Russia’s first high-speed train has made its maiden voyage from Moscow to St Petersburg, only weeks after a bomb blast killed 27 passengers on the same busy route.

The Sapsan, which means peregrine falcon in Russian, can reach up to 250 kilometres and will slice journey time between the country’s two main cities.

“I am in a hurry to get back home to St. Petersburg. I think that this train will be very fast, comfortable and will take me home quickly,” one passenger said.

Despite the November 28 bombing, most passengers were undaunted.

“No, I am not afraid. I trust my country and its infrastructure,” said one man.

The Sapsan carries about 600 passengers and was built by German industrial group Siemans after it won a 30 year, 630 million euro deal to supply and service eight trains.

However, celebrations have been muted in the wake of last month’s bombing of the luxury Nevsky Express train by Islamist militants. In addition to those who perished, nearly 100 people were injured, when the train was derailed by an explosive device on the tracks.

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