Russia’s ambitious effort to build its first domestically produced serial high-speed train has reached another important milestone. On July 6, 2026, officials confirmed that work on the country’s next-generation high-speed rail program remains firmly on schedule, with assembly proceeding on the first three trainsets of the Gryphon Project (or the GryFalcon Project), which will operate on the future Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway.
Unlike previous concepts and prototypes, the Gryphon Project has now entered full-scale industrial production. Assembly is underway at the Ural Locomotives manufacturing facility in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, near Yekaterinburg, marking an important phase toward establishing Russia’s own high-speed rail manufacturing capability.
Each Gryphon trainset will consist of eight passenger cars, and production activities are progressing simultaneously across multiple stages of manufacturing.
First Two Trainsets Near Completion
The first two Gryphon trains have made big progress since production began earlier this year. According to the latest update, 12 of the 16 cars required for these two trainsets have already been welded and painted. These cars have now entered the preliminary assembly stage, where internal systems and major structural components are gradually being installed.
The remaining four cars needed to complete the first two trains are currently being assembled on production jigs while manufacturers continue fabricating large structural modules and other major components.
At the same time, production has already begun on the third Gryphon trainset. The first two carriages of this train are now under construction, allowing manufacturing teams to maintain continuous production as work advances toward serial output.
The coordinated assembly of multiple trainsets demonstrates that the program has transitioned beyond prototype development into an organized manufacturing process.
Certification Progress Continues Alongside Manufacturing
Building the trains is only one component of the overall program. Engineers must also certify every major system and component before the Gryphon trains can enter passenger service.
In total, the project requires certification of 91 separate components spanning everything from propulsion systems and braking equipment to onboard electronics, safety systems, passenger amenities, and structural assemblies.
So far, six components have completed certification, while another 74 are currently undergoing testing. These extensive validation efforts are designed to ensure every system meets Russia’s safety and operational requirements before the trains begin service.
Although certification represents a significant workload running in parallel with production, project representatives say both manufacturing and testing remain aligned with the planned schedule.
Designed for Speeds of Up to 400 km/h
The Gryphon Project represents Russia’s first domestically developed serial high-speed train designed specifically for dedicated high-speed rail operations.
The train is engineered for maximum speeds of up to 400 km/h, placing it among the world’s fastest conventional steel-wheel high-speed trains. While regular commercial operating speeds are expected to be lower than the design maximum, the capability provides sufficient performance for rapid intercity travel on Russia’s future high-speed network.
The Gryphon trains are being developed particularly for the new Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway, a purpose-built corridor that will become Russia’s first dedicated high-speed rail line.
Unlike conventional railway upgrades, this new route is being built as an entirely separate high-speed infrastructure capable of supporting much higher operating speeds than existing rail lines.
First Test Trains Expected in 2027
Russia first announced that assembly of the inaugural Gryphon train had begun in February 2026, marking the transition from design and engineering into physical production.
The current schedule calls for the first two completed trainsets to begin dynamic and certification testing during 2027. These trials will evaluate every aspect of the trains’ performance, including acceleration, braking, ride quality, energy consumption, safety systems, and operation at progressively higher velocities.
Successful completion of this testing will be essential before the trains receive approval for commercial passenger operations.
The testing campaign will also validate how the trains perform on dedicated high-speed infrastructure and confirm that they satisfy all operational requirements before entering regular service.
New Factory Being Built for Large-Scale Production
To support long-term production of the Gryphon fleet, Russia is simultaneously building a new manufacturing facility dedicated to high-speed train production.
Construction of the plant is progressing alongside train assembly, with the factory expected to begin operations around the turn of 2026–2027.
Once operational, the new facility will become the country’s primary production center for serial high-speed trains, enabling larger-scale manufacturing beyond the initial trainsets presently being assembled.
The parallel development of production facilities and rolling stock reflects Russia’s broader strategy of establishing an integrated domestic high-speed rail industry rather than relying on imported train technology.
Forty-Three Trainsets Already Ordered
Demand for the Gryphon Project is already substantial. Authorities have placed orders for 43 eight-car trainsets, all scheduled for delivery by the end of 2030.
These trains will form the initial fleet serving the Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway, which is expected to become the backbone of Russia’s future high-speed rail network.
Meeting this production target will require continuous manufacturing over the coming years, underscoring the significance of both the new production facility and the successful completion of ongoing certification work.
A Defining Moment for Russia’s High-Speed Rail Ambitions
The latest progress update illustrates how Russia’s high-speed rail ambitions have moved decisively beyond the planning stage. Multiple trainsets are now under construction simultaneously, component certification is advancing, and the supporting manufacturing infrastructure is nearing completion.
Although there is still a huge amount of engineering and testing work to be done before passengers can board the first Gryphon trains, the project has reached a stage in which tangible progress can be evaluated through the completion of railcars, the expansion of industrial capacity, and the operation of active assembly lines.
Russia will be one step closer to operating its first domestically produced serial high-speed trains on the prospective Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway if current timelines are maintained, as the first Gryphon trainsets will commence certification trials in 2027.