A decision on suburban rail service between Orsha, Vitebsk, and Smolensk was adopted at the meeting (the Supreme State Council signed the corresponding decree).

According to the minister, this involves restoring cross-border suburban rail service that was interrupted in 1991. He explained that in 2024, such service was launched in a transfer format, meaning passengers had to change trains at the border. Now, a decision has been made to operate it without transfers. 

«Non-stop cross-border suburban service is planned to be launched in April 2026. Initially on two routes: Smolensk-Orsha and Smolensk-Vitebsk,» the minister noted. «Three pairs of trains per day on each route. Three times a day in both directions.»

At the same time, benefits for citizens of both states will remain in place. Appropriate funding from the Union State budget has been allocated for these purposes.

«As for the benefits for passengers: this is not international, but suburban service, so the ticket price will be completely different [lower],» Aleksei Lyakhnovich said.

As Russian Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin noted in a conversation with journalists, commenting on the Supreme State Council’s decision, the need for passengers to change trains at the Belarus-Russia border certainly did not correspond to the spirit and rules of the Union State. «As minister of transport and simply as a person, I am very glad that we have finally overcome and removed all bureaucratic obstacles. The trains will begin running non-stop in April. There will be three trains a day. Initially from Smolensk. Next will be Pskov and Velikiye Luki and next on to the cities in Belarus,» he said.