Separate compartment in the swallow. Swallow train. Schemes of cars of the train "Lastochka", "Lastochka-premium" and their modifications ES1P and ES2Gp

Time goes by, life changes. The usual Moscow-Kursk and Moscow-Oryol electric trains were replaced by new high-speed electric trainsSiemens ES1. Their name is "Swallow".

I went out to the first platform of the Kursk railway station, but I did not immediately notice the Lastochka. She stood in the distance <фото 1> , near an elevated area: the train is high-floor, and an appropriate platform is required for smooth boarding and alighting. If there is no such station at the station (as we have in Tula), then you can use ladders with small steps and without any handrails <фото 2> . Carefully! In Serpukhov, the ninth and tenth cars did not reach the platform at all <фото 3> .

As part of 5 (737/740, in the evening - to Moscow) or 10 (738/739, in in the evening - from Moscow) cars. In the latter case, the leading ones are 1, 5, 6, 10, so you can't get from one part of the train to another <фото 4> . Landing in an arbitrary car will also fail: the number of conductors is less than the number of doors; if the entrance to your car was closed, look for the nearest open one. Passing between the cars, you will definitely pay attention to the doors: sufficient force is required to open them, which creates significant difficulties, say, for the elderly and girls <фото 5> . It's good that at least the joint is sealed. There are no vestibules, so there is nowhere to smoke. Passengers who smoke are looking forward to the next stop to smoke in the street .

In my opinion places <фото 6, 7> Quite comfortable, soft, with folding armrests, arbitrarily painted in red and blue. Most of them are located opposite each other, so if another passenger sits opposite you, you won’t stretch your legs, but it won’t be crowded either. However, some may have the opposite impression. I compare it with minibuses and Moscow-Tula fast electric trains (3rd class), and for me it is really very convenient, and in general I am not picky about comfort. I heard how one passenger was indignant about the fact that there was no dining car and tables, and there were no curtains on the windows.

Why pay extra for a higher class if everyone arrives at their destination at the same time?

There are also folding seats <фото 8, 9> , about them - a little lower.

The numbering of seats is straightforward (indicated under the luggage racks): at the window - even, all the rest - odd. There are also hooks for clothes and several sockets. <фото 10> for charging gadgets. Convenient: the hooks can be moved along the window, so your clothes will not interfere with you. Luggage racks are provided for extra large bags. <фото 11> .

Near the entrance doors there are garbage containers, a stop crane and a call button for personnel for servicing sedentary persons <фото 12,13> .

Notification of passengers is carried out in two languages ​​(Russian and English), also in each car there are several electronic displays, in particular, they display the current speed and air temperature in the cabin <фото 14> .

Huge bathrooms are located in the head cars. Dry closet, automatic faucet, liquid soap, light bulb buttons ... In general, a la McDonald's! <фото 15>

The course of the train is smooth and quite fast (compared to minibuses and ordinary electric trains), but the full potential of the Lastochka has not been realized: for the entire journey, the speed did not rise above 120 km / h, although it is structurally designed for 160 km / h. By the way, the Moscow-Tula fast electric trains (7048MA) do not travel much slower, the time difference is about 20 minutes, and compared to the canceled Moscow-Oryol (826CHA) - it’s generally five.

In general, the trip left positive impressions, I would even continue to use the services of FPC OJSC (this is the company that serves Lastochka), if not for one "but".

Why is the article called "Second Grade"? Yes, because there are simply no other class cars in the train! And the fare is appropriate - 791 rubles or more. However, there are folding seats, the price of which is 300 rubles with a little. Riding them is no big deal. Their back is smaller, but there is no armrest. In addition, the car was half full, and the conductor allowed us to transfer to free “main” seats. I believe that the train always runs half-empty, this can be seen if you watch the number of empty seats on the rzhd.rf website.

The problem is different: there are 9 folding seats in the head cars, 4 in the intermediate cars <фото 16> . That is, in the composition of 5 cars out of 439 seats (not counting 4 for the disabled - 2 in each head car) there are only 30 “cheap” ones! Of course they sell out instantly! The principle is simple: whoever had time - he ate it. I managed to get myself such a ticket for three days. If you cannot plan your schedule in advance and are not ready to shell out a lot of money for a trip, then “Swallow”, alas, is not for you. This sad fact crosses out all the advantages of this wonderful train.

I want to emphasize that all subjective assessments are given from the point of view of the Tula passenger. Perhaps, for the people of Kursk, the saved 10-15 minutes between Tula and Moscow translates into a whole hour, perhaps the Orlovites need reclining seats to take a nap for an hour or two, and the residents of Zmiyovka need a table to eat on a long journey. But the fact remains: I used to have the opportunity on a weekday, without thinking about buying a ticket in advance, to get to Moscow by rail for reasonable money. Now I don't have that option.

