In Finland, the state is investing over 200 million in improvements that should allow the Finnish Railways'(VR) high-speed Pendolino trains to run the route at 200 km/hour. VR estimates the travel time between the two cities will be cut in half.

"We will go under four hours, maybe down to three and a half. It will be a significant change, going from nearly six hours to three and a half," says VR's Passenger Traffic Division Director Antti Jaatinen.

In the current economic situation, the improved rail link is a major investment. VR and the Russian Railways OAO RZD have established a 50/50 joint venture, Karelian Trains Ltd, which will acquire high speed trains and and handle maintenance services between Helsinki and St. Petersburg. The company has placed an order for four new high-speed trains. According to the company’s plans, three services will operate in each direction daily in the initial phase, with the number of services later increasing to four per day in each direction.

Passenger numbers on the Helsinki–St. Petersburg line are expected to triple within five years of the introduction of the high-speed service. In 2007, the Helsinki–St. Petersburg line carried some 230,000 passengers. Total passenger travel between Finland and Russia last year amounted to nearly 400,000 journeys, which is an 18% increase on the previous year. Growth has continued this year. From January to November, passenger numbers on trains to and from Russia was up by 9 %.

Higher speeds and faster journeys will also be reflected in ticket prices. VR estimates that the cost of tickets on the route will double in five years from the introduction of high-speed trains.

According to current plans, the first fast trains will run on the route in December 2010.