Russian Railways (RZD) has successfully completed the maiden journey of its high-speed Sapsan train on the Moscow-St Petersburg rail line.

The Sapsan is a high-speed electric train of the Velaro RUS series and is capable of reaching speeds up to 250km/h.

The train will allow passengers to reach Moscow from St Petersburg in 3 hours 45 minutes as opposed to the previous duration of 4 hours 30 minutes.

The train has been built by German company Siemens and is one of eight similar trains ordered by the RZD.

The launch of the train has also marked the opening of the modernised Metallostroy depot.