An experimental model of an innovative turnout, developed specifically for the Moscow — St. Petersburg high-speed railway (HSR) section, has been assembled at the Murom Turnout Plant. The structure is 118 meters long, which is comparable to the size of a football field. Over 60 Russian enterprises joined forces to create this technically complex unit.
The new turnout allows high-speed trains to pass straight through at speeds up to 400 km/h, and laterally at speeds up to 120 km/h, which is one and a half times higher than the capabilities of modern counterparts. This performance will not only reduce travel time, but also increase passenger comfort by minimizing braking and acceleration when changing tracks.
During the tests, engineers will assess the reliability of the structure, check the synchronicity of movement and locking of moving elements, and simulate possible failures to test the system's ability to recover. The turnout is controlled by a specialized hardware and software complex that diagnoses all moving parts in real time.
Full equipment of the Moscow — St. Petersburg HSR will require 118 such turnouts.