OREANDA-NEWS. August 07, 2009. In the first half of 2009, Russian Railways invested 2.3 billion roubles in its high-speed passenger project between Moscow & St. Petersburg, which is due to begin operations in December 2009. The new service aims to reduce the travel time for passengers between Moscow and St. Petersburg to 3 hours and 45 minutes, cutting the current minimum time from 4 hours 30 minutes, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

On 30 July, a high-speed Sapsan train covered the route Moscow - St. Petersburg - Moscow in 3 hours 45 minutes on a test run.

Prior to commencing operations, Russian Railways plans to complete the reconstruction of the route between Kolpino - Tosno, Tosno - Mstinsky Bridge, Mstinsky Bridge - Bologoye and Bologoye - Moscow and upgrade a number of substations.