Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed on Friday a resolution allotting rail monopoly RZD 1 billion rubles ($34 mln) in subsidies for extra security measures.

Several cars of the November 27 Nevsky Express train from Moscow to St. Petersburg derailed after a bomb exploded on the tracks, killing 27 and injuring more than 90 others.

Russian Transportation Minister Igor Levitin specified that the security investment targeted the Moscow-St. Petersburg railroad alone.

It takes approximately eight hours for most Russian trains to cover the 650 km (about 400 miles) that separate Moscow from the country's second-largest city of St. Petersburg. Nevsky Express, which had been considered Russia's fastest train, is able to cover the distance in 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Russia has adopted the newest rapid train, Sapsan, that is capable of traveling at a speed of 250 kmph (155 mph). The train is a joint project between RZD and Germany's Siemens. It made its first commercial run between the country's two megalopolises in a record time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Last Saturday, Putin took a trip to his home city of St. Petersburg on the Sapsan train.

The two Nevsky Express trains are due to be removed from the route as Sapsan comes into operation.

SOCHI, December 25 (RIA Novosti)