In a meeting spanning the Sverdlovsk region, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev spoke with President Vladimir Putin about an ambitious plan for high‑speed rail across Russia. The dialogue outlined a future where fast trains between major cities would run at 10‑ to 15‑minute intervals, with the Kremlin noting the discussions on its official site.
Savelyev outlined a near‑term goal: reduce travel times between Moscow and St. Petersburg to about two hours and fifteen minutes, down from the current roughly four hours. He also highlighted cutbacks in other corridors, including a Moscow–Tver link at about 39 minutes and a Petersburg–Veliky Novgorod route at roughly 29 minutes, all supported by trains running every 10–15 minutes. The assurances were framed as part of a broader push toward a dense, rapid network.
Putin added that high‑speed services could extend to Ryazan, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Adler, and Minsk in the future. He noted conversations with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, where the idea found political backing. Specific operational details were not disclosed at that time.
Pricing remains undecided, although Savelyev stressed its significance because fares would influence the project’s return on investment. Earlier reporting suggested Moscow–St. Petersburg could be priced higher than current options such as Sapsan or air travel, with a typical trip cited at around 5,008 rubles.
Officials signaled a 2030 opening for the St. Petersburg high‑speed corridor, contingent on securing financing. The Ministry of Transport indicated that a launch could begin within the current year pending a financing decision. In the capital, the route to St. Petersburg will be branded as VSM‑1 and is expected to stop at Leningradsky, Rizhsky, and Petrovsko‑Razumovsky stations, with Zelenograd‑Kryukovo also served by new services, according to Moscow’s deputy mayor.
The project has been framed by the Ministry of Transport as a long‑term national project, one that would require new trains, expanded railways, and enhanced routes to move essential goods. Putin described it as a collective national effort that would involve dozens, if not hundreds, of scientific institutes and contractors, painting the plan as both practical and achievable. “The high‑speed railway is Russia’s century project,” he asserted, underscoring that the route to St. Petersburg would mark a first for the country and set a new benchmark with no direct Russian analogue. Savelyev echoed the sentiment, noting that Russia could join the handful of nations already enjoying high‑speed rail connections, with China often cited as a prominent example.
Nevertheless, potential risks were acknowledged. Savelyev hinted at challenges but stated that there was a clear understanding of how to address them and maintain momentum toward the envisioned milestone. Putin framed the technological leap as a new standard for transport services and emphasized Russia’s growing scientific and technical capabilities. He urged a businesslike approach rather than mere wish lists, stressing the need for disciplined development of the railway sector.
As the plan advances, there is an expectation that air travel could shrink as rail options improve. Savelyev pointed to a potential reduction of up to 3.2 million air passengers on Moscow–St. Petersburg routes once the high‑speed line opens, with forecasts predicting a 14% drop in air travel overall. He noted that the displaced aircraft would be redirected to other destinations, mitigating broader disruption to aviation.
Who will build it and how much will it cost?
Putin stressed that infrastructure for high‑speed lines should be rooted locally, with shareholders and managers of involved enterprises ready to participate. Savelyev confirmed that the St. Petersburg segment would be built entirely with Russian components, leveraging Sinara and Transmashholding as core partners. A prototype is planned for 2026, followed by formal certification testing.
The initial production batch is planned at 28 trains, with a projected cost of 148 billion rubles to bring the fleet online by 2028. The capital outlay supports both rolling stock and the broader network requirements that enable a reliable high‑speed service.
The project’s financing involves a mix of public and private sources. A two‑stage construction plan outlined first a new corridor from St. Petersburg toward Zelenograd, estimated at 1.755 trillion rubles under a concession framework with the Federal Rail Transport Agency as the state partner. A private entity, labeled HSM – Two Capitals, was established to manage the concession. The second stage envisions new connections extending from Moscow, estimated at 221.5 billion rubles as part of the railways’ investment program, with ongoing support from existing investments in the sector.
Expansion of the Oktyabrskaya Railway to support freight movement was also proposed, projected to cost 580 billion rubles. Funding plans include a mix of bank loans, state support, subsidies, and pension fund instruments, with a call for possible adjustments to tax policy to facilitate the project during its implementation. The final funding formula would be refined through ongoing discussions involving regional authorities and financial institutions.
Savelyev noted the need for careful financial modeling, given the scale of the investment. While the start date for construction remained undecided, he promised forthcoming announcements. Moscow and St. Petersburg leaders signaled their readiness to participate, with the regions along the route contributing as feasible, and the capital city’s leadership indicating willingness to support where possible.
In sum, the dialogue painted a vision of a densely connected high‑speed rail network that could redefine intercity travel across Russia. It remains to be seen how the project will be phased, financed, and delivered, but the ambition is clear: a modernized rail system that links Russia’s major hubs in shorter, more frequent journeys. (Source: Kremlin meeting transcript)”