What paths does the peregrine falcon take? Train technical characteristics

High-speed train"Sapsan" (Russia) - detailed description, schedule, stops along the way, reviews, photos and videos.

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What is it: a bird of prey from the falcon family and an ultra-high-speed train connecting the capital of our country with foggy St. Petersburg? Of course we're talking about about the Sapsan, which since 2009 has been running between the capital and the northern capital.

The speed that Sapsan trains develop can be the envy of many European trains, which is no wonder: the authorship of the railway bird of prey belongs to the famous Siemens company. And the choice of name itself also becomes understandable, because the peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world.

The Sapsan is capable of speeds of up to 350 km/h, but due to regulations and safety precautions, it is not yet allowed to travel on Russian railways faster than 250 km/h. In the future, it is planned to increase the speed in certain sections to a dashing 330 km/h. And, by the way, despite its European origin, the Sapsan is designed exclusively for Russia. For example, the train is capable of operating at temperatures down to -50 °C, and its interior is almost 30 cm wider. Which, of course, is due to the wider railway gauge.

As a rule, all Sapsan trains consist of 10 carriages capable of accommodating 506 passengers. (Although recently double trains are increasingly running between St. Petersburg and Moscow.) Traditionally, Sapsan includes one first-class carriage, one business-class carriage, 7 economy carriages and one bistro carriage.

Thanks to modern noise-insulating materials, as well as soft floor coverings, these trains, alas, will not give lovers of railway romance languid moments alone with “tydyh-tydyh”: inside the train it is very quiet.

But let's talk in more detail about the passenger's placement - that is, about his seat. All of them have adjustable backrests, footrests, a reading lamp, folding tables and armrests. First and business class can boast of leather upholstery, while economy class has fabric, which is no less comfortable, by the way. All around there are pleasant pastel colors of the walls and panoramic windows with sun-protection curtains. It will not be possible to draw patterns on foggy glass in winter: they are specially heated by circulating warm air. But in the summer, no one will die from stuffiness - a comfortable climate in the carriages is maintained using an electronic climate system. In summer and winter, the temperature stays around +22 °C.

You can place your belongings both above the seat, where there is a luggage rack for small bags, and in a special luggage compartment, which is available in each carriage. Additional features: a shoe shine machine in 3 carriages, a changing table in the toilet of the 6th carriage and a toilet for passengers with limited mobility in the middle of the train. And, of course, the bistro car, which is located in the central part of the train. Here you can have a snack standing at the bar table or sit at one of 10 tables.

Sapsan operates seven daily flights from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back. The fare depends on the time of year, seasonality and travel class.

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The peregrine falcon is a bird of prey from the falcon family. Chasing prey, the swift hunter accelerates at a peak of up to 250-360 km/h. In 2005 it was registered absolute record: the speed of the feathered rocket was 389 km/h.

The Perfect Hunter

The flight characteristics of the peregrine falcon influenced its hunting style. The favorite trophies of the feathered predator, which is not distinguished by endurance, are pigeons, waders, seagulls, ducks, crows and small rodents. The falcon can soar in the sky for hours, describing circles and tracking down its prey. It rises up to a distance of 1.5 km and becomes almost invisible from the ground. Peregrine falcons often hunt in pairs.

Having noticed the prey, the falcon rushes in pursuit. Its goal is to take a comfortable position, from which the predator, folding its wings, throws itself like a stone into a lightning dive. At an angle of incidence of 25°, the speed of the hunting bird reaches 270 km/h, and for better acceleration, the winged killer rushes down at an angle close to 90°.

Having fallen on the victim, the successful hunter takes its life with powerful claws. Sometimes the blow is so strong that the prey's head flies off. If the unfortunate woman manages to survive, the peregrine falcon finishes her off by breaking her cervical vertebrae with her beak.

A bird that can compete with the wind

Peregrine falcons are distributed throughout the world - from the Arctic to South America. Birds prefer to settle in tall trees and rocks near open spaces - favorite hunting areas.

These representatives of the falcon family have a streamlined, muscular body 35-50 cm long and weighing 450-1,500 g. The keen eyes of the bird are protected by the third eyelid - a membrane that protects the organs of vision from damage.

The wingspan is 75-120 cm. They are wide at the base and pointed at the ends, which allows the bird to develop high speed, at which air resistance and pressure increase. These factors can cause lung rupture.

To avoid this, nature endowed the peregrine falcon with a beak with two cone-shaped horny tubercles that slow down the air flow and direct it in different directions. A high heart rate also helps prevent overload. Its frequency when throwing increases to 600-800 beats per minute.

The sky hunter's body is designed for a fast dive, the speed of which can be compared to that of a small aircraft. As for horizontal flight, here the peregrine falcon loses its position as the fastest bird, giving way to the black swift.

