Automotor ICE "SAPSAN" RZD

The trains started regular service on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway in December 2009^[1][2] at a maximum speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) (a new build High-Speed Line would allow for speeds of up to 330 km/h/205 mph).

On 18 May 2006 Siemens and Russian Railways signed a € 276m order for 8 high speed trains^[3] with a 30-year service contract worth around €300m.^[3]

The trains were ordered to connect Moscow with Saint Petersburg and later Nizhny Novgorod at a speed of up to 250 km/h (155 mph). They are derived from the German ICE 3 train but with bodies widened by 330 mm (13 in) to 3,265 mm (10 ft 8.5 in) to suit Russia's wide loading gauge.^[4] Four of the trains ("EVS2") are equipped for both 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC operation. The total length of each ten-car train is 250 m (820 ft), carrying up to 600 passengers.

Development and construction was carried out by Siemens at Erlangen and Krefeld in Germany. In August 2009 it was announced that the fifth Sapsan had been delivered to Russia, of the eight that were planned.^[5]

Four single-voltage ("EVS1", 3 kV DC powered) trains entered passenger service at the end of 2009 on the Moscow - St Petersburg route, with the dual-system trains (EVS2) entering service on the Nizhny Novgorod route on 30 July 2010.^[6]

Sapsan set records for the fastest train in Russia on 2 May 2009, travelling at 281 km/h (175 mph)^[7] and on 7 May 2009, travelling at 290 km/h (180 mph).Since entering service in December 2009, it has been Russian Railways' only profitable passenger service, with an occupancy rate of 84.5%.^[8] According to the timetable valid from 30 October 2011, the direct train from Moscow to St Petersburg without intermediate stops needs 3:40, the train from Moscow to Nizhniy Novgorod 3:55 hours.