The new "Meteors" will connect Nizhny Novgorod with Yaroslavl and Kazan starting in July.

      On May 26, 2026, at 10:26 AM, Society. Starting in July, two new high-speed hydrofoil vessels "Meteor 120R" will begin operations in the Nizhny Novgorod region. They will operate routes to Kazan and Yaroslavl.

      Recall that on May 25, two such vessels were launched into the water, built at the production site of JSC "Central Design Bureau for SPK named after R.E. Alekseev." The "Meteor 120R" is an updated version of the Soviet "Meteors." These vessels are intended for interregional passenger transportation and are also involved in the "River Highways" project.

      The vessels have been named in honor of famous residents of Nizhny Novgorod. The third in the series "Meteor 120R" is named "Governor Nikolai Baranov," and the fourth is named "Merchant Dmitry Sirotkin."

      After completing all necessary tests, the new "Meteors" will join the existing fleet, which already includes five "Valdais" and two "Meteors."

      Nizhny Novgorod region Governor Gleb Nikitin noted that in the fall of 2017, after a long hiatus, the "Valdai 45R" was launched from the stocks of the Alekseev Design Bureau, becoming the successor to the vessels of the previous generation.

      "It is worth mentioning that the rivers in the Nizhny Novgorod region are an important transport artery. At the same time, the shipbuilding potential of the region is enormous. We have proven this in practice. Modern cruise ships, reliable tankers, air-cushion vessels, the famous winged fleet—all this complex technology has been built on Nizhny Novgorod soil in recent years," added the head of the region.

      Currently, "Valdais" and "Meteors" serve more than 45 routes, connecting the Nizhny Novgorod region with 16 regions of Russia. This year, transportation on existing routes will continue, with plans to serve about 19,000 passengers.

      At the same time, the coastal infrastructure is also being developed. To service passengers, docks for high-speed vessels have been designed and gradually put into operation. Currently, the fleet is supported by 14 such docks.

      Earlier, we reported on where you can travel on "Meteors" and "Valdais" from the Nizhny Novgorod region and how much tickets cost. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.