Siemens to produce new generation trains for Russia

Russia-IC ^ | 20.07.07 | Natalya L.

[Webby_surfer]

The German company Siemens starts to produce high-speed trains Velaro Rus for exploitation in Russia. An official ceremony marking the beginning of the first train production is held in the city Krefeld, today, July 20.

[Gamecock]

exploitation?

[Webby_surfer]

yes, is there something wrong with it?

[Red Badger]

Main Entry: 1ex·ploit Pronunciation: 'ek-"sploit, ik-' Function: noun Etymology: Middle English espleit, expleit, exploit furtherance, outcome, from Anglo-French, from Latin explicitum, neuter of explicitus, past participle : DEED, ACT; especially : a notable or heroic act

[jeddavis]

Russia could use high speed trains. They have some serious distances to cover.

[Webby_surfer]

ok, i`ll correct it in the original news, thanks

[Red Badger]

Why? there’s nothing wrong with it. It is being used in the proper manner, although a little pompous, but this is Russia and they tend to sound a little bombastic at times.......

[tlb]

>>>Siemens to produce new generation trains for Russia

Siemens spurting through rail tunnels is a little too Freudian for me.

[ryan71]

Is the rail on the ground or above the ground?

High speed trains make no sense until the rails are built above the ground.

[Webby_surfer]

It`s rail on the ground, and i`ve seen it to be used in this sense

[sittnick]

Each train can carry 600 passengers.

The trains cost over $100,000,000 each (not counting operating costs).

100,000,000 divided by 600 equals over $165,000 per seat.

The distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg is 400 miles.

The train can go about 200 mph top speed. That makes the trip a bit over two hours long if there are no stops.

Figure the train would make a maximum of six trips a day (three round trips)(loading and unloading, maintenance, etc.) and that’s about 2,200 trips per year. If we assume a cost of $100 per one way trip (which is probably generous), the seat would bring in $220,000 in just one year.

Okay. If the cost of the electricity is reasonable, AND they can fill the train six times a day AND get a decent price per ticket, and maintenance isn’t too expensive, it might well work out. I actually expected the numbers to work much worse than they actually did. Of course, I am assuming that the track will not need upgrades (and of course, they have to maintain the track for the current trains anyway.)

[Alter Kaker]

Russia could use high speed trains. They have some serious distances to cover.

Also no sane person would drive on a Russian road or fly on a Russian domestic airline if at all possible, whereas their trains are very safe.

[Alter Kaker]

High speed trains make no sense until the rails are built above the ground.

Why do you say that? I'm not sure I follow.

[wolf78]

Velaro RUS

The Siemens Velaro family of trains is actually the international variant of the well known "InterCity Express" (3rd generation). More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCityExpress and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_Velaro

The Velaro reaches top speeds of up to 250 mph, with standard operational speeds up to 200-220mph.

[Webby_surfer]

The trains of this type produced for Russia are said to reach speed upto 330km/h