Interfax reported that OJSC Russian Railways plans to put high-speed Talgo trains into use on Russian rails by the end of this year.

Mr Vladimir Yakunin RZD President said "We should take possession of the first Talgo rolling stock for certification by June. We're hoping that by the end of the year we will be able to put these trains on the way to European capitals as we've planned."

He said that RZD is looking over the issues involved in modernizing infrastructure in some European countries.

Mr Yakunin said "We are considering getting involved in the modernization of infrastructure in several southern European countries from the standpoint of the possible creation of a southern transport corridor, and we are having consultations, with Croatia particularly, about the possibility of cooperation. We'll see."

In June of 2011, RZD and Talgo did a deal for 20-car trains for the railway stretches between Moscow and Kyiv and Moscow and Berlin. One of the trains costs from EUR 14 million to EUR 20 million.

(Sourced from Interfax)