Title: National peculiarities in Russian railway freight market - what the market has to offer for foreign railway undertakings?

Authors: Milla Laisi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Kouvola Research Unit, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland

Abstract: This research aims to understand the main market peculiarities of the Russian railway freight market. Furthermore, the paper examines the possibilities to boost business opportunities between European countries and Russia. Literature analysis combined with experimental data gathered by interviewing representatives from Russian railway freight market provides novel data. Research findings strengthen former knowledge and fortifies the Russian railway freight market has many national characteristics. The main traits noted were importance of personal relations, close linkage with politics and country's size. Although market has many operators, undertakings are mainly leasing companies providing rolling stock for their customers. The traction is provided by the Russian railways, RZD. The findings reveal that the best way to enter this especial market is to acquire an existing railway freight operator. Research provides valuable data for business world as well as academia by disclosing operators' perspective.

Keywords: railways; rail transport; freight transport; railway operators; national peculiarity; deregulation; Russia; Europe; personal relations; politics; country size; acquisitions; market entry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2013.056763

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2013 Vol.6 No.6, pp.702 - 717

Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

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