Russian Railways JSC has started negotiations with the owners of Novorossiysk Commercial Seaport on share acquisition, told the press Vladimir Goloskokov, head of the North Caucasian Railway on Monday.

According to Kommersant, the share in view is to be no less than a block package and may cost RR about $1.6 bn. V.Goloskokov cited the railcar congestion near the port as a motive for acquiring a share. He also suggested that linking all of the transportation chain under common management would have a favourable effect on the process making it more steady.

Experts believe the deal, if it is to be concluded, may be closed before summer. Officials in both the port and the rail refuse to comment. Operators at Novorossiysk think that to build an own terminal would be both cheaper and easier than to buy a share in NSCP.