AI, speeds 400 km/h, and tens of millions of passengers a year: what railways will look like in five years

Russia is among the global leaders in high-speed rail construction. Work is already under way on the Moscow–St Petersburg line, scheduled to open in 2028. By 2030, passenger traffic on the route is expected to reach at least 23 million people. In addition, by decision of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, five more high-speed lines are planned: Moscow–Minsk, Moscow–Kazan–Yekaterinburg, Moscow–Adler and Moscow–Ryazan. Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev spoke about this during the Znanie.Science educational marathon at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"The global projects our country is implementing in this area are breakthrough initiatives that significantly strengthen our technological sovereignty. They also create a solid foundation for the development of the transport system and industry for decades to come," said Vitaly Savelyev.

He noted that the Moscow–St Petersburg high-speed line will link two major metropolitan areas and reduce travel time between the two cities to two hours and fifteen minutes.

"The launch of this high-speed line is scheduled for 2028. Passenger traffic on the route is expected to reach at least 23 million people by 2030. Delivery of the first 28 high-speed trains is planned for 2028, with a total of 43 trains to be supplied by 2030. The trains will operate at a cruising speed of 360 km/h, with a maximum speed of 400 km/h. Artificial intelligence technologies will be used in their construction and operation. Each train will consist of eight carriages and maintain a consistently high level of connectivity. The domestically produced train for the high-speed line is being built at the Ural Locomotives plant in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, involving more than 150 Russian manufacturers from 36 regions," explained Vitaly Savelyev.

Many of the technical solutions used in the construction of Russia’s high-speed railways are unique. The line will be built using a ballastless concrete-rail slab technology that can withstand temperature fluctuations from +50 to –50°C. The service life of the line will be at least 50 years — exceeding that of its global counterparts. The bridges and overpasses will also be unique, with a total length of over 180 kilometres, comprising 239 structures. An important stage of the project will be the 129-kilometre test section of the Moscow–St Petersburg route, divided into seven segments, where work is already under way on the final two.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Russia is currently among the world’s leading countries in high-speed rail construction, alongside Japan, France, Germany, and Turkey. China holds the undisputed first place, accounting for 70 per cent of the world’s high-speed railways. The total global length of such lines now exceeds 68,000 kilometres.