Russian Railways Public Company CEO Vladimir Yakunin is going to arrive in Sverdlovsk Region on July 31, 2007, the spokesperson for Sverdlovsk Region Railways reports. According to some official reports, Mr. Yakunin is expected to take part in a meeting targeted at looking into the rail transport development strategy in 2007-2030. The meeting will be chaired by Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian Federation President in Ural Federal District Petr Latyshev.

At the same time, Mr. Yakunin’s visit might also have to do with the general status quo of Sverdlovsk Region Railways. For one, a passenger train 354 going from Perm to Priobie was derailed at 4.40 PM on July 11, 2007. The accident occurred at the 491st kilometer of Sverdlovsk Region Railways. Nine cars were derailed altogether; five of them actually toppled over. No people were killed, but nine passengers were wounded.

Mr. Yakunin last visited Sverdlovsk Region in mid-April and said things looked really deplorable.