OREANDA-NEWS. April 07, 2008. According to Vadim Morozov, first Vice-President of Russian Railways, a high-speed service between Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod is to begin in September 2009, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

Morozov said the total cost of high-speed services on this route was estimated at 15,9 billion roubles, of which 12,9 billion roubles had been allocated to developing the necessary infrastructure and reconstructing and upgrading stations, while 3 billion roubles will go on purchasing rolling stock.

Last year, Russian Railways spend 4,4 billion roubles on the project and this year will invest a further 6,2 billion roubles and more than 2 billion roubles in 2009.

Passenger trains between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod will travel at 160 kmph, which will reduce the journey to just 3 hours and 30 minutes.