Russia to Digitally Overhaul Its National Transport Strategy
The updated plan emphasizes high-speed rail, smart mobility, and technological sovereignty.
The Russian government is preparing a sweeping modernization of the country’s transport system — one built around high-speed connectivity and digital transformation. Following a strategic session on high-speed transportation, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin directed officials to update the National Transport Strategy through 2030, with a long-term outlook extending to 2035. The revised document is expected to be submitted to the cabinet by December 1, 2026.
The new strategy will establish clear criteria for evaluating infrastructure projects — including economic viability and return on investment — while laying out plans for a national high-speed corridor network. It will also integrate emerging transport technologies, such as autonomous systems and digital traffic management platforms, into Russia’s broader mobility ecosystem.
Building a Technological Foundation
Mishustin placed particular emphasis on technological sovereignty, instructing the Ministry of Digital Development, Ministry of Transport, and Ministry of Industry and Trade to work with Avtodor and Russian Railways (RZD) on a transition plan to domestically developed software across the high-speed infrastructure sector by December 2025. The Finance Ministry and Transport Ministry have also been tasked with developing long-term funding mechanisms for these initiatives.
The plan includes upgrades to existing rail systems, new investment in urban electric trains, and synchronization of the Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed rail corridor with the city’s wider transport infrastructure.
Russia’s upcoming digital transport strategy aims to do more than just modernize infrastructure — it’s designed to fuse technology, efficiency, and sovereignty, creating a unified system ready for the next generation of mobility.