Time goes by, life changes. And we are powerless to do anything about it... We can only hope that Russian Railways and its subsidiaries will analyze the emerging passenger traffic and pay attention to passenger feedback, doing everything necessary to make rail transport convenient and accessible to everyone.

Links:

Video:

Departure from Serpukhov and arrival in Tula are captured.

I promised to tell about the electron that brought me to this exhibition. And now I am ready to present to your attention the high-speed electric train ES2G, codenamed "Swallow"

To begin with, let's analyze what the abbreviation means, "ES2G". "ES2" - this means that the electric train is powered by direct current, and the letter "G" indicates that the electric train belongs to the urban type.

Production was started on November 11, 2013 at one of the Ural factories "Ural locomotives". This model, which took people to the innovation industry, was the first to be made in 2014, which is confirmed by the number “001” in the name printed on the body of the train. According to the manufacturers, it consists of 62% of Russian components, it is also planned to increase this figure to 85%. The production of electric trains takes place on the territory of Russia. At the moment, about 5 models have already been produced, and by 2021 it is planned to produce 240 electric trains. It turns out about 35-40 models per year! I seem to be good at math! 😀

The Lastochka electric train is not afraid of the Ural cold and rare high temperatures. It feels confident in the temperature range from -40 to +40°C. And diagnostic systems help to significantly increase the time until scheduled inspections. And the modular-block implementation of all devices and equipment allows you to quickly fix the malfunction by replacing the faulty unit with a serviceable one. This approach is applied in many areas. For example, in cellular communications, radio relay stations are no longer large equipment rooms, but small boxes with several modules! 🙂

The doors of the electric train are just like from science fiction films! Each carriage has two doors on each side. They are about 1.3 meters wide and about two meters high, mine will probably have to bend down so as not to hit! 😀 When the doors are closed, they merge with the body for better streamlining, and during a stop they move apart. Thanks to special seals on the edges of the doors, the doors close tightly! When the train starts moving, you can't really hear anything from outside! When the swallow electric train arrived at the platform, the doors did not open. I thought that when the time comes, they will open it, but after waiting 5 minutes I was interested in a green luminous button! Why not click? And lo and behold, the doors opened! It turns out that the doors are specially equipped with these buttons. So that passengers can get off at the station themselves when they want.

This is what the doors look like from the inside. While driving, I kept thinking what would happen if you press that green button while driving. The developers are not fools, while the button is blocked, so that curious people like me do not accidentally fall out on the go! 😀 To the right of the exit there is a stop crane and a garbage container, which is so lacking in ordinary trains! If there was, I think people littered at least a little less. On the left, as I understand it, there are mechanisms for helping the disabled. When you press the blue button, most likely a specially trained person comes, who, using this mechanism, helps to get into the car.

Question for the experts! Why is this stop crane needed if those who break it for serious reasons are still scolded and fined? More than once I saw how someone's bag was stolen and ran out, or the child remained at the station, and the train started moving. The driver’s obscenity is constantly heard over the speakerphone, and the guards run to beat the unfortunate person ...

Since the developers placed the equipment either on the roof or under the car, visually the interior space of the car looks wider and more spacious, which allows using the entire area for the convenience of passengers. When facing the car, insulating materials were used, which is noticeable by the absence of external noise inside the car. And light colors in the design create a greater sense of comfort for passengers.

There are lamps, loudspeaker speakers, ventilation and a rather interesting digital display with all the information passengers need on the ceiling. The display shows the date, time, temperature outside the train and, most importantly, speed! I specifically observed how fast we are moving. The swallow can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, but we did not accelerate more than 100 kilometers per hour, apparently this is the maximum permitted speed of the railway track.

There are 67 seats in the head car, and about 103 in the intermediate cars. As a result, a total of 443 seats are obtained.

The transitions between the cars of the electric train swallow are equipped with double-leaf fire doors. Between the doors, the transition is surrounded by a hermetic and flexible cover. Glasses allow you to better view neighboring cars for the presence of familiar personalities, so as not to go alone. In the old electric trains, you had to look out for friends through a small window, and you also had to go into the vestibule, but here there is no vestibule! Since there is no vestibule, and the doors are separated from the salon only by small glass partitions, in winter the temperature is maintained with the help of additional heaters. Also, do not forget that the doors themselves close and passengers open them when they need to. To ensure the safety of passengers, the salons have video surveillance systems and fire alarms.

Windows are made of impact-resistant glass, emergency exits are equipped with special hammers for breaking glass. Outside, such windows will be difficult to break. So the rural kids-terrorists throwing stones at the windows are definitely not scary now!

When I got into the car, I noticed strange frames, there was a place for luggage. And behind it are folding seats, as well as a place for disabled people with strollers and mothers with strollers. Basically comfortable and well thought out. We took care of everyone!

