On 20 October 2020, the Ural Locomotives Plant (Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region) started solemnly the construction of the Russia’s first production facility for the manufacturing of the high-speed electric trains with a design speed of up to 360 km/h to be used for operation on high-speed railway lines. The ceremony was attended by the Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuyvashev, Deputy General Director of the RZD OJSC Dmitry Pegov, President of the Sinara Group Dmitry Pumpyansky, President of the Siemens branch in Russia Alexander Liberov and other officials.

On this day, the company signed an agreement of intent between the Russian Railways OJSC, Sinara Group, Siemens Mobility and Ural Locomotives LLC, which will contribute to the development of high-speed railway transport in Russia.

The solemn ceremony was held as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Ural Locomotives Plant, which was marked throughout 2020. Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov, General Director – Chairman of the Management Board of the Russian Railways OJSC Oleg Belozyerov and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Siemens Roland Busch addressed the participants via video link.

The organisation of high-speed railway traffic is one of the most complex and science- intensive projects in the Strategy for the Development of Railway Transport in the Russian Federation until 2030. To implement this large-scale programme by the efforts of the Russian manufacturers, it is necessary to create a unique infrastructure, as well as domestic rolling stock that meets all the requirements as for reliability and safety.

The Ural Locomotives Plant was designated as the base enterprise for the production of high-speed electric trains.

The parties to the agreement plan to jointly assess the market demand for high-speed electric trains to provide passenger services on the new high-speed railways due to be built in the coming years in the Russian Federation. The overall goal is to develop a technical and commercial proposal for these trains and create conditions for the production of high-speed trains by the Russian manufacturer – the Ural Locomotives Plant – in Russia specially for the local market.

The parties plan to supply and service electric trains throughout the life cycle, which at the first stage will be operated on the high-speed railway line Moscow – St. Petersburg. The Ural Locomotives Plant will ensure the production of electric trains with a localization level of up to 80% and further maintenance of the rolling stock. It is planned for the first time to provide maintenance and repair of the produced high- speed electric trains by the specialists of the manufacturing plant.

Upon signing the agreement, the participants laid a commemorative capsule filled with commemorative medals and a corresponding certificate at the site to mark the construction start of a new production facility for manufacturing the high-speed electric trains.

During the event, all the participants were also presented with a project of a new electric locomotive, which will become the base platform for the development and production of a whole spectrum of main-line freight locomotives with a domestically-made asynchronous traction drive.