05.12.17
Agent’s Guide to
Booking and Processing
Russian Railways E-Tickets
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Table of Contents
1.0 FEATURES ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1.1 Booking Horizon ........................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Travel Links ................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Train Types ................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.4 Train Classes ................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.5 Train Routes ................................................................................................................................................. 5
1.6 Train Tickets ................................................................................................................................................. 6
2.0 ELIGIBILITY ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Availability and Train Tickets ........................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Payment and Booking Issues ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.3 Processing Train Tickets ............................................................................................................................... 9
2.4 Types of Tickets: Children, Less able & Group Booking ................................................................................ 9
2.5 Confirmation of the Booking ...................................................................................................................... 10
3.0 VALIDITY ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
4.0 DISCOUNTS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
5.0 CONDITIONS OF USE ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
5.1 Changes to the Booking and Cancellations ................................................................................................ 10
5.2 Lost Tickets ................................................................................................................................................. 11
5.3 Journey Delays ........................................................................................................................................... 11
6.0 GENERAL: Travel Notes .................................................................................................................................................. 11
6.1 Train Facilities ............................................................................................................................................. 11
6.2 Train Culture ............................................................................................................................................... 13
6.3 Sightseeing ................................................................................................................................................. 14
7.0 APPENDIX: ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15
7.1 Table of stations for customers (Cyrillic translations): ............................................................................... 15
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1.0 FEATURES
1.1 Booking Horizon
- When can customers book their tickets?
- Sapsan trains can be booked 90 days
before date of travel. The Grand Express
train between Moscow and Petersburg is
released 60 days before.
- All other tickets will only go on sale 45
days before date of travel. Therefore, it is
not possible to confirm destinations or
issue tickets more than 45 days before
date of travel.
1.2 Travel Links
- What are the main train stations in Moscow & St Petersburg?
- 9 major train stations in Moscow: Belorussky, Kazansky, Yaroslavlsky, Leningradsky,
Kievsky, Paveletsky, Savyolovsky, Kurskiy, Rizhskiy
- 5 major train stations in St Petersburg: Moskovsky, Finlandsky, Varshavsky, Baltiysky,
Vitebsky.
- See table below for Train destinations, metros, airports - (with Cyrillic translation).
1.3 Train Types
Below are the main types of trains that customers will come across when travelling through
Russia. Next to the title is the Russian name for the train that customers will find on to their
tickets, while the sign next to it is how the trains are visible when booking on ACP RailNet.
- Firmenny (ФИРМ) :
- Modern trains with certain standards of quality
- Fastest and minimum number of stops
- Often with specific interior designs, as some towns and cities have their own original
trains proudly representing its heritage.
- Often Spalny Vagon and Kupeny (see 1.2 Train classes) – not always Platskartney
- Popular trains are the ‘Rossiya’ and ‘Krasnaya Strella’
- Routes: Russian domestic long distance rail routes.
- Skory (СК) :
- Express trains
- More convenient arrival / departure times
- Minimum number of stops (but more than
Firmeny)
- Comfortable for long distance routes
- Routes: Russian domestic long distance
rail routes
Moscow Train station
Allegro Train
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- Skorostnoj (СКРСТ) :
- High speed seating coaches/trains
- Not often featured for long distance journeys
- Most well known trains are the Sapsan and Allegro
- Routes: St Petersburg to Moscow, or St
Petersburg to Helsinki
- Passazhursky (ПАСС) :
- Passenger trains
- Great number of stops, therefore the
slowest
- Will usually have Kupeny and Platskartney
classes – not often Spalny Vagon (see 1.4
Train classes)
- Routes: Russian domestic rail routes
1.4 Train Classes
- Grand Express (re: Moscow to St Petersburg):
A luxury travel option for those who prefer to travel in particular comfort, with a number
of luxurious classes:
- Grand de Luxe: 5 compartments in a
carriage, also with a small bar in each
carriage. Each compartment is twice as
large as standard compartments, with a
spacious rest room with heated floors
and shower cabin. Comes with hairdryer,
bathrobes, fresh fruit, sweets, hot breakfast and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Facilities include:
air conditioning, wardrobe, armchair, Wi-Fi, LCD TV, DVD player and
an electrical socket.
