Russian-Finnish high-speed train makes maiden voyage. On Sunday, December 12, the jointly developed high-speed rail service debuted with the Allegro traveling from the Finnish capital of Helsinki to Russia’s St. Petersburg. At speeds of up to 220 kilometers-per-hour, the trip that would normally take 6 hours and 18 minutes by conventional rail service was reduced by a full three hours’ time. Participating in Allegro’s first trip were Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as well as top managers of Russian Railways, journalists, and other dignitaries. Arriving in St. Petersburg, Prime Minister Putin stated, “That was super. It was so fast that the President of Finland and I barely had time to discuss anything.” As the first train ever to conduct customs matters onboard, consideration is also being given to the possibility of waiving visa requirements for tourist groups coming to St. Petersburg.

Our hats off, Your Excellencies, Russia and Finland on this successful collaboration in high-speed rail service! May the increased ease of travel facilitate ever more cooperation and friendship between the people of your beautiful countries.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101212/161739668.html
http://www.russia-ic.com/travel/transportation/1233/
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