Complications for a Railway Project from Russia to Europe

Austrian Transport Minister Doris Bures on Oct. 2 reaffirmed her country's commitment to the construction of a broad-gauge railway from Austria to eastern Slovakia that would link up with existing Russian and Ukrainian rail lines. If completed, the new railway could increase the volume of overland trade between Europe, Russia and possibly even Asia. However, there are a number of financial and political hurdles — between the participating countries and with the European Union — that could slow progress on the project.