There are a few facts that I'd like to make additions to not to give a faulty idea how things are.
J. Nes schrieb:
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A lot of SA3 couplered traffic exists between Russia and Finland (or existed before Russia attacked Ukraine causing sanctions of EU to become into effect). All Finnish larger locomotives are equipped mainly with SA3 and secondarily with old and obsolete European hook and chain coupler. Using automatic couplers are much more effective than using the backward European hook solution. (I realize SA3 is Willison coupler from U.K. and European too). First picture below shows one of the Russsian built VL40 locomotives wearing SA3, hook coupler is used with a smart steel adapter in the motuh of it.
> Regelmässige Einsatz von Finnische Güterwagen in
> Russland-Verkehr endete im Jahr 1958, mit
> endgültige Ersatz von Schraubenkupplungen mit SA3
> in UdSSR. Danach sind Finnische Güterwagen nur in
> Einzelfällen in Russenverkehr im Einsatz gewesen,
> und auch dies seit Jahren nicht mehr.
Exactly, however there are 4 two way connections with 1522 mm Pendolino sets between Helsinki and St Petersburg. Using coaches ceased because this kind of traffic was seen obsolete. Before Russia attacked Ukraine, the RZD+VR owned Pendolinos were doing great but are now, due to sanctions, in severe trouble of quickly shrinking customer base. Few Finns I know now like to visit Russia any more and as Russian economy is in chaos this clearly shows with rapidly declining traveller numbers.
Second picture shown one of these RZD+VR=Karelian Trains 4 trains. Cross border traffic is monopolized to VR and RZD due to Russian wishes (unlike in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,...)
> Regelmässige Einsatz von Finnische Personenwagen
> in Russland endete im Jahr 2010. Dann wurden die
> Lokbespannten Zügen zwischen Helsinki und Sankt
> Petersburg (Repin mit RZD-Wagen und Sibelius mit
> Finnische Wagen) mit Allegro-Neigezüge ersetzt.
It definitely looks like the Russian capable coaching has unfortunately been loosing its designated ability to operate to high Russian platforms. As you say below, so still exist though. But for coach trains today only Russian and Siemens Viaggio classic stock are used. You can find these for example on the nightly Helsinki - Moscow trains (2 exist, one each way).
I Included a picture of the slightly older coaching. It looks like RZD is changing these every five years or so for some reason.
> Die einzige Finnische Wagen, die jetzt nach
> Russland kommen sind die Salonwagen A 40 und A 41,
> sowie Aggregatwagen Fey 29951 für dessen
> Stromversorgung.
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