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Russian Railways keeps plan to order extra trains from Siemens: TASS

FILE PHOTO: Siemens AG logo is seen in new headquarters in Munich, Germany, June 14, 2016. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's state railway monopoly is sticking to its plans to order additional trains from Siemens despite a row between Moscow and the German company over the delivery of turbines to Crimea, TASS news agency quoted Russian Railways as saying on Wednesday. Siemens has said it is reviewing aspects of its dealings with Russia after four of its power-generating turbines were delivered to Crimea, which is subject to European sanctions on technology supplies after Russia annexed the area. The delivery of the turbines, which Siemens said happened without its knowledge and against its wishes, prompted the European Union to impose additional measures on Moscow. "It will not affect our relationship," Alexander Misharin, Russian Railways first vice-president, was quoted as saying by TASS. "We have received such confirmation. More to the point, we plan to increase the number of Sapsan trains." A spokesman for Siemens declined to comment on Wednesday. Russian Railways, which has been buying trains from Siemens for at least the last eight years, plans to receive 13 trains known as Lastochka by the end of the year. The delivery is in line with previously signed contracts and adds to the 70 Lastochka trains from a local joint venture of Siemens and its Russian partner. It was unclear how many high-speed Sapsan trains Russian Railways wanted to buy from Siemens. In February TASS reported that a source familiar with Russian Railways' plans said the monopoly was set to purchase eight Sapsan trains. (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Additional reporting by Joern Poltz in Munich; Writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Polina Devitt; Editing by Edmund Blair)