Sapsan

The Sapsan (Russian: Сапсан, lit. 'Peregrine Falcon', known as Velaro RUS EVS) is a Russian gauge high speed electric express train. The train is a Siemens Velaro model, which in turn is based on the ICE 3M/F high-speed trains manufactured by Siemens for the German Deutsche Bahn (DB), known as the Siemens Velaro RUS.

For other uses, see Sapsan (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with the cancelled Sokol train project.
EVS1/EVS2 Sapsan
Siemens Velaro RUS (Sapsan) en route from Moscow to Saint Petersburg
In service2009–present
ManufacturerSiemens
Family nameSiemens Velaro
Formation10 / 20 cars
Capacity604 / 1208
Operator(s)Russian Railways
Line(s) servedOctober Railway
Moscow Railway
Gorky Railway
Specifications
Train length250 m (820 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Car length25.535 m / 24.175 m
Width3.265 m (10 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Height4.4 m (14 ft 5+1⁄4 in)
Floor height1.36 m (53.5 in)
Platform height1,100–1,300 mm (43.3–51.2 in)
200–550 mm (7.9–21.7 in) (EVS2 only; delivery in 2015 onward)
Maximum speed250 km/h (155 mph)
(upgradeable to 350 km/h (217 mph))
Weight667 t (656 long tons; 735 short tons)
Traction systemAsynchronous induction motors
Power output8,000 kW (11,000 hp)
Tractive effort328 kN (74,000 lbf) (starting)
296 kN (67,000 lbf)
@ 97 km/h (60 mph) (continuous)
Electric system(s)EVS1: 3 kV DC
EVS2 (dual voltage units):
3 kV DC / 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′ +2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Safety system(s)KLUB-U
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge

The trains started regular service on the Saint Petersburg–Moscow Railway in December 2009[1][2] at a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) (a new build high-speed line would allow for speeds of up to 350 km/h or 217 mph).

On 22 March 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Siemens suspended its contract to supply additional trainsets,[3] as well as announcing it would end maintenance and other services from 13 May 2022, with Russian Railways stepping in to continue their maintenance.[4][5]

Construction history

On 18 May 2006, Siemens and Russian Railways signed a €276 million order for eight high-speed trains[6] with a 30-year service contract worth around €300 million.[6]

OO gauge model railway featuring the Sapsan train on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway and Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod Railway in the Museum of the Moscow Railway, Moscow.

The trains were ordered to connect Moscow with Saint Petersburg[7] and later Nizhny Novgorod at a speed of up to 250 km/h (155 mph). They are derived from the German ICE 3 train but with bodies widened by 330 mm (13.0 in) to 3,265 mm (10 ft 8.5 in) to suit Russia's wide loading gauge.[8] Four of the trains (EVS2) are equipped for both 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC operation. The total length of each ten-car train is 250 m (820 ft 3 in), carrying up to 600 passengers.

Development and construction was carried out by Siemens at Erlangen and Krefeld in Germany. In August 2009, it was announced that the fifth Sapsan had been delivered to Russia, of the eight that were planned.[9]

Four single-voltage ("EVS1", 3 kV DC powered, trainsets 5-8) trains entered passenger service at the end of 2009 on the Moscow – St Petersburg route, with the dual-system trains (EVS2, trainsets 1-4) entering service on the Nizhny Novgorod route on 30 July 2010.[10]

Sapsan set records for the fastest train in Russia on 2 May 2009, travelling at 281 km/h (175 mph)[11] and on 7 May 2009, travelling at 290 km/h (180 mph).

On 19 December 2011, a €600 million order for an additional twenty trainsets including eight EVS2 sets[12] was signed in order to facilitate an increased number of services on existing lines and the expansion of new service elsewhere in the system.[13][14] The second-batch EVS1 sets (trainsets 9-20) will be same details as the first-batch EVS1 sets, but the second-batch EVS2 sets (trainsets 21 onward) will have retractable steps to suit for low platforms, unlike the first-batch EVS2 sets.

Operations
500 meters version on a route Moscow — Saint Petersburg

Since entering service in December 2009, it has been Russian Railways' only profitable passenger service, with an occupancy rate of 84.5%. According to the timetable valid from 30 October 2011, the direct train from Moscow to St Petersburg without intermediate stops needs 3 hours 40 minutes, the train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod 3 hours 55 minutes.

