OREANDA-NEWS. From 12 December 2010, a high-speed train service will operate between St Petersburg and Helsinki. Ticket sales opened in Russia at all specialized ticket desks and terminals working with international trains, reported the press-centre of RZD.

Ticket prices in both Russia and Finland are:

St Petersburg - Helsinki: 84 euros for 2nd class, 134 euros for 1st class;

Vyborg - Helsinki: 68.4 euros for 2nd class, 111.6 euros for 1st class.

Between St. Petersburg and Helsinki, the trains stop at the Finnish cities of Vainikkala, Kouvola, Lahti, Tikkurila, and Pasila. The prices of tickets to these stations will be less than for the whole route. The above prices are applicable up to 21/03/2010 inclusive. When travelling in first-class carriages, the ticket cost includes services up to a value of 15.5 euros. Timetable of Allegro trains:

No.151 St Petersburg – Helsinki, departing from St Petersburg at 6:40, arriving in Helsinki at 9:16 (daily);

No.155 St Petersburg – Helsinki, departing from St Petersburg at 15:25, arriving in Helsinki at 18:01 (daily);

No.35 Helsinki - St Petersburg, departing from Helsinki at 10:00, arriving in St Petersburg at 14:36 (daily);

No.37 Helsinki - St Petersburg, departing from Helsinki at 15:00, arriving in St Petersburg at 19:36 (daily).
 
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The launch of the high-speed service will reduce the journey time between St. Petersburg and Helsinki from the current 6 hours 18 minutes to just over 3 hours 30 minutes. The shorter journey time is due to the more modern trains, quicker border checkpoint procedures, and greater train speeds. The Allegro trains will be able to reach 200 km/h on Russian territory, and 220 km/h on Finnish territory.

By summer 2011, the number of daily journeys is planned to be increased from two to four.

The Allegro trains have 344 seats, of which 296 are second-class and 48 are first-class. As part of the project to launch the high-speed service, Russian Railways reconstructed the 157-km St Petersburg – Buslovskaya section of the line.

Despite the launch of the Allegro trains, none of the suburban services between St Petersburg and the Finnish border will be cancelled, and on certain sections of the line, the number of suburban trains will even be increased.