› Traveling by train may be a totally new experience for many visitors to Russia.
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Traveling by train may be a totally new experience for many visitors to Russia.
Trains run regularly to the most remote corners of this country and residents use them extensively. Train transportation is less expensive than air travel, and sometimes it is the only way to reach a destination point. As for the most popular destinations, many have heard of the Trans-Siberian Express route, but the most popular one is the Moscow-St. Petersburg route.
A train journey usually involves traveling a long distance, most often overnight or even a several-day trip, eating and sleeping on the train and socializing with other passengers. There are also suburban and commuter trains that may run as far as 100-150 km from Moscow.
Trains depart from eight train stations in Moscow: the three main stations, Leningradsky, Kazansky and Yaroslavsky, are located on Komsomolskaya Square (Komsomolskaya metro station), while the other five, Belorussky, Rizhsky, Kursky, Paveletsky and Kievsky, are linked to metro stations with the same names.
Long-distance trains have first class and second class sleeping compartments, and there may be a limited number of cars with third class or airplane-style seating accommodation only. There are two sleeping berths in each first class compartment and four berths in second class compartments. Restroom facilities are located on either end of the car and queuing in the morning is typical. There is a dining car, commonly known as a "restaurant car," in the middle of the train where meals are served. Every passenger car has a uniformed attendant in charge, whose responsibilities include serving tea to passengers.
Trains differ according to accommodation standards and services provided; normally fast trains have more comfort to offer as compared to passenger trains. The best trains have names like Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) servicing the Moscow-St. Petersburg route, or Baikal, along the Trans-Siberian.
As a rule, it isn't possible to reserve train tickets. One ticket may be issued for as many as four passengers traveling together. Passport numbers are required and are printed on the tickets. Tickets have departure and arrival times on them -- always in Moscow time regardless of the local time zone. The only exception is Kaliningrad region, where tickets indicate local times. In the CIS, local time is also printed on train tickets.
If there is a change in itinerary or trip cancellation, train tickets have to be returned to the issuing office for a refund as soon as possible. The deadline for a full refund is 15 hours before departure, but even in this case you will lose the non-refundable railway taxes and any agency commissions you've already paid. When canceling a railway ticket less than 15 hours before the departure time, it is possible to get back as much as 50% of the fare, while some 15% of the fare can be refunded within three hours after departure. It is important to remember that tickets submitted for refund should have two intact coupons (the ticket itself and audit coupon) with no ink or pencil marks. Tickets that have been defaced are non-refundable!
If a return ticket needs to be cancelled, it should be taken to the local train station. While traveling within Russia, it can be refunded immediately. If traveling in the CIS, and the ticket was purchased in Moscow, it is necessary to get a blue refund coupon, which will be processed by the issuing office in Moscow.
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