Introduction of Sapsan initially provoked cancelling of affordable daytime trains between Moscow and St Petersburg. Since the end of 2012, Moscow – St Petersburg daytime trains other than Sapsan were running again.

There were a series of stone throwing attacks against Sapsan trains. Possible reasons including cancelling of commuter trains, disruption of local transportation in rural areas, and accidents because of poor safety for pedestrians have been suggested. New bridge crossings were built, platforms along the railway were reconstructed and additional track was completed in 2015. New Lastochka commuter trains were introduced on the Moscow – Tver[15] and St Petersburg – Bologoye routes. Local trains in the rural areas were saved.[16][17]

Route

Moscow – Saint Petersburg route

The first and the only (since 2015) route for Sapsan trains.

Moscow (Leningradsky railway terminal) – Tver (756A, 762A, 770A, 778A, 780A) – Vyshny Volochyok (758A, 768A, 776A) – Bologoye (756A, 762A, 770A, 778A, 780A, 784A) – Uglovka (758A, 760A, 768A, 778A) – Okulovka (758A, 760A, 768A, 778A) – Chudovo (756A, 758A, 768A, 776A, 780A, 784A, 786A) – Saint Petersburg (Moskovsky railway terminal)[18]

There are no Sapsan trains stopping at all stations on the route. The fastest ones do not stop between Moscow and Saint Petersburg at all. Numbers of the trains which stop at intermediate stations are listed above. Such measures were implemented to increase speed.

Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod route

Former route of Sapsan trains. Since 2015, new Talgo Strizh train was introduced. All the Sapsans were directed to Moscow – St Petersburg route. Talgo trains are also high speed but more suitable for this route.

Saint Petersburg – Nizhny Novgorod route

On 1 March 2018, Russian Railways reopened the discontinued Saint Petersburg – Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod route which allows passengers to take an 8 hour 11 minute journey without a train change in Moscow.[19]

RZD Sapsan route

Tickets

On 1 July 2012, the Russian Railways company introduced a new tariff system for Sapsan trains which dynamically prices tickets based on two factors:

  • The date of sale of the ticket,
  • Percentage of occupied seats on the train.

The new rates range from 0.8 to 1.2 times the base rate for the day. It is possible to see the final price of a ticket for a specific date during the booking process.

See also

References
  1. "A beginner's guide to train travel in Russia". The Man in Seat 61. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. Первый "Сапсан" поедет через неделю [First "Sapsan" will go in a week]. Fontanka Фонтанка (in Russian). 23 July 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. "Siemens suspended the contract for the supply of new Sapsan electric trains". Novaya Gazeta. 22 March 2022.
  4. "Siemens to wind down Russian business". Siemens (Press release). 12 May 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  5. "Russian Railways will ensure further maintenance of Sapsan, Lastochka high-speed trains". TASS. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  6. "Velaro RUS to St Petersburg". Railway Gazette International. 6 June 2006.
  7. "Use Sapsan High Speed Train between Moscow and St. Petersburg". vegantrekker.com. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  8. Broad-gauge Velaro fleet relaunches Russia's high speed programme. Railway Gazette International November 2006.
  9. "The fifth Sapsan train has been delivered to Russia" (in Russian). Fontanka.ru. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  10. "Sapsan reaches Nizhny Novgorod". Railway Gazette International. 2 August 2010.
  11. "Sapsan claims Russian rail speed record". Railway Gazette International. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.,
  12. 8 EVS1 sets delivery in 2014, 4 EVS1 and 8 EVS2 sets delivery in 2015.
  13. "Russian Railways orders eight more Sapsan trains". Railway Gazette International. 20 December 2011.
  14. "Russian Railways orders more high-speed trains from Siemens" (Press release). Siemens.com. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  15. Titko, Alisa (1 October 2015). Скоростные поезда "Ласточки" с 1 октября запустили из Москвы в Тверь. Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  16. Расписание электричек из Окуловки в Бологое [Schedule of electric trains from Okulovka to Bologoe] (in Russian). rasp.yandex.ru. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  17. Расписание электричек из Малой Вишеры в Окуловку [Schedule of electric trains from Malaya Vishera to Okulovka] (in Russian). rasp.yandex.ru. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  18. Расписание рейсов из Москвы в Санкт-Петербург [Schedule of trips from Moscow to St Petersburg] (in Russian). rasp.yandex.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  19. "РЖД запустит "Сапсан" Петербург-Нижний Новгород с остановкой в Москве (in Russian). mir24.tv. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
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