Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed railway
High-speed rail system in Russia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed railway (Russian: Высокоскоростная магистраль Москва — Санкт-Петербург), also known as VSM-1 (Russian: ВСМ-1) is a high-speed rail line under construction in Russia.[1]
| Moscow–Saint Petersburg high-speed railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 16 |
| Service | |
| Type | High-speed rail |
| History | |
| Planned opening | 1 April 2028 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 679 km (422 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge |
| Electrification | |
| Operating speed | 360 km/h (220 mph) |
History
In 2020, Russian Railways reported construction was scheduled to begin in 2021.[2] The estimated travel time was 2 hours 19 minutes, and the length of the line would be 679 km.[3][4]
In November 2021, reports suggested it was likely for the project to be abandoned favouring possible upgrades to the existing Saint Petersburg-Moscow railway.[5]
In August 2023, president Vladimir Putin announced his support for taking the project forward, as well as making progress towards Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh and Kazan.[1]
On December 15, 2023, the Russian minister of transport, Vitaly Savelyev, said that they have formed the main parameters of implementation and developed a financial and organizational model.[6]
Estimates placed cost more than ₽2.3 trillion ($25.97 billion), and will be built by VSM Two Capitals LLC (VSM Dve Stolitsy), a Russian company, using both government and private funds, under concession.[7] The Russian government plans to allocate more than ₽300 billion from the National Welfare Fund at 1% in 2025, and ₽328 billion in subsidies in the period between 2024 and 2038.[7][8] In total, it is estimated ₽580 billion will need to be allocated form the National Wealth Fund, with the remaining amount coming from sources such as VTB, Sberbank and Gazprombank.[7]
Sberbank arranged two syndicated loans, involving VTB (providing ₽400 billion) and Sovcombank, for the construction of the new line and the rolling stock. The line is expected to cost ₽1.788 trillion ($16.55 billion) to build.[9]
President Vladimir Putin gave the go-ahead for construction in March 2024.[10] Construction is planned to begin in the summer of 2025, with the line opening for service on 1 April 2028.[11]
Route
The line was planned to be 679 km long, and will serve 16 stations (including 4 intermediate stations within Moscow).[12][13]
The planned stations as of 2024 are, in Moscow: Moscow-Leningradsky, Rizhskaya and Petrovsko-Razumovskaya, in Moscow Oblast: Zelenograd-Kryukovo and Vysokovo, in Tver Oblast: New Tver, Logovezh and Vypolzovo, in Novgorod Oblast: Valday, Gorki, Veliky Novgorod and Tigoda, in Leningrad Oblast: Zharovskaya, and in Saint Petersburg: Obukhovo-2 and Moskovsky railway station.[14][15]
Operation
Trains will operate at a maximum speed of 360 km/h, while the line is reported to be designed to handle speeds of 400 km/h.[16]
The line is estimated to cut travel time between Moscow and St Petersburg to 2 hours 15 minutes, running at 15-20 minute headways, later increasing in frequency to 10–15 minutes by 2030.[17]
Rolling stock
| Bely Krechet | |
|---|---|
 Presentation of concept design at the "Manezh Station: Moscow Transport 2030" exhibition | |
| Stock type | Electric multiple unit |
| Manufacturer | Ural Locomotives |
| Designers | Railway Transport Engineering Centre (RZD and Sinara Transport Machines) |
| Assembly | Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia |
| Entered service | 2028 (planned) |
| Number under construction | 43 (planned) |
| Capacity | 454 seats (8 car sets) |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Electric systems | 25 kV 50 Hz AC / 3,000 V DC overhead line |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge |
The rolling stock is being produced by Sinara, which in a joint venture with Siemens, produced the Velaro RUS (Sapsan) and Desiro RUS (Lastochka) trains.[1][18] A previous partnership to produce high speed trains with Siemens was dissolved due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, following which Siemens exited the Russian market and the joint venture.[1][19]
In April 2024, a ₽12 billion ($119.6 million) contract was signed with Ural Locomotives (a subsidiary of Sinara Group) to produce 2 pre-series trains. The trains will be 8 cars long, with a design speed of 400 km/h, and a maximum operational speed of 360 km/h.[20]
In September 2024, an agreement for 41 trainsets was signed by GTLK, a Russian state lessor, and VSM Two Capitals LLC, the concessionaire, at the 'Manezh Station - Moscow Transport 2030' exhibition, which included a mock-up of the design, in Manezhnaya Square, Moscow. In addition to the pre-series trains, it brings the total number of trains on order to 43, to be delivered by 2030.[21][22]
They will be branded as 'Bely Krechet' (white gyrfalcon) trains, alongside other Russian train designs named after birds.[23]
The trains will be composed of 8 or 16 cars, with 4 classes of seating and a bistro car. 8 car trains will have 454 seats (21 first, 68 business, 135 standard, and 230 'comfort' seats). They will be designed for operating temperatures ranging from -40 to +40°C. Designs are to be finalised by Q1 2026, with the first prototype built by 2027, and certified by 2028.[22][23]
The train will be tested on a section of the line under construction between Moscow and Tver.[24]