OREANDA-NEWS. March 04, 2011. Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin and the Executive Director of Patentes Talgo Jose Maria Oriol Fabra have signed an agreement to conclude contracts for the delivery and maintenance of passenger cars produced by the Spanish company, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The signing ceremony took place in St. Petersburg just before a meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Spanish King Juan Carlos I with representatives of business circles from the two countries.

"Spain is the only country that has long experience of safe operations with rolling stock with automatic gauge changing," said Vladimir Yakunin. "In view of the plans to begin high-speed passenger services between Moscow and Berlin, Russian Railways is looking closely at the use of trains equipped with such technology to operate on this route,"

The signed agreement reflects the Company’s intentions to hold talks to draw up contracts for the purchase and maintenance of passenger trains for the Moscow - Berlin service and some other routes. Using these trains will increase the technical and interoperability of rail systems using the European narrow gauge of 1435 mm and the broader gauge of 1520 mm used in Russia and the CIS, thus creating a single transport space.

The contract price and the volume of purchases, as well as the level of production localisation, will be determined during subsequent negotiations between the parties. The contract is expected to be concluded in June 2011.