The Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin and the head of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov have officially launched services of Ivolga 4.0 modern Russian-made electric trains to Yaroslavl on Moscow Railways and travelled on the first electric train from Rostokino to Yaroslavsky Station.

"In recent years, a lot of work has been done to improve traffic connectivity," said Sergei Sobyanin. "Russian Railways has built additional main lines, which have reduced the interval between trains by a third, increased the number of passenger seats, and ensured the reliability of operations. We have built a transport hub in Rostokino, where passengers can transfer from the Yaroslavl direction to the Moscow Central Circle. Now it’s time to update the rolling stock!"

More than 300 pairs of passenger trains run to and from Yaroslavl on Moscow Railways, 275 of which provide suburban services. During the rush hour, trains arrive and depart from Yaroslavsky Station every 2.5 minutes. The average passenger flow is about 300,000 passengers every day.

"The Yaroslavl route today is the busiest not only in Moscow and Russia, but also in Europe," said Oleg Belozerov. "It is also one of the most efficient in terms of suburban travel. On this route, suburban electric transport services were launched 96 years ago. Nowadays, the new rolling stock characterises the changes that have occurred during this time and electric trains are distinguished by their capacity, rapid acceleration and comfort."

Ivolga 4.0 trains are urban electric trains that are ideal for intensive use. They are equipped with advanced climate control and safety systems and additional passenger comfort and convenience is provided by ergonomic seats, sockets for charging mobile devices, adaptive lighting, Wi-Fi access, and parking for bicycles and scooters with the ability to recharge and other amenities, including for passengers with limited mobility.