German engineering giant Siemens AG is planning a major expansion of its cooperation with Russian Railways (RZD) in the nearest future, Siemens' chief executive officer said on Wednesday. Peter Loscher announced the plans to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during the Engineering Technologies International Forum 2010 in Zhukovsky, Moscow region. "Let me first speak about a new project, we are working out with Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin," Loscher said. "Actually we are speaking about broadening strategic cooperation between the two companies. Our plans are very interesting and we'll soon disclose them."
Production of locomotives for Russia began at Siemens' Krefeld plant in 2007, where Yakunin personally opened the production line. The first train was presented to the Russian public in St. Petersburg in December 2008 in the presence of Putin, Yakunin and Loscher. The fifth train was delivered in August 2009. Siemens has been working in Russia for 157 years, Loscher said, and hoped it would work for another 157 years thanks to its strategic bilateral projects with Russian companies.
