Production of Russian high-speed train starts

21 July 2007

During his visit to the Siemens plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen on 20 July, RZD president Vladimir Yakunin gave the formal go-ahead for the body shell production of the first Russian high speed train, Velaro RUS. Starting at the end of 2009, these trains would be capable of running at speeds of up to 250km per hour on a high-speed line between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Yakunin called the start of Velaro''s production a "significant milestone in the development of the cooperation between RZD and Siemens". And he stated that the Velaro RUS, "whose design and technology reflected the highest standard in modern railway engineering, will soon enable RZD to catch up with other railway companies in the high speed rail sector and allow Russia to join the world''s elite club of high speed nations."

During the visit by the Russian delegation, Hans M. Schabert, president, Siemens transportation systems, emphasised Siemens strong cooperation with the RZD on the Velaro project, calling it an "outstanding basis for a long-term partnership between Siemens and the RZD in all areas of railway technology." He affirmed his belief that modern high-speed trains were the ideal means of satisfying Russia''s growing need for mobility.

Congratulating Yakunin on his decision to opt for the Velaro, the minister of transport of the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, Oliver Wittke, stressed that "the Velaro contract from Russia demonstrates impressively how well the railway industry is able to tap its innovative strength and utilise its international contacts in Germany''s most densely populated state."

Back in May 2006, Siemens Transportation Systems had already received the contract to build a total of eight high-speed trains, all of which would be manufactured in its Krefeld-Uerdingen plant and delivered by 2010.

Siemens will also be responsible for service and maintenance of these trains for 30 years. In all, that contract is worth about €600 million euros. Yakunin and Schabert officially approved the start of production of the body shells when they placed their signatures on a document certifying that the first step in the milestone agreement had been achieved.