OREANDA-NEWS. August 19 saw the first six metro cars manufactured by the Russian-Czech Kirov-SKODA Joint Venture being delivered to the St. Petersburg city metro.

The six metro cars of the Neva train project were delivered to the St. Petersburg metro enterprise for testing. The next generation metro cars were assembled by the Kirov-SKODA joint venture in the production facilities of Kirovsky Zavod in St. Petersburg. Currently the first Neva train is expecting a number of tests of its electric, pneumatic and brake systems. It is planned to launch the new train in the coming month.

The Kirov-SKODA joint venture obtained an order for 54 metro cars for the city metro enterprise worth USD 96 million. The new metro cars are designed based on innovative technologies of the Czech partner company SKODA TRANSPORTATION. The energy-efficient metro cars are made of high-tech lightweight materials and equipped with asynchronous electric motors. The special operating mechanism saves up to 30% of electric energy while the car is in motion compared to other traditional mechanisms. In addition, the metro cars are more passenger-friendly and equipped with up-to-date air conditioning and sound insulation systems.

The next Neva train is planned to be assembled by the end of September. Altogether the Russian-Czech JV will manufacture four modernized metro trains for the city of St. Petersburg. In the meantime, the joint venture is in the process of localizing its production in Kirovsky Zavod and equipping its assembling line with modern machines. In particular, the production facility will be equipped with five painting chambers up to 30 meters in length. It is planned that as early as in 2014 the joint venture will enter the full cycle of production in St. Petersburg.