The seat backs are equipped with such folding tables. Now you can conveniently place your phone, laptop or iPad in front of you and watch movies on the go! Also above the chairs there are convenient shelves where you can put away unnecessary things and mobile hooks on which you can hang your clothes. I also noticed that in some places there are sockets with a voltage of 220v!

As in ordinary trains, there is a toilet in the head cars. For those who have been in those terrible toilets, they will be surprised how it looks here. As long as everything is clean and civilized. The toilet is so wide that it is convenient to use the disabled. There are even special equipment located on the left.

Well, how can I ask you, dear readers, to get out of such an interesting place without doing it? That's right, no way! He photographed everything he wanted and sat quietly from Koltsovo himself, looking out the window and at the passengers with children. Who rushed around the cars with joyful faces and photographed everything around!

In conclusion, I would like to add that due to the presence of four autonomous electrical converters, Lastochka, in the absence of supply voltage from contact networks, can maintain its autonomy for 1.5 hours for emergency lighting lamps, sound devices, position signals, automatic door systems, a parking brake and emergency ventilation wagon. As a teacher of power supply, this makes me very happy! 😀

I don’t know about you, but I really liked the Swallow Electric Train. Very convenient, but knowing how Russian Railways plans train schedules and the number of cars in them, I hope Swallows have a happy future. It is very frustrating that when a lot of people are traveling, there are only four cars, people are standing ... And when the time is not crowded, they let 5 or even 6 cars.

This is where I would like to end this post. Dear friends, do not forget to leave your wishes and questions in the comments, share in your social networks about this post. I will be very grateful!

If you liked my article, or find it useful and interesting, then be sure to share it with your friends on your social networks:

The Lastochka train is designed in such a way that all equipment is located in the space under the cars and on the roof. The internal space of the electric train is used to the maximum to make the trip comfortable for passengers. The wall cladding uses fiberglass reinforced plastic and aluminum. The design of all salons is made in light colors for a comfortable stay of passengers.

The ceiling contains elements of built-in lighting, loudspeakers to alert passengers, and air conditioning systems. The floor is made of "floating" chipboard, with a smooth coating based on PVC or rubber. Unbreakable, thermally insulating double-glazed windows are installed in the side windows.

The configuration of passenger seats depends both on the train model (ES1 or ES2G) and on its category (standard class or interregional premium class). In total there are 5 options for the execution of the cabin:

• ES1- suburban regional and interregional (premium) with 1st and 2nd class cabins,
• ES2G- suburban urban, urban increased capacity and inter-regional (premium) with salons of 1, 2 and 3 class.

ES1 suburban

Used on Lastochka train routes:

St. Petersburg - Bologoe, St. Petersburg - Veliky Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod - Petrozavodsk, Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow - Orel, Moscow - Smolensk, Moscow - Vyazma, Krasnodar - Adler, Maykop - Adler.

Head car 1.6

Wagon 2.7

Electric trains have a suburban regional design. Most of the seats are soft third-class seats upholstered in blue and red, and all cars have side folding seats in blue. In total, the composition has 443 seats, which are located as follows:

• in the head cars (first and fifth) there are 67 seats, including 9 folding ones, as well as two vertical backs for wheelchairs. In the front part of the cabin there is a compartment of increased comfort, in which two double-sided rows of seats are installed according to the 2 + 2 scheme opposite each other (8 seats in total). Further in the middle part of the cabin there are 5 bilateral and one one-sided left row of seats, while in the first row the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme, and in the remaining bilateral - 2 + 3, behind the fifth row there is another one-sided double row (26 seats in total). ). Opposite the bathroom on the left side there are 6 folding seats, on the right between the bathroom and the second pair of doors there are 2 more. according to the 2 + 2 scheme, and in the rest - 2 + 3 (24 chairs and 1 folding seat).
• in intermediate cars there are 103 places, including 4 folding ones. In the extreme parts of the cabin near the doors on each side there is one folding side seat opposite each other, behind which there are 5 bilateral rows of seats, of which in the last row near the intercarriage transition the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme, and in the rest - 2 + 3 (a total of 24 seats and 2 folding seats in each extreme part of the car). In the central part of the cabin, on the one hand, there are 11 rows of seats (2 extreme rows of 2 seats and 9 of 3), and on the other - 10 rows of 2 seats (a total of 51 seats).

