main technical solutions, and ways of integrating the line into the existing railway network. HSR trains are expected to reach speeds of 350–400 km/h, and travel time between Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow is to be cut to two hours.[4] The line is planned to become part of the future national high-speed rail network.[1]

Gleb Nikitin stated that the launch of the HSR would open up new economic opportunities for the region: it would expand business contacts with the capital, attract investment, increase the flow of tourists, and give residents access to a broader labor market without having to relocate. The project is of particular importance for science, industry, and entrepreneurship. According to TASS, the possible increase in tourist flow to Nizhny Novgorod Region after the line's launch would be at least 10%.[4] Oleg Belozerov, for his part, stressed the need for close cooperation with all the regions the route will pass through.[1]

Related topics

Besides the high-speed rail line (HSR), the parties discussed the existing rail service between Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 3.3 million passengers have used high-speed trains — 18.2% more than in the same period of 2025. In December 2025, a new high-speed train, the "Burevestnik," entered service on the route.[1]

A separate topic was extending the city commuter rail route from Myza Station to Kstovo, which became part of Nizhny Novgorod in 2025. The potential ridership on this route is estimated at nearly 2.5 million people a year; the project has received a positive conclusion from the state expert review and has rolling stock secured. Construction of the Myza–Kstovo line is provisionally scheduled to begin in 2027.[1]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Gleb Nikitin discussed construction of the Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod HSR with the head of Russian Railways
  2. Pro Gorod Nizhny Novgorod — Russian Railways begins work on the technical feasibility study for the Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod high-speed line
  3. Nizhegorodskie Novosti — Russian Railways begins technical feasibility study for the Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod high-speed line
  4. Newsroom24 — Nizhny Novgorod: HSR trains to Moscow will reach speeds of 400 km/h — Transport