Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin and Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Lyakhnovich signed a memorandum of understanding on October 1, 2026, in Minsk. The agreement establishes a framework to design, construct, and operate a high-speed railway connecting Moskva, Russia, and Minsk, Belarus, under collaboration between Russian Railways (RZD) and Belarusian rail authorities.
The proposed high-speed line will cover about 715 kilometers, routing through Smolensk in Russia. It is planned for train speeds up to 400 kilometers per hour, aiming to reduce current rail travel time from seven to nine hours down to approximately three hours. Russian media report that
operation will require 21 high-speed trainsets. Preliminary passenger demand estimates indicate an annual market of up to 5.8 million travelers.
Development and Scheduling
Following the memorandum, Russian Railways and its Belarusian counterpart will conduct technical and project planning before advancing to construction decisions. A financial and economic model for the project is slated for development during 2028-2029. Construction commencement is planned only after completing the Moskva–St Petersburg high-speed rail line, which remains Russia’s current rail infrastructure priority.
Broader Rail Connectivity Between Russia and Belarus
The Moskva–Minsk high-speed rail initiative is part of wider efforts to strengthen rail transport between Russia and Belarus. Recent expansions include cross-border regional services linking Smolensk
with Belarusian cities Orsha and Vitebsk, supporting greater integration of rail networks in the region.
