The first of a new fleet of Sapsan trains, which will double the number of high-speed units operating in Russia, has been delivered by Siemens.
Russian Railways (RZD) welcomed the first of the new fleet [not pictured] of eight 10-car Velaro units at Ust-Luga earlier this week.
The new high-speed trains are part of a €600 million order placed in 2011 which also included a 30-year maintenance contract.
Siemens has said that the new vehicles, which were built in Krefeld, will eventually be transported to the company’s Metallostroy depot depot near Saint Petersburg.
Another train is expected to be delivered by the end of the month, with all eight vehicles due to arrive in Russia by the middle of next year.
Although similar to the German ICE 3, the Sapsan, which has operated on the Moscow – St Petersburg and Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod routes since 2009, is actually 33 centimeters wider to operate on Russia broad gauge network.
