Sochi (Russia), May 31 (IANS) A new electric train made its debut in Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi. The train is expected to deliver passengers to the sports facilities during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the Paralympics.
According to the state-owned Russian Railways (RZD), the company introduced the five-car train “Lastochka”, or dubbed “Swallow” by the RZD Wednesday, from Germany’s Siemens AG as a response to the possible passenger traffic jam during the event.
The train, which has a carrying capacity of 800 passengers and a maximum speed of 160 kmph, is equipped with a Russian-designed safety control system KLUB-U, reported Xinhua.
The RZD has ordered a total of 54 Lastochka trains from the Germans, and the first batch of 38 trains is being supplied to Russia.
So far, the train is still under testing. Some of the Lastochka trains will also be used in Kazan next year for the World Student Games.
For the 2014 games, four railway stations are also being built by the RZD. All the constructions are expected to be completed in 2012.
In early May, prime minister Vladimir Putin said that the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are “right on course as scheduled”.