- Grand: 6 compartments in each carriage. Each compartment is half the size larger than
the standard compartments, with own
rest room and shower. Comes with
hairdryer, bathrobes, fresh fruit, sweets,
hot breakfast and freshly squeezed
orange juice.
Facilities include:
air
conditioning, wardrobe, armchair, Wi-Fi,
LCD TV, DVD player and an electrical
socket.
- Premium: 9 compartments in each carriage,
with wider berths, armchair and wash sink. Ticket also includes hot breakfast.
Facilities
include:
air conditioning, wardrobe, Wi-Fi, LCD TV and an electrical socket.
Grand Train 1
st
class carriage
Restaurant Carriage in Grand Train
Smena 1st class train carriage
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- Standard (1
st
& 2
nd
class re Grand Express only): 9 compartments in each carriage, with
4 berths in 2
nd
class and 2 berths in 1
st
class.
Facilities include:
air conditioning, wardrobe,
Wi-Fi, LCD TV and an electrical socket.
- Spalny Vagon (aka SV) – 1
st
class:
- Large compartments, with privacy and even more comfortable furnishings.
Excellent service and power sockets in each compartment for passenger use
- 2 berth compartments
- 2 lower beds
- 9 compartments per coach
- These compartments can be locked from the inside, and a customer can request a
guard to lock them from the outside.
- Washroom and toilets at the end of each coach
- Kupeny (aka Kupe/Coupe) – 2
nd
class:
- Ideal when travelling with 4 people or looking for some comfort and privacy. If
customers have not booked out a whole compartment, other passengers will be
booked into the remaining free seats.
- 4 berth compartments.
- 2 upper and 2 lower beds
- 9 compartments per coach
- These compartments can be locked from the inside, and a customer can request a
guard to lock them from the outside
- Washroom and toilets at the end of each coach
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1.5 Train Routes
REGIONAL TRAINS
- Moscow to St Petersburg
-
Grand Express
- The luxury travel option - No finer
way to travel.
- Takes approximately 9 hours.
-
Red Arrow
- One of the most famous trains
between the two cities.
- Often called the Russian Orient Express, it first travelled in June 1931.
-
Express
- One of the newer trains on the
railways.
- It is best known for its unique
décor.
-
Smena
- Travelled its first journey from
Moscow in 1984.
- Has one stop between St
Petersburg and Moscow – in Tver.
-
Sapsan
- Introduced December 2009
- Travels up to 250km/h, making it
the fastest way to travel by train
between Moscow and St
Petersburg.
- 1
st
and 2
nd
class available – seated
carriages with folding or window
table and onboard Wi-Fi access for
1
st
class.
- Moscow to St Petersburg Pricing
- RZD have recently introduced dynamic pricing on Moscow to St Petersburg rail
tickets (only applicable for 1
st
and 2
nd
class), meaning that the earlier a train ticket
is bought, the cheaper it will be.
- Ticket prices will be based on the route, season, time of booking in relation to the
departure date, and volume of passengers.
Grand Train
Red Arrow Train
Sapsan Train
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LONG DISTANCE TRAINS
- What are the types of long distance trains, and what route do they cover?
- Many different types of long distance trains, some of which are described above,
such as Passenger, Fast, Skory, or Firmenny train.
- Many long distance trains travel towards Ural, Siberia and south of Russia.
- An example of a typical long distance train:
- Moscow to Vladivostok (Rossiya)
- Rossiya launched in 1966 and is the most famous train on the Trans-Siberian.
- First class cabins have a TV
- Staff carriage has a shower which can be used for a small fee.
1.6 Train Tickets
Can customers buy tickets on the day?
- Train tickets are available for
booking up to 24 hours prior to
the train departure.
- It is recommended to book tickets
in advance meaning that
customers can be sure that they’re
getting the right train, reserved in
the class they prefer, on the day
and at the time they would like to
travel.
- Can customers get on an earlier train than the train their ticket has specified?
