Russian Railways has listed Moscow's historic Rizhsky Railway Station complex for auction for the fourth time after previous sale attempts failed to attract buyers.
The state rail operator announced on its corporate portal that the fourth auction for the historic property is scheduled for October 8, with applications accepted until noon on September 29.
Despite three unsuccessful sales attempts, the initial cost of the lot remains unchanged at approximately four billion rubles. Bidders are required to post a deposit of 400.9 million rubles to enter the competition.
The auction lot includes the main terminal building, constructed in 1901, together with a two-story non-residential building constructed in 1929 and a land parcel covering a total area of 13.7 thousand square meters.
Auction terms and heritage status
The previous sale attempt collapsed after failing to receive a single application. Marina Malakhatko, a partner at real estate consulting firm NF Group, cited the high starting valuation as the primary factor discouraging potential investors.
Malakhatko also emphasized that the complex's status as a cultural heritage site complicates the transaction. Under federal preservation guidelines, a buyer must maintain the main building in good condition and allocate additional funds for maintenance, repair, or restoration if damage is detected.
The main terminal complex has long ceased to function for its original operational purpose, leading Russian Railways to reclassify the property as a non-core asset. Situated in northern Moscow on Prospect Mira, the landmark station historically served passenger routes heading toward Riga and the Baltic region.
Debt reduction and asset sales
Corporate management hopes the divestment will help stabilize the state company's financial position, which has been strained by expanding debt, while also providing capital to help cover its broader investment program.
Rizhsky Station is one of several problematic assets currently held by the state rail operator. Russian Railways has faced similar difficulties unloading other non-core real estate assets in the capital, including commercial office spaces located inside the Moscow Towers skyscraper within the Moscow-City business district.