The bird's wingspan is only 45 centimeters, but this fact does not prevent it from accelerating up to 180 km/h.

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Several times I went to Saint Petersburg and returned to Moscow on high-speed train "Sapsan". It is really very fast: it flies almost 700 km in 3.5-4.5 hours, depending on the time of day. On some stretches it reaches speeds of up to 250 km/h.

The average cost of a ticket for Sapsan depends on the day of the week, time of day and direction. Currently, prices start from 4,951 rubles per one-way ticket. You can save a lot by purchasing your ticket in advance.

When purchasing a ticket, a box office fee is also charged, which slightly increases the price. If you immediately buy a round-trip ticket, you will receive a 10% discount. However, to do this you need to buy a ticket at the railway ticket office. Discounts are also available for students and pensioners.

How to buy an electronic train ticket for Sapsan

You can buy a train ticket for Sapsan in the following ways:

• at railway ticket offices for pre-sale of tickets;
• at the ticket offices of Leningradsky and Kursky railway stations in Moscow and Moskovsky railway station in St. Petersburg;
• at online railway ticket offices via the Internet.

Very often the last option turns out to be the most convenient. To do this you need an Internet connection, bank card, through which you can make electronic payments and, if possible, a printer. Please note that if you then need to present a ticket for reporting (for example, for payment at the accounting department), then an electronic ticket will not work; you need a regular one, purchased at the railway ticket office.

If you want to buy an electronic ticket for Sapsan, you can use the website. Here you will find the schedule of Sapsan trains on the routes Moscow - St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg - Moscow, travel time, ticket prices, car numbering, location of seats in the car.

In the search window, enter the dates and times of your trip, and then follow the system’s instructions. Be sure to print your e-ticket or save an SMS with your registration number.

As a rule, the numbering of cars when traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg is from the head of the train; when traveling from St. Petersburg to Moscow - from the tail of the train. Cars 1 and 2 are business class, 3-4 and 6-10 are economy class. Car No. 5 is a bistro where you can buy food and eat. Car No. 6 has seats for disabled people.

You can always refuse registration and return your electronic ticket at the Russian Railways ticket office, but no later than 1 hour before the train departs from the starting station.

Landing on Sapsan

Boarding on the Sapsan begins 1 hour before departure. At the stations, there are separate platforms for high-speed trains; before boarding, you go through a metal detector, and your luggage is inspected, just like at airports. If you have an electronic ticket with electronic registration, you only need to have your passport and a printed electronic ticket with you.

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Boarding directly onto the train begins 40-45 minutes before departure. The conductor will need to show your passport and ticket. Do not damage the barcode on the ticket - the conductor reads it with an electronic device. Then, when the train has already departed, the conductor will collect the tickets for verification. E-ticket stays with you.

There are wide passages between the carriages, making it easy to carry luggage. You can leave your luggage in specially designated areas at the beginning and end of the carriage, as well as in the cloakroom in the middle of the carriage. There is not much room in the wardrobe. Boarding and disembarking are often done from adjacent cars.

On my way

The ride in Sapsan is very comfortable. You can watch films, read information booklets, or just look out the window, watching the landscapes fly by. If you're hungry, you can go to bistro car(car No. 5) buy food; You can eat right there, or at your place. Also, from time to time, conductors pass through the carriage, offering food: sandwiches, cakes, drinks. Expect that if you are hungry, you will spend an average of 500-600 rubles on food. If you don't want to pay, you can take food from home. In business class carriages, food is already included in the ticket price.

Impressions from a trip on the Sapsan

I had the most positive impressions from the trip on the Sapsan. Clean, air conditioning: at +30 outside the window in the cabin it was somewhere around +22 degrees. Each carriage has special displays that show the time, speed, and outside air temperature. The food is delicious. There are quite a few foreigners in Sapsan; Mostly there were tourists who were traveling from one capital to another.

The train moves smoothly, although, unlike European railways, we still hear a small characteristic knock. The speed is not felt at all. Just by looking at the information board and by how quickly the stops replace each other, you understand that the train is moving very quickly. So, on a very busy section from Moscow to Tver, the train took exactly an hour, although there are more than 160 km between these cities.

In general, I decided for myself that from now on I will travel to St. Petersburg on the Sapsan - it is better to pay more, but travel in comfortable conditions and quickly. Agree, getting from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 4 hours is great!

"Double decker" , . If the prices for Sapsan seem too high to you, then you can take advantage of them: ticket prices start from 2,293 rubles. (“Nevsky Express”, seated).

On the Nevsky Express, the travel time is 4 hours 5 minutes, there are no stops along the way. We can say that Nevsky Express is a cheaper alternative to Sapsan.

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Buy tickets for the Sapsan train Moscow-St. Petersburg, find out the schedule and price for 2019 on the website. Cost of travel by train from Moscow to St. Petersburg and sale of tickets online.

