By David Gold

Sochi 2014_Lastochka_trainJune 6 - An electric train has been introduced in Sochi which will be a part of the transportation network for the Winter Olympic and Paralympics in 2014.

The train, called Lastochka, was unveiled by Russian Railways at the International Rail Business Forum by the company's President Vladimir Yakunin.

Passengers will use the train, serving the renovated train links to Sochi-Adler, to get to the Games in two years' time.

The train can carry 800 passengers and has a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour.

The trains are also designed to help transport skis during the Games, with each landing coach having a special convertible holder to prevent skis from falling.

The five-car train was purchased from German giant Siemens, and a total of 54 are being ordered by Russian Railways.

Though the train is still under testing, some will be in use for next year's Summer Universiade in Kazan.

Four railway stations are being constructed by Russian Railways for Sochi 2014, with all set to be completed by the end of the year.

Trains to Adler, near the coastal cluster of Olympic venues, as well as to Krasnaya Polyana where alpine ski will take place, depart every five minutes.

An automatic train control system will manage the volume of trains expected to be in operation.

The train network will play a pivotal role in Sochi 2014 as the Black Sea resort is by some estimates the longest city in Europe.

Its length means that most of the city is connected by one main road, making traffic inevitable.

A new road network is being constructed to alleviate this pressure, but it means that trains, which will take visitors from the coastal cluster to the mountain cluster of venues in 27 minutes, are crucial.

Some 64,000 people per day are expected to use Sochi's train network during the Games, and Russian Railways are also constructing a high speed line to Moscow to help alleviate pressure on the city's airport.

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