Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozyorov said on Sunday that the company was ready to build a high-speed railroad, with the first Russian train for it scheduled to appear in 2027, after a delivery deal with Siemens was terminated due to US sanctions.
Under the deal signed by the two companies in June 2019, a branch of the German multinational conglomerate focused on rail technology and intelligent traffic systems was to deliver 13 high-speed Sapsan trains from September 2022 to July 2023.
The total value of the supply contract amounted to €513.5 million ($546.2 million), according to Russian Railways.
Siemens was also to provide maintenance and repair for the trains during their entire serviceable life, which is 30 years. The cost of the additional maintenance agreement reportedly amounted to €583.1 million ($620.3 million).
At the time of signing the contract in 2019, Russian Railways operated 16 Sapsan high-speed trains. The company was planning to increase the number of journeys between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, using the new trains.
German concern Siemens and all its subsidiaries announced plans to withdraw from the Russian market last May. The company also said it would withdraw from joint ventures and terminate service contracts for maintenance with Russian Railways.
Siemens also said the decision was due to the inability to further fulfill its contractual obligations because of sanctions and the requirements arising from them.
But, today we are ready to build the high-speed rail. And we think it is necessary now. Now is the time, Belozyorov told a Russian TV channel.
A specialized train fit for the high-speed rail is now being built and will be ready by 2027, the Russian Railways head said.
A high-speed railroad is a specialized electrified double-track line for operating trains with speeds of 200 to 400 kilometers per hour (124-248 miles per hour). There are no such roads in Russia now.
Authorities picked the Moscow-St. Petersburg route for the maiden high-speed rail. It is planned that the trains will cover the way between the cities in 2 hours 15 minutes.
Sputnik / ABC Flash Point Transportation News 2023.
Good. High speed train links are the future. That is the mistake the USA made. Not investing in high speed trainlinks throughout the country. smart Russians.
And where does the electricity come from, nuclear, coal, gas or diesel driven power stations?
Russian Railways which runs All Russian rail services ( with subsidiaries ) uses electric power -3 kV-DC and 25kV-AC .
The vast majority of electrical supply in Russia comes from Nuclear energy of which Russia is very advanced on –notice the overhead pylons in the above picture supporting electric conductors.
France relies entirely on nuclear energy exporting it to the UK.
France gets almost 80% of their energy out of nuclear power stations indeed, but with low waters levels in some of its rivers, they stat having problems with the cooling systems.