OREANDA-NEWS. March 28, 2011. NeVa Project comprises design and development of new underground cars of the 4th generation, and construction of new type of high-technology innovational production for underground trains assembling. The Project’s main objectives are to create high-efficient and highly profitable production of new generation subway cars. There are no similar cars in production in Russia or other CIS countries.

VAGONMASH CJSC started NeVa Project at the beginning of 2007, at that time it concluded the agreement with Skoda Transportation, s.r.o. for elaboration of design and technological documentation. On November the 4th of the same year, the Protocol on cooperation of the two companies was concluded, in presence of the Governor of St. Petersburg Mrs. Valentina Matvienko and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mr. Mirek Topolanek, in Prague, during the official visit of the St. Petersburg delegation to the Czech Republic.

Thus, VAGONMASH CJSC, with the participation of Skoda Transportation Company, has developed a new rolling stock for underground railways, with significant competitive advantages, namely:

•       Lightweight,
•       AC drive with asynchronous motors,
•       Energy efficiency (energy-saving technologies),
•       Increased service life,
•       Increased distance run between overhauls,
•       Lower prime cost in comparison with world manufacturers’ analogues.

Firstly, the concept of a new electric train was presented at the II St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum in September 2009. By the year-end results, NeVa was named as the St. Petersburg Best Innovative Project for the Purposes of Municipal Economy, and won the prize of the St. Petersburg Government, in compliance with the City program on innovations support.

In January 2011, the Governor Mrs. Valentina Matvienko and other leaders of the St. Petersburg Administration visited VAGONMASH CJSC in anticipation of the transfer of the first NeVa series cars for tests to SUE St. Petersburg Underground.

Currently, VAGONMASH CJSC continues to produce three more cars of the first prototype, and plans to transfer them to SUE St. Petersburg Underground in the second quarter of 2011, to continue testing of six-car trains.

In 2011, it is expected to receive the Compliance Certificate for NeVa subway cars, with their further participation in the tender for supply of 6 cars for SUE St. Petersburg Underground.