Russia will continue to develop its network of high-speed rail (HSR) lines based on domestic technologies. This was stated by Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the SPIEF 2026.
The Moscow — St. Petersburg high-speed line will be the pilot project. It is not considered as a standalone line, but as the first element of a future HSR network that could change the country's transport map.
The main advantage of the project is the reduction of travel time between major cities. After the launch of the line, expected in 2028, the journey from Veliky Novgorod to St. Petersburg should take about 29 minutes, and to Moscow — approximately an hour and a half. For comparison, today similar routes require significantly more time even on the fastest trains.
Simultaneously, the development of the first Russian high-speed train continues. At SPIEF-2026, Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Sberbank Executive Board, announced that work on the train's name and corporate identity is almost complete.
According to him, engineers and designers have already determined the future livery of the train. When creating it, not only visual solutions were taken into account, but also technical requirements: heat resistance, ease of maintenance, and durability of the coating. The final name and appearance of the train will be presented in the near future.
The HSR project is important not only for passengers. High-speed lines increase population mobility, relieve air routes over medium distances, and stimulate the development of regions along the line. That is why the launch of the Moscow — St. Petersburg line is considered a testing ground for further network expansion.