Select travel date

The schedule shows how long it takes to travel by Sapsan from Moscow to St. Petersburg, so choose a more suitable train departure time.

Cost of travel in a peregrine falcon from Moscow to St. Petersburg

The fare shown for the Sapsan is approximate. To view the cost of tickets on a specific day, use.

Buy a round-trip ticket for the peregrine falcon from Moscow to St. Petersburg online

Ticket search site The site finds and provides the necessary information to make it easier for passengers to find a ticket. On this page you can compare all timetables, the cost of travel by Sapsan from Moscow to St. Petersburg and buy train tickets. We offer to compare the cost of air tickets to St. Petersburg.

Train stops between cities

Shown are peregrine falcon stops on the route Moscow - St. Petersburg and arrival/departure time.

Popular destinations of peregrine falcons

To view all the information on the selected route, find cheap round-trip tickets for the Sapsan Moscow-St. Petersburg train, use.

"Sapsan" is a modern high-speed electric train produced by the German company Siemens. It was acquired by Russian Railways and began operation in 2009. A similar name was given to the train in Russia, and in the original source the name sounds like Velaro RUS. We can also mention that “Sapsan” during its service inspired the creation of a blog and a Twitter page.

Where did the name of the train “Sapsan” come from?

The train was named after the peregrine falcon: when hunting, it can reach speeds of up to 322 km/h. Even for the Sokolin family this is a rarity. This name is perfect for the fastest train in Russia.

Specifications

“Sapsan” has a number of differences from other trains of the Velaro family:

• air intakes placed on the roof;
• can operate at ultra-low temperatures;
• the interior is 30 m larger than its European counterpart.

The length of the Sapsan is 250 m, the number of cars is 10.

The carriages are well air-conditioned, and the aisles are wide so there is no crowding when exiting. The train has excellent sound insulation - this means that nothing will interfere with the rest of passengers in comfortable seats.

Maximum speed of the Sapsan

The maximum speed that the Sapsan can develop is 350 km/h. Despite the fact that the permissible speed limit is railways Russia - 200 km/h. And only on the Mistinsky Bridge is it possible to increase the speed to 250 km/h. On the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod route, from Petushki to Vyazniki station, it is permissible to accelerate only to 160 km/h. The Sapsan makes 6 flights there and back a day.

Duration of the trip

Flights Moscow-St. Petersburg the Sapsan train passes from 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes. It all depends on the number of stops along the way. The length of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod route takes 3 hours 55 minutes.

Differences between Economy and Business Class

First, you should focus on the price indicator. The cost of a ticket in economy class varies between 2,406 - 3,600 rubles, and a trip in business class will cost an order of magnitude more - 4,750 - 6,680 rubles.

Service list provided to business class passengers and differences with economy class;

• Business class provides absolutely free WI-FI, while economy class passengers will have to pay for it.
• Each seat in business class is equipped with a power socket, while in economy class you can be content with only two for the entire carriage.
• For business class, a number of services are provided: the latest newspapers, a hygiene kit, a hot lunch, one serving of alcohol, tea, fresh coffee, a variety of drinks, various toys and entertainment for children. In economy class all this is missing.

Incidents during the operation of the Sapsan train

The peregrine falcon is capable of developing enormous speed and, of course, accidents happened. It’s not for nothing that some media called him the White Death. One of the main reasons for the incidents was the lack of crossings railways and high speed. Due to its silent movement, compared to other trains, pedestrians could not always notice its approach in time.

But in many cases, the cause was ordinary human inattention and violation of the rules for crossing paths. During the first year of operation of the train, about 20 people died. Even taking into account the safety measures taken in 2010-2011. What included: the construction of fences along railway branches, equipping the decks with special signaling equipment, and patrolling dangerous areas with security. Today the percentage of accidents is extremely high.

What is a Bistro Car?

Despite the short duration of the trip, many passengers may get hungry. It was for this purpose that the bistro car was created. It is located in the center of the train, in car No. 5. Here you can fully relax and unwind with a cup of tea or coffee, or take small quantities of alcoholic and soft drinks. And also, for a light snack, a variety of hot dishes, snacks and desserts are available. Those who like to dine while admiring beautiful paintings can sit closer to the window. The carriage is equipped with ten tables each near a window. If you do not intend to linger and just came to have a snack, then there are two bar counters.

Passengers with health problems or who simply do not want to leave their seats can always ask Sapsan employees to buy and bring them food or drinks.

The main advantages of the Sapsan high-speed express train for passengers are: speed, quietness and comfort. Despite the high rate of tragic incidents associated with its movement, it is at the peak of its popularity. In general, we can say that the high-speed train "Sapsan" is one of the fastest and convenient options, to move from one city to another.