"This project... should be developed urgently and without delay," Aliaksandr Lukashenka ordered the government and Belarusian Railways company on April 4 when meeting with Peter Spuler, owner and president of Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail AG. 

The head of the state is convinced the realization of the project will boost the aiport's performance. "People will be able to take use of the airport, because it will be easier to reach it. Currently, there is a certain problem," Mr Lukashenka said. 

He reckons some other state programs should be suspended to relieve funding for this particular project, reports state-owned news agency BELTA. 

The plan to dispatch passenger trains from Minsk to the international airport (40 km off the Belarus capital) was initially announced in November 2012 by Transport and Communications Minister Anatol Sivak. He said there should be no big problem as there was a railway track already in place between Minsk's suburbs in Smaliavichy and the international airport used to transport goods and fuel.

Lukashenka: We will have double-deck trains by late 2014!

Photo: bymedia.net