ES1 Premium

Used on the following Lastochka train routes:

St. Petersburg - Petrozavodsk, Moscow - Kursk, Krasnodar - Rostov-on-Don, Rostov-on-Don - Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don - Kislovodsk,

Wagon 1.6 business

Wagons 2.7

Wagons 3,4,8,9

Wagons 5.10

Electric trains ES1 from 046 to 054 have an inter-regional type saloon ( "Premium"). In these trains, all seats are chair-type with softer upholstery in gray colors with red splashes. One of the head cars has first class seats, all the rest have second class seats. In total, the composition has 340 seats, which are located as follows:

• in the head car of the first class there are 33 seats of the first (business) class and 4 seats of the second (tourist) class of increased comfort. The second class seats are located in the front of the cabin, however, unlike commuter trains, there are only seats on the port side (4 in total), and there are no seats on the starboard side. Further in the middle part of the cabin there are 3 double-sided rows of first-class seats of increased width, behind which, on the port side, one after another, there are 3 more single seats opposite the bathroom (15 seats in total). In the rear of the cabin there is one single-sided right row of two seats, and behind it there are 4 more bilateral rows of the first class (18 seats in total).
• in the head carriage of the second class there are 45 seats of the second class, including 4 seats of increased comfort in the front part of the cabin, also located on the left. In the middle part of the cabin there are 3 double-sided rows of second-class seats, while in the first row the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme, and in the rest - 2 + 3. Behind them, on the port side, one after another, there are 3 more one-sided rows of 2 chairs each (20 seats in total). In the rear of the cabin on the left there are 4 rows of seats, 2 in each, and on the right there are 5 rows, of which the two extreme ones have 2 seats each, the rest - 3 each (21 seats in total).
• there are 86 seats in intermediate cars. In the extreme parts of the cabin there are 5 rows of seats, and in the middle - 8 rows. Most of the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 3 scheme, with the exception of rows along the edges of the cabin and near the doors from the side of the cabin edges (4 rows in total), where the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme.

Premium Salon 1st class

Salon 2 class

Salon 3 class

The seats of the second or third class are separated by a passage according to the 3 + 2 scheme in one row, with the exception of the rows located in close proximity to the vestibule zones and inter-car crossings, where the seats are placed according to the 2 + 2 scheme along the same width (there is no place near the aisle in the row 3 places). Seats of the second or third class of increased comfort are located in the head cars in a special compartment in front of the driver's cab according to the 2 + 2 scheme in a row for suburban trains and according to the 2 + 0 scheme for intercity trains (there are no seats on the right side of the aisle). The first class seats are placed in a row 2 + 2 and have a large width between the seats, 3 first class seats in front of the toilets are single. There are tables opposite most Class 1 and 2 seats. Most of the seats in class 3 cars, as well as in the head cars of class 1 and 2, are facing the other seats, that is, passengers sit facing each other, while in intermediate cars of class 2 the seats are mostly oriented with the front side to the back of the seats in the previous row. However, in all cars, regardless of their class, there are seats facing the rear of the seats of the previous row.

ES2G suburban-urban

Used on the following Lastochka train routes:

St. Petersburg — Vyborg, St. Petersburg — Volkhovstroy, St. Petersburg — Luga, St. Petersburg — Melnichny Ruchey, St. Petersburg — Zelenogorsk, St. Petersburg — Roshchino, St. Petersburg — Kannelyarvi, St. Petersburg — Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg - Kalishche, Moscow - Kryukovo, Moscow - Tver, Moscow - Klin, Moscow - Konakovo GRES, Yekaterinburg - Nizhny Tagil, Yekaterinburg - Kamensk-Uralsky, Yekaterinburg - Kuzino.

For electric trains ES2G, the layout is partially different from ES1. Unlike ES1, all seats in ES2G are oriented to the rear of the previous row, while they are facing the nearest door. The seats are upholstered in blue. The seats in the rows on the left and right are mostly symmetrical.

Electric trains from 001 to 044 have a suburban urban design. Unlike ES1 of a suburban regional design, the number of seats in the cabin was reduced to increase the capacity of the train, and chairs of a slightly different design were also used. In the head cars and the intermediate car without a current collector, most of the seats are placed according to the 3 + 2 scheme in a row, with the exception of the rows in the head part and some of the outer ones, and in the intermediate ones with a current collector - according to the 2 + 2 scheme. In total, the composition has 386 seats, which are located as follows:

• in the head cars (first and fifth) there are 66 seats, including 9 folding ones. In front of the cabin there are 10 seats arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme (2 rows on the left and 3 on the right, 2 seats in each). Further, in the middle part of the cabin there are 5 double-sided rows of seats, while in the first row the seats are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme, and in the rest - 2 + 3 (24 seats in total). Opposite the bathroom on the left side there are 7 folding seats, on the right between the bathroom and the second pair of doors there are 2 more. 3.
• in intermediate cars with a current collector (second and fourth) there are 80 seats. All seats are arranged in a 2+2 layout. In the extreme parts of the cabin there are 5 rows of seats, and in the middle - 10 rows. In total, there are 80 seats in the cabin. Subsequently, in some electric trains, on one side along the left side behind the second door, 3 rows of seats were eliminated, due to which the number of seats decreased to 74, and the vacated space was used to transport standing passengers and bicycles.
• in the intermediate car without a current collector (the third one) there are 94 seats. Most of the seats are located in a 2 + 3 pattern, with the exception of rows at the edges of the cabin and near the doors (6 rows in total), where the seats are arranged in a 2 + 2 pattern.

