For the English full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version).ABSTRACT The article highlights the urgency and specificity of high-speed railways in Russia. The specifics of accounting for the cost of construction of HSR are indicated. The necessity of evaluating project solutions based on the technical and economic comparison of options is substantiated. Present and prospective technical solutions and technologies for construction of HSR are given, possibilities for further transition to the overpass method of their erection are considered. A comparative analysis of the estimated cost of construction of HSR-2 Moscow-Kazan and similar analogues, whose projects are implemented in international practice, are presented. The authors argue that the high-speed railway line Moscow- Kazan is unique, technically complex, the first in Russia infrastructure project of this level. Compliance with the requirements of the terms of reference, regulatory documents and the application of best practices of foreign countries have a determining effect on the estimated cost of construction. In comparison with the railways of the common network with train speeds of up to 200 km/h, the HSR-2 project significantly exceeds the share of the main construction sites (by more than 36 %). The presented data confirm that the cost of project solutions with the increase in the speed of trains by more than 200 km/h is interdependent from the increase in the requirements for safety and continuity of movement of high-speed railway transport. The editorial board reminds that all interpretation of facts and the conclusions lay exclusively in the sphere of authors’ responsibility. Keywords: railway, high-speed highway, construction, technical and economic comparison, cost of line, cost of technical solutions, roadbed, ballastless track superstructure, HSR in the world.