Russian Post and Russian Railways on Thursday announced the launch of a postal train that will deliver packages along a route from Moscow to the far-eastern city of Vladivostok, Interfax reported.
"Considering the vastness of our country and the role of the railways, it was really important that we finally launch a postal train," Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov told reporters.
Russian Post general director Dmitry Strashnov said at the opening ceremony for the new train that his company was leasing out the wagons, but that the train belonged to Russian Railways, Interfax reported.
The trip from Moscow to Vladivostok takes about 10 days by train. Russian Post is already considering launching postal trains along other routes as well, a move that may improve the state monopoly's fledgling reputation.
The postal service's new venture follows several embarrassing news reports in recent weeks about the service's overall inefficiency.
In mid-July, Russian media reports said an express package delivery by Russian Post from Moscow to the northeastern Komi republic had taken six months.
About 57 percent of all postal deliveries are made by train, and Russia's postal service has a total of 131 railway routes, Interfax reported.
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