VR Class Sm6

VR Class Sm6
A Sm6 unit at Helsinki Central before operating the first Pendolino Plus train service
Second class coach
Stock type	Electric multiple unit
In service	2010–2022 2025–
Manufacturer	Alstom
Built at	Savigliano
Family name	New Pendolino
Constructed	2009–2011
Entered service	2010
Refurbished	2018–2019, 2025
Number built	4
Formation	7 cars
Capacity	337 + 2 disabled access + 38 in restaurant
Operator	VR Group Russian Railways (former)
Specifications
Train length	184.80 m (606 ft 4 in)
Car length	25.00 m (82 ft 0 in) 27.20 m (89 ft 3 in)
Width	3,200 mm (10 ft 6 in)
Height	4,270 mm (14 ft 0 in)
Floor height	1,270 mm (4 ft 2 in)
Platform height	200 mm (7.9 in) (Russia AC and Northern Finland) 550 mm (21.7 in) (Southern Finland) 1,100 mm (43.3 in) (Russia DC)
Doors	12+12
Maximum speed	220 km/h (140 mph)
Power output	5,500 kW (7,400 hp)
Electric systems	25 kV 50 Hz AC 3 kV DC catenary
Current collection	Pantograph
Safety systems	Finland: ATP-VR/RHK Russia: KLUB-U
Track gauge	Russian track: 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge Finnish track: 1,524 mm (5 ft) Wheelsets: 1,522 mm (59.92 in)[1]

The Sm6 is a class of high-speed electric multiple unit trainsets built by Alstom. A total of four trainsets were originally built for the now-defunct Allegro train service operated by Karelian Trains, a joint venture between RZD (Russian Railways) and VR (Finnish Railways). VR seized the trains from the joint venture in 2023 ^[2][3] and began using them in domestic services in November 2025 under the brand name Pendolino Plus.^[4]

The Sm6 appears externally similar to VR's earlier Sm3 Pendolino series, but is based on the fourth generation 'Pendolino Nuovo' or 'New Pendolino' designs and its construction differed from the Sm3 in many ways.^[1][5] Each trainset consists of seven carriages. The top speed of the train in passenger traffic is 220 km/h (140 mph).^[3] Although the units were built with tilt capability and used it during their service with Karelian Trains, new owners VR have disabled the system to save maintenance costs and to allow their other rolling stock to keep to Sm6 timings in the event of a substitution.

All four Sm6 trains were refurbished by VR FleetCare between 2018 and 2019.^[6] The Sm6 fleet is maintained at Ilmala depot in Helsinki, although some maintenance, mainly related to Russian technical systems, was performed in Saint Petersburg. Since their introduction on domestic services, the units also visit Oulu's Nokela depot for stabling and wheel reprofiling.

The Sm6 was equipped to operate on both the Finnish and the Russian railway networks. The units had dual-voltage electrical equipment able to use both the Finnish 25 kV 50 Hz alternating current and the Russian 3 kV direct current electrification systems. The wheelsets were built to run at over 200 km/h (120 mph) speeds on both the Finnish 1,524 mm (5 ft) and the nominally slightly narrower Russian 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauges, and the doors were equipped with a retractable step to make boarding from both Finnish 550 mm (21.7 in) high and Russian 1,100 mm (43.3 in) high platforms easy. The units were equipped for both the Finnish and Russian railway technical systems, which differed substantially.^[7]

• 
  First class coach (before refurbishment)
• 
  Driver's cabin

• Media related to VR Class Sm6 at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Pictures of the train at Vaunut.org (in Finnish)