The high-speed electric train "Lastochka" of the ES2G series will start running between Samara and Ufa from May 8, 2026, passing through the territory of the Orenburg region. According to the "Gudok" publication, the six-car train will depart on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. From Samara, the train departs at 17:30 and arrives in Ufa at 00:58, back - at 06:50 and 12:18, respectively. There are nine stops on the route, two of them in the Orenburg region (Buguruslan and Abdulino). The journey time is 6.5 hours. The electric train is built on the basis of a domestic microprocessor control system, which allows you to flexibly change the number of cars from 5 to 12 without changing the traction characteristics.
Technical features of ES2G: power 2932 kW and service life of 40 years
The ES2G electric train is designed for direct current lines with a voltage of 3 kV. The design speed is 160 km/h. The power plant is built on asynchronous traction motors with a microprocessor control system, first integrated into the train in 2015. The drive power on the wheel for the main composition (5 cars) is 2932 kW, the traction force is 280 kN. The car bodies are made of extruded aluminum profiles, which reduces weight and increases energy efficiency. The chassis is equipped with a pneumatic suspension, which ensures smooth running at all speeds.
The train is adapted to climatic conditions: the operating temperature range is from –40 to +40 °С. The service life is 40 years. The six-car composition announced on the Samara — Ufa route provides high passenger capacity with the possibility of accommodating passengers with limited mobility and oversized baggage. The electric train is equipped with an automatic driving system, video surveillance and fireproof doors for inter-car transitions.
Project "Samara – Center of Seven Capitals" and development conditions
The launch of "Lastochka" to Ufa is the first stage of the Kuibyshev Railway strategy until 2029. The project involves the creation of a high-speed suburban connection between Samara and the seven capitals of the PFD regions: Ufa, Penza, Orenburg, Saratov, Ulyanovsk and Saransk. According to the preliminary schedule:
- 2026 — "Lastochki" Samara – Ufa (on weekends);
- 2027 — opening of communication with Penza;
- 2028 — launch of the route to Orenburg;
- 2029 — the beginning of traffic to Saratov, Saransk and Ulyanovsk (it is planned to use "Finist" electric trains in the latter direction).
The KZhD emphasized that further financing of the project depends on the success of the first stage: it is necessary that "Lastochki" to Ufa transport at least 155 thousand passengers per year.
Currently, railway communication between Samara and Orenburg is carried out by long-distance trains with a journey time of more than 10 hours. The launch of "Lastochka" reduces the journey time on the Samara-Ufa direction by almost half compared to existing routes and creates a new standard for suburban transportation for the region - with regularity on weekends, comfortable seats and the possibility of transporting luggage. For the Orenburg region, where stops are provided in Buguruslan and Abdulino, this is the first experience of high-speed communication connecting small cities with two regional capitals.