Funny and interesting facts about the high-speed train "Peregrine Falcon".

Trains of the Sapsan series are high-speed modern trains created specifically for Russia in Germany. Since 2009, Sapsan has been operating on the Moscow- St. Petersburg-Moscow route, and eventually the route was extended to Nizhny Novgorod. In addition, the train makes stops in major cities such as Tver and Vladimir. This train allows you to choose a convenient time for boarding and disembarking passengers at any time of the day and fully ensure passenger traffic. The train covers the distance between the two main cities of the country in just four hours, and sometimes faster, which is a record for railway terms. We offer you to get acquainted with interesting, useful and quite funny facts about this composition.

1. Flies like a falcon

The train owes its name to a bird, that is, a Peregrine Falcon. This feathered predator when playing with swords gains speed up to 322 kilometers per hour and is considered the fastest bird in the world. Of course, the train is still not able to disperse its "namesake". The maximum permissible speed is 250 kilometers per hour, but after the modernization of the lines it will be possible to accelerate to 330 kilometers per hour!

2. Landing as preparation for flight

"Airplane train" literally keeps up with its heavenly counterpart when it comes to boarding passengers. Each passenger undergoes a thorough inspection, as well as all baggage is checked. This precaution is fully justified from the point of view of safety and is absolutely easy from the point of view of passenger comfort. The examination of each person on average takes no more than a minute.

3. The most media train

The train has its own mini-series. It consists of five animated films and is called "Peregrine Falcon and his friends". Moreover, the train appears as a character in other cartoons. The train also has its own blog and even a Twitter account. Everyone can watch news from his life online.

4. Train with your own holiday

December 17 is not only the birthday of the "Peregrine Falcon", but also the Day of high Speeds. Every year on this day, festive events are sent and organized at the stations, so many passengers go straight to a colorful fairy tale!

5. The train that apologizes for the delay

Surprisingly, the Sapsan is the first train for which passengers can receive compensation for the delay. For example, if the train is half an hour late, then the refund to the passenger is a quarter of the ticket price. If the delay was one or two hours, then half of the ticket price is compensated. A delay of 121 minutes already guarantees a refund of 100% of the ticket price. However, delays in the "Peregrine Falcon" happen quite rarely, given its high-speed capabilities.

6. The first in flexible pricing

Compensation for delays is not the only innovation that has been "received" from Sapsan in the list of Russian Railways services. This train was the first for which flexible pricing was created. For example, when buying tickets 45 days before departure, they will cost almost twice as much as when ordering a couple of days before the trip.

7. And again the first in quitting smoking!

"Peregrine Falcon" became the first composition in the country where smoking was prohibited. Later, this ban was picked up by Swallow and Allegro, and after that, long-distance trains began to adhere to this rule.

8. Russian train with German routes

Siemens AG was engaged in the development of locomotives and Sapsan wagons by special order of Russia. There was even a special marking assigned to Velaro RUS. The train of 10 cars has a length of 250 meters and is designed for 538 passengers, but a double train of 20 cars between Moscow and St. Petersburg is able to accommodate more than 1,000 passengers.

9. The struggle for electric trains

At first, not everyone was happy about the launch of the Sapsan, due to the cancellation of commuter trains from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Disgruntled citizens threw stones at the train and even shot at it (fortunately, all cases of vandalism were without victims). After some of the hooligans were caught and punished, Russian Railways still appointed additional electric trains, including those running at night, and the incident was settled. Today, summer residents and residents of the suburbs can safely get home and to work at the time they need, and the Peregrine Falcon goes on long trips without problems.

10. A force to be reckoned with

The train is moving at a very high speed and creates a powerful air flow with vortices around it. Because of this, when the train approaches the station, people on the platform are informed that they need to move away to a safe distance, at least three meters. If you do not observe safety measures, it can knock a person down with an air wave, or it can pull small objects under the train. However, such precedents happen to a train extremely rarely and only due to the carelessness of people on the platform.

11. Silent train

During the construction of the Sapsan wagons, modern sound-proofing materials and soft flooring were used, so it is impossible to enjoy the ride under the measured sound of wheels, it is barely audible in silence. But for those who want to relax and sleep, this fact will only benefit - nothing will prevent you from relaxing!

If you want to quickly and safely get from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back, while enjoying a comfortable atmosphere, peace and tranquility, then the Peregrine Falcon is what you need!