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Test-drive of «Allegro» for the delegation of Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI)

08:07, 11 марта 2011

North-Western branch of Russian Union of Travel Industry in cooperation with directorate of high-speed traffic of OJSC “Russian Railways” organized a promotional ride on the new train “Allegro” from St.Petersburg to Helsinki for the members of RUTI. This is a second event of that type, the first was organized in January this year for 40 participants and guests of St.Petersburg International Workshop. The delegation of the second trip, 40 persons, consisted of the representatives of travel companies, hotels and journalists.

Train «Allegro» runs daily between St.Petersburg and Helsinki as from December 12, 2010. Silver streamlined modern trains, made in Italy, impress the passengers. Glass doors are operated by pushing a button, there are almost no passages between cars, comfortable armchairs, folding tables with plugs for charging mobile phones or laptops, Wi Fi network, dry-toilets, air-conditioning and other services. Each chair is equipped with a pocket for small articles, individual light, special place for coats and leg-rest, each car has a boiler with drinking water.

First class (42 seats) compared to the second class (296 seats) is fit out with leather chairs, daily newspapers, headphones and meal is being served by waiters. In the middle of the car there is a self-service zone, where tea and coffee is offered, as well as a small negotiation room for 6 seats. There is a children's playground in the car N 7. The car N 2 is equipped with elevators for disabled passengers and a special toilet for such passengers. There are separate seats for  passengers with pets.

International train crew is working in “Allegro”, the staff attended special course and speak three languages. Customs and border control is done on the way. Exchange of currency is possible in the train on the territory of Finland, tax free refund is also operating.

The train ride from St.Petersburg to Helsinki took only 3.5 hours instead of the previous 6 hours. The participants of this presentation ride highly estimated the speed and comfort of the train. And marked  its obvious demand of the travel market subject to negotiable prices. This was the first question raised in Helsinki at the meeting with the representatives of VR Group company (Finnish partner of “Russian Railways” in “Allegro” project). General remark of all touroperators was that 84 EUR price for a train ride in second class is too high for tourist groups. The department manager of VR Group Ayla Makelaynen explained that in Finland when buying tickets for a group of minimum 6 persons for «Allegro» you get a 20% discount. To be able to buy a group ticket local travel company signs a contract with VR and gets a special access to the booking web-site. But the group booking for the Russian travel agencies on the site is not foreseen.  The participants of the meeting agreed to collect all pending matters and questions raised as a result of this presenation of «Allegro» and send them via RUTI to the directorate of high-speed traffic of OJSC “Russian Railways”.

During the presentation touroperators learned that as of May 29, 2011 four «Allegro» trains will run between Helsinki and St.Petersburg. The matter of a direct speedy train between Helsinki and Moscow is being discussed.

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