OREANDA-NEWS. June 06, 2011. Russian Railways, Siemens and the Sinara Group have signed an agreement on the main conditions governing the supply of 1,200 carriages for the Lastochka (Swallow) electric train, which is part of the Desiro Rus series. The agreement also includes conditions regarding the localisation of production and the main technical specifications, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The contract was signed at the VI International Business Forum: 1520 Strategic Partnership currently being held in Sochi.

According to the agreement the trains will be produced using the facilities of Uralskiye Lokomotivy. By 2017 80% of the production will be administered locally, i.e. almost all trains will be manufactured in Russia.

The parties agreed that the basic price of an electric train (comprising five cars) will be 8.6M euros, i.e. 20% less than those currently supplied under existing contracts between Russian Railways and Siemens AG. Other supply terms and conditions will be finalized during subsequent negotiations.

Besides, the partners will establish an engineering facility that will be responsible for the development and modernization of the rail car rolling stock. This will enable Russian Railways and other carriers request changes in the basic design and configuration of locally produced electric trains.

Noteworthy too, Siemens AG will also supply 54 Lastochka trains to Russian Railways. The contract for the supply of 38 electric trains was signed 17 December 2009; another contract for the supply of additional 16 electric trains, some of which will be produced in Russia, was signed 21 September 2010.

In 2014 Lastochka trains will facilitate passenger transportation during the Winter Olympics/Paralympics in Sochi.