Russia and Belarus formalized plans for a high-speed railway connecting Moskva and Minsk by signing a memorandum of understanding in Minsk on October 1, 2026. The agreement was signed by Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin and Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Lyakhnovich. It sets a framework for the joint design, construction, and operation of the proposed rail link.
Route length and travel time improvements
The planned railway line will run approximately 715 kilometers from Moskva to Minsk, passing through Smolensk. It is designed for speeds up to 400 kilometers per hour and targets a travel time reduction to about three hours, compared with the current
7-9 hour journey on existing rail services.
Trainsets and passenger market projections
Russian media reports indicate that the project will require 21 high-speed trainsets to operate the route. Officials estimate the line could serve a passenger market of up to 5.8 million travelers annually. Russian Railways (RZD) will conduct preliminary technical and economic assessments and collaborate with Belarusian Railways on detailed technical and project planning before construction decisions are made.
Timeline and expanded rail cooperation
Development of the project’s financial and economic model is scheduled for 2028-2029. Construction will not begin until after the Moskva–St Petersburg high-speed railway, currently Russia’s priority high-speed rail project, is completed. The high-speed Moskva–Minsk corridor
is part of broader efforts by Russia and Belarus to enhance rail connectivity, including expanded cross-border regional services linking Smolensk with Orsha and Vitebsk.
