OREANDA-NEWS. April 29, 2011. Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, and Peter Loscher, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Board of Siemens, have signed the documents which will now enable production of the Lastochka electric trains and the procurement of components to begin, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

An official signing ceremony was held at the Siemens’ plant in Krefeld, Germany, where the Lastochka (Swallow) will be built on the Desiro platform. The ceremony was also attended by Peter Ramsauer, Germany’s Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs.

Russian Railways will be taking delivery of 54 Lastochka trains in all from Siemens.

A first contract to supply 38 trains was signed on 17 December 2009, followed up by a second contract on 21 September 2010 to deliver another 16 electric trains whose production will be partially localised in Russia.

The first train is expected to arrive in Russia in 2012.

"The Lastochka is the basis for fundamental changes in the shape of suburban transport services," said the president of Russian Railways.

In 2014, the Lastochka will provide passengers services during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.