ES2G urban

It is used on the routes of the Moscow Central Ring (Moscow City Ring Train).

ES2G electric trains from number 045 have an urban interior with an increased capacity, created specifically for the Moscow Central Circle. Unlike previous ES2G suburban-urban trains, they have a reduced number of seats to increase the total capacity of the train and improve the conditions for standing passengers. In the salons, horizontal handrails are installed for the convenience of standing passengers, 2 on each side, with the exception of the middle intermediate car, where there are handrails only on the side opposite to the seats. In intermediate cars with a current collector, instead of some seats, there are areas for transporting bicycles and luggage, equipped with bike racks. In the salons near the doors, color information monitors are installed that display part of the route map with transfers and the current position of the train on the route, which is of great importance for urban trains with frequent stops. The differences in seating layout are as follows:

• in the head cars (first and fifth), the seats in all rows are arranged according to the 2 + 2 scheme, that is, the third longitudinal row has been eliminated. Due to this, there were 7 fewer seats in the car, that is, their total decreased to 59.
• in intermediate cars with a current collector (second and fourth), on both sides along the left side behind each second door, 3 left rows of seats were eliminated (6 seats on each side of the car), due to which the number of seats decreased to 68, and the freed space became be used to transport standing passengers and bicycles.
• in the intermediate car without a current collector (the third one), 2 seats were removed, the total number of seats decreased to 92.

ES2GP Premium

The ES2GP electric train has cars with three classes of seats. The seats of the first class are arranged according to the scheme 2 + 2, the rest - 2 + 3. The layout of class 1 and class 2 seats is in many respects similar to that of premium class ES1 electric trains - for the most part they are located opposite each other and have tables, while class 3 seats do not have tables, and their arrangement is similar to that of an ES2G suburban-urban train. type. Class 1 seats are upholstered in greyish brown, class 2 in greyish blue, class 3 in blue.

Interior configuration and equipment

Along with passenger seats, the train also has multifunctional areas with luggage racks and folding seats. On the shelves for hand luggage and also in the walls opposite some of the seats, there are 220 V AC electrical outlets, which allows you to recharge mobile devices while traveling. In trains operated in the Sochi region, these areas are equipped with ski and snowboard racks. In the head cars of the train, in front of the second pair of doors on the starboard side, there are bathrooms with environmentally friendly vacuum toilets (one per car) and washbasins equipped with special equipment for the disabled and a reservoir system located on the left side of the bathroom.

Inter-car passages located in both ends of the intermediate cars and the rear end of the head car are made in the form of double-leaf fire-resistant sliding doors with appropriate frames, seals and fire-resistant glazing. Outside, the transitions are completely surrounded by airtight flexible ceilings of the "accordion" type.

There are no vestibules in the carriages, passenger sliding doors open directly into the salon and form entrance and exit zones in it, which are separated from the main part of the salon with passenger seats only by glass partitions. Due to the absence of vestibules to prevent cooling of the passenger compartment in winter, the temperature in these areas is maintained by additional heaters with a directed supply of warm air to the vestibule zone and heating of the walls. The fresh air supply system is linked to a carbon dioxide level control sensor, so that the power consumption is significantly reduced with a small number of passengers in the cars.

To maintain a comfortable temperature and air exchange, the train cars are equipped with special climate control units located on the roofs of the cars. Each head car is additionally equipped with a compact climate control unit for the driver's cab, which operates independently of the passenger compartment. Climatic installations provide air exchange, heating and cooling of air. The prepared supply air is distributed through air ducts located in the ceilings, side walls and floors of the cars.

To ensure the safety of passengers, the train is equipped with external and internal video surveillance systems, as well as fire alarms.

driver's cab

The driver's cab is designed to meet the requirements for driving a train in one person. The design of the cabin ensures the safety of the train crew and the safe and efficient operation of the electric train. The driver can operate the train both standing and sitting. The train control system Desiro RUS consists of components from the proven Sibas 32 technology used for the train information bus.

When creating the cabin, Siemens specialists, together with Russian Railways, worked out and optimized the location of the driver’s workplace and control panel elements, the design of the room and the viewing area of ​​the track from the cabin. The state-of-the-art control panel installed in the cab has optimized ergonomics and conveniently located controls. The control panel displays information about the operation of all train systems, including the results of diagnostics of its technical condition. The trains are equipped with the BLOCK security system, as well as analog and digital train radio communication. If necessary, special modes of digital and satellite communications can be integrated into the system.

