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By the end of this year, high-speed trains will begin running between St. Petersburg, Russia, and Helsinki, Finland.

The trains, which will reach speeds up to 135 mph, will reduce trip times between the two cities from six hours to three-and-a-half hours, and enable the Russian Railways to increase service between the two countries.

Passenger travel between Russia and Finland currently accounts for about 52 percent of the Russian Railways’ international transport volume, according to the railway. The railway hopes to increase passenger transport between the two countries by 12 percent annually until 2014.

Alstom is manufacturing four high-speed Allegro trains for the Russian Railways under a 2007 contract valued at $165 million.