From Jules Verne to Sapsan: the history of high-speed trains in the Hall of Inventions
High-speed
trains no longer surprise anyone today, but guests of the National Centre
RUSSIA can take a fresh look at this familiar mode of transport by tracing its
history during a tour of the Hall of Inventions.
It turns
out that a hundred years before the first high-speed railway was built, this
technology was predicted by one of the pioneers of the science fiction genre,
the French writer Jules Verne. Evidence of this can be found in the lines from
his novel "Paris in the 20th Century": "Between the wheels of
the lead car <...> magnets were installed. <...> The magnets
attracted a steel disk, and it, driven by compressed air, pulled the entire
train behind it."
The world's
first high-speed railway line was opened in 1964 between Osaka and Tokyo. The
event was timed to coincide with the Summer Olympics. The trains reached speeds
of 210-220 kilometers per hour. Fifteen years later, the technology reached
Russia: an experimental section for testing magnetic suspension cars was built
in Ramenskoye near Moscow.
In 2008, 20
high-speed electric Sapsan trains were delivered under the order of JSC Russian
Railways. These trains can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. And
just this year, the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology of the Roscosmos
State Corporation is completing the construction of a domestic maglev — a train
on a magnetic cushion, whose speed is comparable to that of an airplane.
The first
high-speed electric trains for Russian Railways will be manufactured by the
Ural Locomotives plant in 2027. Moreover, within the next decade, the country
will see its first high-speed railway line Moscow—Saint Petersburg, stretching
679 kilometers. This will nearly halve travel time between the two capitals —
from 4 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. The project is part of Russia's
national development goals through 2036. Plans also include establishing
high-speed connections along the Moscow—Sochi (Adler) route.
Visitors to
the Hall of Inventions at the National Centre RUSSIA can not only learn
interesting facts about railway transport but also see a model of a high-speed
electric train from the Engineering Centre for Railway Transport. This unique
item is provided by STM Trading House.
Free guided
tours of the National Centre RUSSIA, led by professional guides, start every 15
minutes from the main information desk. We welcome visitors daily, except
Mondays, from 10:00 to 20:00.
On July 17 at 19:00, the third meeting titled "The Climate of the Future: Trends and Technological Opportunities" will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the project "Dialogues about the Future with Valery Fedorov."
At the INNOPROM 2025 International Industrial Exposition, the Department Store stand of the National Centre RUSSIA offered visitors a showcase of folk crafts.