Electric trains are equipped with a special auto-guidance system that selects the optimal traction and braking modes in terms of energy consumption, comfort for passengers and travel time. In this case, the driver can switch to manual control at any time. The driver is also supported by the braking system, which by default uses regenerative electric braking, and if it is ineffective, it turns on rheostatic braking. If the electric braking force is insufficient, the system automatically activates direct electro-pneumatic braking (mixed mode)

"Swallow" was developed by the German company "Siemens". The total number of cars is 5, and the length of the entire train is about 130 meters. This model can reach speeds up to 160 km/h. A regular train has two cars with a motor and three without it.

The high-speed electric train "Lastochka" is in demand and very popular among many residents of the Russian Federation. It runs in many directions, both between small towns and to the capital. Compared to other electric trains, Lastochka has a very attractive and modern appearance, a comfortable interior, comfortable seats, and the cars are equipped with clean and modern toilets. In addition, it has specially designated places for people with disabilities.

About the train

The Lastochka electric train began to run on its routes in the winter of 2013-2014, namely from the city famous for its white nights - St. Petersburg. The train was also awarded a very interesting nickname - "Olympic". Why exactly? Yes, because the period when the "Swallow" began its existence fell on the Winter Olympic Games taking place in the city of Sochi. Then they decided that this electric train should carry passengers traveling to cheer for their national teams, as well as those people who came from other countries and cities.

In some period before the Olympics, Lastochka was in demand among those who participated in the Universiade, which was held in the city of Kazan in 2013. In addition, guests were transported by train from the local airport to the city itself and in the opposite direction - from the city to the airport. At the present time, the train still travels daily on this route.

Location of seats

If passengers want to quickly and comfortably get to a certain settlement, the Lastochka high-speed intercity train will help them, the carriage diagram of which is shown in the photo below, and tickets can be purchased at the station box office.

Description of wagons and operation

This train is operated in two versions:

• 5 wagons - with a small flow of people.
• 10 wagons (5 + 5 double train) - in the event that the number of people exceeds the norm and you need to add another train. This may depend on the direction of the Lastochka, or on weekends or holidays.

If the composition is not doubled, then the total number of passenger seats is 409, 30 of which have folding backrests, which makes it more comfortable to get to the desired point, and 4 of them are designed for wheelchair users.

In the first and sixth cars there are about 56 seats for ordinary passengers, and 2 seats are for people with disabilities, where wheelchairs can easily fit without interfering in the aisle. In addition, the cars have an additional 9 seats, the back of which leans back, and this makes it possible to reach your destination with even greater comfort.

In the second and seventh, third and eighth, as well as the fourth and ninth cars, the number of seats is 103. 99 are ordinary chairs with folding backs. The seats are arranged in two rows of three sections, each with 2 and 3 seats. The fifth and tenth cars repeat the scheme of the first and sixth cars.

High-speed train No. 732 "Lastochka", the scheme of the carriage of which is shown in the photo, is comfortable for traveling. As already mentioned, the cars are equipped with toilets, places for luggage, seats for passengers and conductors. Also in the cars there are hangers and sockets (not at every seat), as well as vestibules with smoking areas.

"Swallow Premium"

There is a composition of the high-speed train "Swallow", made in a more improved version, called "Swallow Premium". The difference between the first (regular) train option and the second one is that the train has both economy class and business class cars. In the second type of car there is a slightly smaller number of seats, which are arranged in two chairs facing each other, and tables are located between them. Near each seat there are sockets, hangers and trash containers that are attached to the table itself. In addition, each carriage has enough space for luggage. "Swallow Premium" provides convenience to passengers during the trip.

The carriages of the "Lastochka Premium" are somewhat different from those of the regular "Lastochka" train, the scheme of which shows a total of 423 seats. There are 331 of them in the "Premium" train. This gives even more comfort and convenience to passengers during the trip. Each Lastochka Premium carriage has video monitors that show the air temperature in the carriage and outside, the day and date, the schedule, how much time is left before arrival at a particular point.

Schedule

Every day, the high-speed train "Swallow" (the scheme of the car is in each of them) runs in different directions from early morning until late at night. Each direction has its own detailed train schedule, some changes may be made to it, but you can find out the exact time of departure or arrival of the train only by purchasing a ticket or contacting the information desk.

Trip to Nizhny Novgorod

The Lastochka train runs along routes with the aim of delivering as many passengers as comfortably as possible to their destination. The scheme of the train "Lastochka" (Nizhny Novgorod - the final destination) shows in which cars there are places for them, which places are with folding backs. Also in the timetable along the route you can see all the settlements that the train passes.

