OREANDA-NEWS. On March 30, 2007 Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, announced during a working visit to Japan that Russia will have high-speed trains by 2012. Japan is the fourth country after Germany, Italy and France which experts from Russian Railways have visited on fact-finding missions about express and high-speed railways, reported the press-centre of  Russian Railways. During his visit, Yakunin learned about the operation of high-speed trains in Japan and the systems for servicing passenger trains, carrying out repair and maintenance, traffic control and passenger services on trains and at stations. Yakunin did not exclude the possibility that Japanese methods and designs could be used in constructing the high-speed line between Moscow and St. Petersburg.  Developing high-speed trains capable of 250-300 kph for Russia is one of the top priorities of Russian Railways. Russia now needs to build new high-speed lines between the main population centres and is currently considering two main routes, namely between Moscow and St. Petersburg and between Moscow and Sochi, where the Winter Olympics might be held in 2014.


Russian Railways is therefore looking at the question of a strategic partner and the main technical and technological solutions. In May 2006, Russian Railways signed a contract with the German company Siemens to take delivery of eight high-speed Velaro RUS trains in connection with its project to implement express train services at speeds of up to 160 kph between St. Petersburg and Moscow. The first consignment should be ready in December 2007, with operations due to begin in December 2009. The remaining trains will be delivered during 2010 and will cover the distance in 3ѕ hours. At the moment, an agreement is being finalised regarding the technical servicing of these trains for 30 years.
Russian Railways has also signed a five year memorandum with the French rail company SNCF, which provides for cooperation between the two companies in organising express and high-speed trains, including the purchase of rolling stock. Russian Railways has in addition signed an agreement with Finmeccanica from Italy for a project to develop a high-speed regional train capable of up to 160 kph and a proposal for a consignment of 50 electric trains.The two sides have also decided to set up a working group to agree on the technical specifications, design and manufacture of high-speed rolling stock in Russia.