- Passengers must travel on the
train that is specified by their train
ticket.
- Therefore a passenger is unable to
get on an earlier train unless they
re-purchase a ticket that would be
specifically valid for travel.
- Are stopovers allowed in Russia?
- Yes, however, a customer would
need to buy a separate ticket for
each leg of the journey.
- If a customer is travelling with
stopovers they need to be
prepared to be flexible with their
schedule as they might not always
find trains on the day.
Lake Baikal in Irkutsk
Smena Train
Train on edge of Lake Baikal
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Sapsan Train
- Train times and prices can also change frequently, so there can be no guarantees
that the price of the ticket on the day will be the same as seen online.
- Are rail passes an option, to allow
customers to hop on and off the train?
- No rail pass option is available.
- If planning a multi-leg journey,
customer will need to book each
leg separately.
2.0 ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Availability and Train Tickets
- What types of ticket are available?
- Print at home E-registrations
(Appears as Russian Railways E-Registration Ticket and
Reservation)
- Print at station E-tickets
(Appears as Russian Railways E-ticket and Reservation)
- What is the difference between the two?
- The Print at home E-registration provides the customer with an email voucher, which
must be printed and presented on the train, along with the passport. This printed E-
registration voucher on its own is sufficient to board the train.
- The Print at station E-ticket will also have a confirmation voucher provided by email,
which should be printed, however the customer will need to exchange this for a paper
ticket at the train station before boarding the train. You will not be able to board the
train until the e-ticket is exchange for a paper ticket. Travelers should allow enough
time to make the exchange at the station, as trains cannot be delayed.
- When can customers book their tickets?
- It is only possible to find schedules and issue tickets within 45 days of the travel date
for domestic destinations.
- How do I know which ticket I have selected?
- Where both options are available for
purchase, a client will need to decide if
they would like an e-ticket or an e-
registration, although please consider
not all trains allow e-registration.
- Customers should also check on their
ticket confirmation email whether they
will need to exchange it for a paper ticket before boarding, along with all details
being correct.
Smena Train
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- How do the vouchers differ in appearance?
- The voucher that the customer will receive for both E-tickets and E-registration look
almost identical. The section that the customer will need to check to know how to
proceed once at the departure station is on the bottom left of the ticket.
- E-tickets that need to be exchanged will look like this:
- E-registration vouchers that can be used to board the train, will look like this:
- Where do customers exchange their e-ticket voucher?
- Customers can exchange their voucher
at the ticket office, at kiosks specifically
set aside for voucher exchange, or at
self-service terminals. Self-service
terminals may not be available in all
stations.
2.2 Payment and Booking Issues
- What information do I need to get from my customer to book?
- First Name / Last Name / Passport number /
Date of birth / Nationality / Place of birth (city)
- Where and when they want to travel
- How flexible their plans are
- How many people are travelling
- Preferences or comments on train/class/delivery
- Personal details for each passenger
Ticket office kiosk
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2.3 Processing Train Tickets
- How do I quote a multi-leg journey for a
customer?
- Each leg of the journey would need to
be calculated separately, as the
customer would require a new ticket
per leg.
- Which routes and types of train ticket are
booked up quickly?
- Russian domestic rail tickets, as these cover popular routes.
- Top bunk bed, as sometimes there are discounts for this type of ticket.
- How can I guarantee specific seats for a customer?
- There is no guarantee for specific
seats until the ticket is issued.
- How can I find an alternative route for a
customer if the original route is sold out?
- Conduct research and try to find the
closest match to the customer’s
request. This might require the
customer to be flexible about type or
class of train, or to consider a
different route.
- Can I get all tickets on all routes for our customers?
- Yes, tickets for all domestic routes are available.
2.4 Types of Tickets: Children, Less able & Group Booking
- Customers travelling with children:
- Children can get cheaper tickets. One
adult can take one child up to five
years old free of charge, but they do
not get their own berth.
- Between 0 – 5 years old, at the time
of travelling, the ticket is free.
