THE prototype 2ES7 freight locomotive developed by Ural Locomotives, the Russian joint venture of Siemens and Sinara, began a six-week programme of trials on Russia's Yuzhno - Uralskaya South Urals Railway on January 18.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) launched an enhanced peak commuter service on the Moscow - Khimki - Kryukovo - Tver line on October 1 using its new ES2G Lastochka EMUs, which have been supplied by the Ural Locomotives joint venture between Siemens and Sinara.

SIEMENS and Sinara celebrated the fifth anniversary of their Ural Locomotives Russian joint venture on July 9 by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will pave the way for the assembly of high-speed trains at its Verkhnaya Pyshma plant near Yekaterinburg.