Russian Railways Unveils Upgraded High-Speed Double-Decker Burevestnik Train Connecting Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod

State-owned railway company Russian Railways (RZD) launched a new high-speed double-decker train service between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday, reviving the Burevestnik brand that originally debuted in the 1960s.

The latest Burevestnik trains are designed to replace the previous single-deck service, which was retired in 2014 as part of RZD’s efforts to modernize its fleet. Previously, the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod route was serviced by other high-speed trains, such as the Sapsan and Strizh, all named after birds.

These 10-car double-decker trains have a passenger capacity of up to 730 individuals and will offer three daily round trips in each direction, with travel time estimated at around four and a half hours. They come equipped with modern conveniences like USB ports and electrical outlets.

“With the capacity of these trains, we anticipate that passenger numbers will significantly rise,” said RZD Deputy Managing Director Ivan Kolesnikov during the official unveiling at Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow, highlighting that the route had already seen 2.5 million passengers in 2025.

In addition, RZD has introduced double-decker trains on various routes from Moscow to cities including St. Petersburg, Kazan, Voronezh, and Samara. There are also plans to expand a high-speed rail network across Russia, featuring a line connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow.