Karelian Trains

Oy Karelian Trains Ltd is a joint venture agreed on 23 November 2006 between Russian Railways (RZhD) and VR (Finnish Railways) to operate international express passenger rail services between Helsinki, Finland and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Karelian Trains is registered in Helsinki, VR and RZhD both own 50% of the shares. [cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2006/11/7745/karelian_trains_gets_go_ahead.html | title=Karelian Trains gets go-ahead | publisher=Railway Gazette International| month=November | year=2006| accessdate=2007-09-05 | ]

Karelian Trains are expected to take over the service in late 2009 using Alstom Pendolino trains ordered in September 2007. [cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/09/7746/karelia_trains_awards_pendolino_contract.html | title=Karelian Trains awards Pendolino contract | publisher=Railway Gazette International| date=2007-09-05 | accessdate=2007-09-05 | ] Investments will also be made in infrastructure to enable higher speeds to be achieved. Together, this will cut journey times between the two cities from the current 5½ hours to about 3 hours. The new trains will be dual voltage, capable of operating on VR's 25 kV AC and RZhD's 3 kV DC electrification systems.

Visas are required for many foreign nationals including Finns to enter Russia and for Russians to enter Finland; passport and customs checks will be conducted on board the trains. Traditionally the passport and customs checks has delayed the trains at least 30 minutes according to the time table (1 hour for 30 km Vyborg-the border).

References

* [http://www.vrgroup.fi/vakiolinkit/VRinforms/news_99.html VR press release]
* [http://www.alstom.com/pr_corp_v2/2007/corp/44990.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/pr_corp_v2/2007/corp/&idRubriqueCourante=23132 Alstom press release]

ee also

*Finland station, St. Petersburg
*Helsinki Central railway station
*Riihimäki-Saint Petersburg railroad

External links

* [http://www.kareliantrains.fi Karelian Trains]