Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Austria agreed in 2007 to plans to extend an existing broad-gauge rail line in Russia and Ukraine through Slovakia and into Austria. The primary force behind the project is Russian Railways, which ostensibly is looking to connect rail lines between Asia and Europe. In the five years since agreement on the project was reached, only pre-feasibility studies have been completed. An ongoing feasibility study is supposed to conclude by the end of 2013, and construction is scheduled to finish by 2016. Russian Railways map Because of the railway project's relatively small scale and the fact that it concerns a less significant sector — transport — it will not provide anywhere near the strategic value for Moscow as some of its efforts elsewhere. For instance, Russia has been experimenting with buying European assets on the cheap during the economic downtown to increase its influence in the region.