The next stage of the testing of the Sokol-250 high-speed train built at the Tikhvin Transportation Machinery-building Plant has been a success. The construction of the train was commissioned by the High-speed Lines company. According to the press service of the IST group, the owner of the Tikhvin plant, the train covered the distance between St. Petersburg and Moscow in 4 hours, travelling at a speed of 200 km per hour. After the further tests of the Sokol-250 train have been completed, a decision will be made as to its mass-production.

The Sokol-250 train is the first in Russia capable of using either alternating or direct electric current. The test prototype was built in 1999. The train is supposed to be able to travel at 250 km per hour, covering the distance between Moscow and St. Petersburg in 3 hours. The train costs $20.4 million, $19.3 million when mass-produced. Its regular use between Moscow and St. Petersburg is expected to begin in September 2002. At this time, there are 18 trains like that, to reach the number of 70 or 80 by 2010.

News source: Rosbalt
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