As you can see in the photo, the high-speed train "Swallow" (the scheme of the car is available to everyone for viewing) is quite spacious. The seats are arranged in 2 and 3, there are shelves for luggage, hooks for clothes and a scoreboard on which you can see where and where the train is currently leaving, as well as the date, time and other information.

Train tickets

At this stage, the Lastochka routes are carried out in the following directions:

• From St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod.
• From St. Petersburg to Bologoye.
• From St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk.
• From Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod.
• From Moscow to Kursk

The high-speed electric train "Lastochka", whose car layout shows the location of passenger and luggage seats, is also in great demand in the southern territory of the country. In the Sochi region, a 5-car train runs from the airport to Krasnaya Polyana. In addition, there are a number of cities that "Swallow" will help you get to with convenience: Dagomys, Lazarevskoye and Tuapse.

You can buy train tickets at any working ticket office of the station, or you can book any free seats via the Internet, and in the second case there will be a 5% discount. If a ticket is purchased via the Internet, passing control when boarding a train, it is necessary to have a passport and a printout of this ticket with you.

Road to Kursk

The scheme of the train "Lastochka" (Kursk) practically does not differ from the scheme of "Lastochka" plying in other directions. The schedule describes in detail the route from one end station to another. For example, leaving Moscow at 12 noon, a Premium class train passes 7 stations - Serpukhov, Tulua-1, Tula, Mtsensk, Orel, Zmievka, Ponyr - and reaches Kursk. Accordingly, the stations on the Kursk-Moscow route follow in reverse order. "Swallow" (the train map will inform passengers about the class of the selected car) is a quick and convenient way to get to the point you need.

Approximately, the average time between these stops takes from 25 to 50 minutes, and the journey itself from one end station to another takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. During the movement, the train makes stops, the time of which is from 2 to 6 minutes. The price of a ticket on this route from the starting to the final station does not exceed the amount of 2600 rubles.

Special offers

Passengers who have bought a ticket for the high-speed train "Lastochka" (the layout of the seats will indicate where are even and where are odd) can take advantage of a 15% discount, which is valid from Monday to Thursday. On other days, the ticket price is slightly higher - this is due to the large flow of people who are in a hurry to go home, to the country house or to visit someone.

In addition, students who use the services of this vehicle can receive a 30% discount from Monday to Friday. On weekends, the ticket will cost at full price. Retirees and the disabled are also entitled to certain benefits.

Road to Smolensk

The scheme of the train "Lastochka" (Smolensk) will also give complete information about the composition and help you choose the most comfortable place. Leaving Moscow around 7 am, the train passes Mozhaisk, Gagarin, Vyazma, Safonovo and Yartsevo, then arrives in Smolensk around 11:30. The journey takes about 4 hours 30 minutes, the time of stops at the stations is from 2 to 17 minutes.

The train leaves Smolensk for Moscow at 7:30 and arrives at noon.

Those who travel frequently and plan to travel by high-speed train either from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow or vice versa are advised to read this article before buying a ticket. Now I'm just sitting on a cramped chair high-speed train Swallow, it's only been 30 minutes since departure, and I already want this trip to end as quickly as possible. Why? Read my review and you will understand a lot.

Impressions of a trip on a high-speed train Swallow would not be complete without comparing it with another high-speed train - Sapsan. I have ridden it many times and in principle the impressions were the most favorable. In any case, if I were offered to travel from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod or back on a regular train in a reserved seat (a compartment car is better, but much more expensive), or on a Strizh, then I would choose Strizh.

Why? It's faster, somehow more modern, just 4 hours and you're at home. Anything is better than listening to someone's hysterical snoring or coughing all night, and then getting up rumpled, sleepy and angry.

But if I were offered a choice between an ordinary train, even in a reserved seat car, or a high-speed train Lastochka, I would not choose Lastochka.

Perhaps this is my purely nitpicking subjective opinion, but I really think so, and now I will try to give facts and give some recommendations if you still decide to go Swallow.

Disadvantages of the high-speed train Swallow

The first thing that caught my eye and stung unpleasantly was the arrangement of the seats. Maybe things are different in other cars, but in my car number two, almost all the seats are turned towards each other, like on an ordinary electric train. On the one hand two in a row, and on the other - three. Sit all the way and look at your neighbor. It's sometimes stressful.

Keep in mind that, unlike Strizh, window seats are not the best choice in Swallow. The fact is that there are hooks for outerwear on the luggage rack. When passengers hang their jackets, coats and sheepskin coats on these hooks, it becomes crowded to sit by the window. To top it off, some outerwear items emit a characteristic and not so pleasant smell. Driving for four hours next to someone's fragrant coat - a pleasure, frankly, below average - I checked it out for myself. Of course, this problem occurs only in the cold season. She won't bother you in the summer.

