Speed Opens New Opportunities
In this day and age you can live in Tver and work in Moscow or nearby cities. In today's world people are ready to cover long distances in search of new opportunities. Thanks to the Lastochka commuter trains produced by Siemens for Russian Railways, passengers can now reach their destinations quicker and with more comfort.
The Lastochka train is adapted to Russian conditions, which means not only resistance to air temperatures as low as -40 °C but also compatibility of the car body and bogies to the 1520 mm-wide gauge. Large multifunctional zones in the passenger cabin provide enough space for oversize luggage, there are dedicated seats for people with limited physical abilities, and the cabins are fitted with climate control equipment ensuring comfortable temperatures throughout the trip. A passive safety system protects passengers and the crew in the unlikely event of an accident.
Lastochkas run as fast as 160 kilometres per hour. Lightweight car design and pneumatic suspension ensure high comfort at any speed.
The first Desiro RUS (Lastochka) trains were ordered by Russian Railways in 2009 and produced at our own plant in Germany. In 2011, OJSC Russian Railways placed an order for 1200 more Lastochka cars. The production of these cars has been localized near Yekaterinburg at Ural Locomotives, a joint venture of Siemens and the SINARA Group. By 2017 Siemens will achieve 80% localization of the Lastochka train production in Russia.
Siemens also provides maintenance services for the whole Lastochka fleet. Throughout a 40-years timespan they will be serviced at motive power depots in Moscow and Adler.
Passenger operation of the electric trains started in 2013. In early 2014, they were carrying the athletes and spectators to the various locations of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
The first line where locally produced Lastochkas were introduced was the Moscow – Tver route. Thanks to the introduction of these trains, travel time between the two cities was reduced by half. Now passengers can reach Moscow from Tver in only one hour and a half.
Today, Lastochkas already connect cities in six regions of Russia, ensuring the comfort and safety of thousands of passengers. In the future these trains will be used as rolling stock at the Moscow Railway Small Ring which is planned to start operating in 2016.
