Maxim Reshetnikov, the Russian Minister of Economic Development, visited the Sverdlovsk Region on 14th August to monitor the advancements of the nation’s inaugural domestic high-speed electric train, which is currently being developed for the upcoming Moscow–St. Petersburg High-Speed Railroad. The minister was demonstrated the current production facilities and the construction of a new industrial complex at the Urals Locomotives plant in Verkhnyaya Pyshma. The latter is anticipated to facilitate the serial production of high-speed rolling stock.
Reshetnikov was accompanied by representatives of the leadership of the Ural Federal District, Sverdlovsk Region, and the Sinara Group. The focus of particular attention was on the first two trainsets currently being assembled at the plant’s modernized production facilities.
These trains are intended to serve as the cornerstone of passenger services on Russia’s inaugural high-speed railroad, which will connect Moscow and St. Petersburg. Consequently, the project is of paramount strategic importance to the country’s railroad industry. The train is engineered to operate at a maximum speed of 360 km/h, with a maximum design speed of 400 km/h.
How the First Trainsets Are Being Built
The delegation examined many critical production stages during the visit. At present, workers are engaged in the production of aluminum body structures, which includes the welding, assembly, and painting of train cars.
The next phase comprises the installation of interior components and equipment. Windows and doors are being installed, floors and cable channels are being laid, and thermal insulation and noise-protection systems are being installed in designated production areas. The manufacturing precision and assembly quality requirements for a train that is intended to operate at speeds approaching 400 km/h are much higher than those of conventional electric trains.
A particularly important facility is the robotic welding section for train bogies. The bogie is a critical component of a high-speed train, as it is required to maintain stability at extremely high speeds and withstand substantial and extended operational loads.
Considerable progress has been achieved in developing individual components. The motor bogie frame for the future high-speed train has undergone resource and fatigue testing at the facility. Workers have also completed the installation of the front and nose fairings on the first trainset that is currently under construction. The fairings’ geometry is designed to reduce noise, improve aerodynamic performance, and reduce energy consumption.
From Modernized Workshops to a New Industrial Complex
Presently, the initial two trainsets are being assembled in existing production facilities. The undertaking necessitated the modernization and installation of additional machinery and production systems at these facilities. Simultaneously, a new industrial complex is being developed on the plant’s premises.
The new complex will include a total area of approximately 67,000 square meters. The production and engineering facilities necessary for body assembly, train commissioning, traction equipment testing, engineering work, and eventual serial production will be included.
Construction has now progressed to an advanced stage, with nearly four-fifths of the intended work having been completed. The project is gradually transitioning from the construction phase to the installation and commissioning of production equipment.
The new structures are expected to be finished by the conclusion of 2026. This is anticipated to enable the plant to transition from the production of the first experimental trains to the preparation of full-scale serial manufacturing.
Industrial Construction Reforms Cut Project Timelines
The pace at which the necessary industrial infrastructure can be built was one of the central issues that Reshetnikov addressed during his visit, in addition to train assembly. Timur Uftsev, CEO of Sinara-Development, provided the minister with an update on the outcomes of initiatives to reform industrial construction regulations.
The construction timelines at various facilities have been reduced by several months as a result of the measures included in the relevant roadmap, as reported by project representatives. According to reports, the time savings have been as high as three to eight months in certain instances.
This can have a substantial effect on large industrial projects. The start of complex manufacturing is contingent upon the presence of the requisite infrastructure and buildings, and construction delays inevitably postpone the installation of equipment, commissioning, and the commencement of production.
The Finist is now in serial production
Urals Locomotives is currently engaged in the serial production of the Finist high-speed electric train, in addition to the preparations for the high-speed train. This is important because the plant is simultaneously maintaining its current production program and constructing the technological foundation necessary for a completely new category of railroad equipment.
Customers received 19 Finist electric trains from the facility in 2025. In the course of the year, the organization manufactured 87 freight locomotives and 19 high-speed passenger trains. Finist trains are being manufactured in 2026 for clients in various regions of Russia.
The plant is simultaneously developing the manufacturing capabilities for Russia’s next-generation high-speed train while expanding production of an already established high-speed train.
A Significant Project for the Russian Industry
The development of a Russian high-speed train is a much more complex effort than a single factory undertaking. In the development and production program, over 150 Russian enterprises from a variety of regions are involved. A number of critical components and systems for the initial trainsets have already been developed and are currently being tested.
Certification testing is expected to start in 2027 for the first two high-speed trainsets. By 2030, 43 trains are slated to be manufactured under the current program.
It is projected that the Moscow–St. Petersburg High-Speed Railroad, which will span nearly 700 kilometers, will serve as the starting point of a broader Russian high-speed rail network. The line is expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities to approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes once it is operational.
The project is a significant industrial transition for Urals Locomotives. The initial experimental trainsets are successfully evaluating the technologies, engineering solutions, and production processes necessary for the new system. Meanwhile, the 67,000-square-meter industrial complex is designed to establish the manufacturing foundation necessary for the scaling of those solutions into serial production.