VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
The high-speed rail link project between Russia and Finland is being managed by the Russian-Finnish corporation Oy Karelian Trains Ltd. created by OAO RZhD and VR Group.
An agreement to this effect was signed in Helsinki in November 2006 in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Tarja Halonen. Oy Karelian Trains Ltd. and the French firm Alstom signed a contract to supply four two-system Pendolino trains in September 2007.
The high-speed trains Allegro built on the Pendolino Sm 6 platform can operate on DC and AC current. The maximum speed is 220 kmh. The trains will be fitted with radio communications that can be used both on Finnish and Russian railways. The train can tilt up to 8 degrees through corners to compensate for cornering forces thus ensuring extra passenger comfort.
The Allegro train will cover the distance between St Petersburg and Helsinki in 3.5 hours (subsequently in 3 hours) instead of 5.5 hours today.
Allegro consists of seven cars with 350 seats. The train also has a restaurant car. Smoking will be prohibited.
The high-speed rail link between St Petersburg and Helsinki will open in late 2010. By 2011 the current trains Sibelius and Repin will be discontinued and high-speed Allegro trains will make three runs a day.
