Lastochka High-Speed train

Lastochka 2

Transport  Russian Trains High-Speed trains in Russia Lastochka High-Speed train


TRAIN

Lastochka train near Sochi - ©rzd.ru

The Lastochka train is the most common high-speed train in Russia. The first Lastochka started to operate temporarily in 2013 in Kazan to carry guests of the Universiade from the airport to the city centre. The train is a localised version of the German Siemens Desire train. The train can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour. Therefore, the distance between Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod is covered about four hours.

Lastochka in the railway station - ©rzd.ru

Lastochka means swallow in Russian and is one of the collection of high-speed trains which are named after birds – such as the Sapsan (peregrine falcon) and the Strizh (swift).


ROUTE

Lastochka train in Smolensk - ©rzd.ru

With the Lastochka High-Speed train it became much easier to travel around Central and Southern Russia.

There are nine routes at the moment:

1. St Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург) to Bologoe (Бологое) via Novgorod Veliky (Новгород Великий)

2. St Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург) - Petrozavodsk (Петрозаводск)

3. Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod (Нижний Новгород) via Vladimir

4. Moscow - Kursk (Курск) via Tula, Mtsensk and Oryol.

5. Moscow - Smolensk (Смоленск) via Mozhaisk, Gagarin and Vyazma.

6. Adler (Адлер) - Maikop (Майкоп)

7. Krasnodar (Краснодар) - Adler (Адлер)

8. Sochi (Сочи) - Krasnaya Polyana (Красная Поляна) - Roza Khutor (Роза Хутор)

9. Rostov-on-Don (Ростов-на-Дону) - Krasnodar (Краснодар)


WAGONS

Wagon of Lastochka train - ©rzd.ru

The train usually consists of five cars (the trains from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow have 10 wagons), which have special seats for disabled people. It only has second class wagons. There are two toilets for the train of 5 wagons but they are big and adjusted for disabled people.

Plan of Lastochka train - ©rzd.ru

The train’s sitting arrangement is not very convenient as some of seats face each other. There are only a few sockets in the wagon - about eight per wagon.

Plan of Lastochka wagon - ©rzd.ru

There is no restaurant wagon on the train, but from time to time merchants selling with drinks and snacks walk through.

Lastochka train - ©rzd.ru


Transport  Russian Trains High-Speed trains in Russia Lastochka High-Speed train


SAPSAN HIGH-SPEED TRAIN

The Sapsan is a high-speed train which operates between Moscow and St Petersburg, bringing the travelling time between the two Russian capitals down to 3 hours 45 minutes. It also has a convenient schedule and several classes of carriages.means swift in Russian and so joins the collection of high-speed trains1 which are named after birds – such as the  Sapsan  (peregrine falcon) and the Lastochka (swallow). Read more...


STRIZH HIGH-SPEED TRAIN

The Strizh  (Стриж) high-speed trains runs along the route of Moscow Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow. Strizh  means swift in Russian and so joins the collection of high-speed trains1 which are named after birds – such as the  Sapsan  (peregrine falcon) and the Lastochka (swallow). In a vote for the name,  Strizh  beat Lanner (lanner falcon) and Orlan (sea-eagle). Read more...