OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2014. Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, and Jose Maria Oriol Fabra, President of Patentes Talgo SL, took a demonstration ride on a Talgo passenger train around the VNIIZhT test circuit at Scherbinka. This formation is currently undergoing certification and acceptance tests.

This is the first of seven trains which Patentes Talgo SL will supply to Russian Railways in accordance with a contract signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Three of the seven formations are scheduled to operate on the route Moscow – Minsk – Warsaw – Berlin and four on domestic routes.

According to Yakunin, the Talgo will first enter service on the Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod route.

"The Sapsan trains will be transferred from this route to St. Petersburg in order to provide regular services between the two cities," said Vladimir Yakunin.

Such a service, stressed the President of Russian Railways, will allow high-speed trains to compete with all modes of transport, including busses.

Talgo passenger trains consist of 20 carriages (18 for passengers and two technical wagons) and have a capacity of 414 and 216 seats, depending on the composition of the train.

The train includes carriages with 1st and 2nd class seats and 1st and 2nd class sleeping compartments, as well as Luxury class carriages, carriages with compartments adapted for wheelchair travel, a bistro-car and a dining car.

All carriages have air conditioning, electric air heating and environmentally friendly toilet units. Sinks are fitted in the 1st class carriage compartments, while a bath and toilet are standard in all Luxury compartments.

Talgo trains are planned to enter service on the Moscow – Berlin route in December 2015.

The Federal Passenger Company, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, will operate the Talgo trains.