The next unpleasant surprise is the seats. They do not lay out in the Swallow. True, in Strizh they also unfold quite a bit, but this is better than driving all the way in an upright position like a stump. In their desire to take a nap at least a little, passengers sometimes take very bizarre poses. Moreover, there are folding tables in the backs of the seats of the Swift. For example, you can put a laptop on the table and work or watch a movie. The pocket in front of the standing seat can also be very useful. For example, I hung my tablet on it (for the hinged cover of the case - very convenient) and watched movies without holding the device in my hands. In the swallow, the seats are back to back and that says it all.

Another ambush is luggage racks. They are very small and I, for example, did not have enough space to put my backpack there. Unlike the train in Lastochka, the luggage shelves do not close, and all the way I watched with bated breath when, finally, an unsuccessfully placed raincoat would finally fall from the shelf on the opposite side of the car onto the heads of sleeping passengers. Here they will rejoice.

Nevertheless, I noticed one very useful thing in the Swallow - electrical outlets on the luggage racks. True, there are very few of them, about one outlet for 12-14 seats. Here the principle works - whoever took the outlet first, he recharged. True, there are also sockets in the cars of the Sapsan train, but they are located at the entrances to the cars - only two per car (at least, I counted just that many). You put the tablet on charge like this, you go to your place, and then you come and ... When I asked if tablets are often stolen here, the Sapsan guide said that everything is under cameras here. In fact, the consolation is weak. Someone can grab your tablet and get off at the way station. I don't think cameras will help in this case.

Go ahead. In Swallow, unlike Sapsan and Strizh, there are no TVs on the ceiling. There is not even a radio that you can listen to by plugging the headphone jack (free) into the seat armrest. Here, to paraphrase a well-known proverb, the entertainment of drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves. In principle, you can read a book, listen to a player, watch a movie on a tablet, but if you didn’t take anything on the road, get ready to be bored for several hours. Especially if you are traveling at night, it is pointless to look out the window - a bright light is on in the car and the windows only reflect the atmosphere of the car to you. In addition, the windows may be tightly hung with jackets and coats of other passengers.

In Swallow, unlike Sapsan and Strizh, there is no way to use WiFi. Of course, on the one hand, you can live for four hours without the Internet, but for some it is very annoying - it was evident from the faces of the passengers. If you go by Swallow - prepare some kind of SIM card with the Internet "everywhere".

Advantages of the train Swallow

Now, for the sake of objectivity, I would like to note the positive side of the Swallow train.

Let's start with the fact that the carriages are quite clean and light. These are not dirty electric trains with a barely glowing single light on the ceiling. Bright lighting creates a certain atmosphere of comfort and at least some semblance of civilization.

The cars are clean, there is no carpet on the floor, but it is covered with some kind of anti-slip layer. Going to the toilet also left the most decent impression. True, there are clearly not enough toilets on the train, but they are large and designed even for disabled passengers. In contrast, in Sapsan, the toilet is slightly larger than in an airplane. That is - go in - go in, but there is almost nowhere to turn around.

In the cars of the high-speed train Lastochka, air conditioning is operating - the temperature was maintained at about 25 degrees. I sat in a T-shirt and felt comfortable. I immediately remembered my long trip to the city of Shakhunya from Nizhny Novgorod. The temperature outside was about minus twenty degrees, I think it was no more in the train cars. In Swallow with air temperature everything is in order.

Another fact that will seem to someone a minus, someone a plus. The wagons carry carts with drinks and food. On the one hand, if you were unable to eat before the trip, then such a cart can be regarded as a salvation. But at the same time, get ready to pay a round sum for a small snack. I remember once I decided to order some tea and some cake for myself in Sapsan. Tea was served in bags, and the cake was the most ordinary, which costs twenty rubles in the store.

For this bold experiment with a snack in Sapsan, I remember that I paid about two hundred and fifty rubles. In Lastochka, prices are about the same. But you don't have to order anything. You can proudly reject the offer of conductors, and then your budget will not be undermined.

The train goes pretty fast compared to the usual. It cannot be said that I constantly followed the scoreboard, which displays the speed of movement, but the highest speed that I noticed was 155 kilometers per hour. True, Sapsan goes even faster. In some sections, it accelerates to 180 km / h, and it becomes incomprehensible why both he and Lastochka travel from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow in the same time. Here it is worth noting that the Sapsan goes more smoothly. The swallow, apparently, is lighter, or its suspension is arranged somehow differently, but it dangles from side to side sometimes so much that I start to miss the keys of the laptop.

Conclusion

Despite the positive qualities of the Swallow high-speed train, it, of course, does not reach Sapsan in terms of comfort. With a difference in ticket price of about three hundred rubles, the choice in favor of Lastochka, in my opinion, is justified only because of the more convenient departure and arrival times in your particular case, or if you still decide to save a little.