The President of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin announced the plans to strengthen and facilitate the train connections between Europe and Russia over the next 3 years.

      To this end, Talgo trains with a new automatic track gauge changeover systems have been ordered. The trains are expected to start running toward the end of the year on Moscow-Kiev and Moscow-Berlin routes. More carriages at a cost of 135mln EUR have been ordered and will be delivered in 2014 and 2015.

      The acquisition of new trains was announced at the European Parliament's first ever exhibition dedicated to the Russian Railways. In the next decade Russia is expected to become the major player in economic exchanges between Europe and China. The plans include a construction of a land bridge that should significantly facilitate the cargo transportation. However, to achieve this, Russian railways system has to undergo a major revamp. The new trains with an automatic track gauge changeover system will help to cross the Russian-European border without a currently compulsory stop to readjust the gauge. As a result, when these trains are in operation, a journey from Moscow to Berlin will shorten from 26 to just 9 hours. 

      Overall, 10 international routes originate from Russia, taking passengers to Romania, Germany, Hungary, and France. The travellers with Russian Railways have received a New Year present last December, when train routes from Moscow to Paris and Nice were opened.

      Source: RBTH. Image courtesy: Belorussky Vokzal.