- Between 5 - 10 years old, at the time
of travelling, the tickets cost up to
50% of the adult ticket price, but they do get their own berth.
- The child must have a valid ticket for their age, as the time of travelling, and not just
at the time of booking.
- When boarding the train, the child must have their own passport, be listed in their
parent’s passport, or have a copy and translation of their birth certificate. If the child
is listed in their parent’s passport then this must include a photograph of the child to
allow them to board.
Smena Train
Train in Moscow
Children in Russia
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- Customer travelling in a group:
- You can only book up to 4 tickets on a
single PNR.
- Contact the ACP Rail Call Center for
information on booking larger groups.
2.5 Confirmation of the Booking
- How long will a booking take to be confirmed?
- A confirmation will be received upon completion of the booking. .
3.0 VALIDITY
- What will a valid ticket cover?
- A specific seat on a specific train for a
domestic rail journey in Russia.
4.0 DISCOUNTS
- When are Discounts available for customers?
- At times, RZD launch 20 - 50% discount
during booking periods, which normally fall during important Russian national
holidays.
- Child discounts normally applicable on Russian domestic rail tickets.
- No discount on Russian domestic rail tickets for foreign students, seniors or groups.
- You will be informed of discounts and promotions when available.
5.0 CONDITIONS OF USE
5.1 Changes to the Booking and Cancellations
- Can a passenger be refused from boarding?
- RZD have the right to refuse entry and to disembark a passenger if the customer
is drunk or disturbing other
passengers, does not have the correct
documentation for boarding,
including if the passport number does
not match that visible on the e-ticket.
- Can the customer cancel the tickets they
have already purchased and get a refund?
- In some circumstances, if a customer
would like to cancel their ticket, they
can get a refund. However, this outcome varies greatly on the length of time left
before travel, the type of ticket purchased and if their ticket has already been
issued.
- Any change to the ticket booked, such as cancelling or changing dates or
passport number or name, to be done through the cancellation policy only.
Smena Train
Moscow Metro
Group bookings
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- The cancellation policy: Russian train e-tickets and e-registrations can be
cancelled up to 24 hours before the train departs. A penalty fee will apply. There
is no refund possible within 24 hours of the train departure.
- What happens if the customer needs to
change their seat or upgrade?
- Upon boarding the train, it is not
possible for a passenger to upgrade
their accommodation.
5.2 Lost Tickets
- What happens if a customer misses their
train or loses their ticket?
- If a customer has lost or damaged
their ticket, the customer would need
to purchase a new ticket, as it is not
possible to issue a replacement
ticket.
5.3 Journey Delays
- What happens if a customer has been left
by the train?
- They should notify the station manager straight away, in case he is able to extend
the validity of their ticket, as well as contact the train manager – who will leave
their belongings at the next station. The customer may be required to purchase a
new valid ticket.
6.0 GENERAL: Travel Notes
6.1 Train Facilities
- RZD
- Largest Train Company in Russia.
- Second largest network in the world with over 85,000km of track
- Carries over 950 million passengers
a year over 11 time zones
- The general partner of Sochi 2014
Winter Olympics and Paralympics
- What about time zone differences?
- RZD cover 11 time zones – all
tickets are quoted in Moscow time.
- In cities outside of Moscow time
zone, normally there are two clocks
that shows the time as on the train ticket (i.e Moscow time), and also local time
that the train would use to depart.
City of Moscow
Shuttle Train
Moscow Bridge
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- Is there food and drink on the train?
- Often a trolley with bottled water, drinks and snacks
- For long distance trains there is often a restaurant car
- A samovar provided at the end of each carriage for hot water for drinks
- It is possible to buy provisions from vendors at the stations along the way
- What are the bathroom facilities like?
- Basic toilet and sink for washing
- Can get very dirty on a long journey
- Recommended that customers take a hand towel and bottle of water with them
for brushing teeth rather than using the tap water
- Can customers smoke on the train?
- Yes but not in cabin or corridor
areas
- Only in designated areas, often in
passenger areas between carriages
- Is there a luggage allowance limit for
passengers?
- Yes, each passenger has the right to
carry up to 36kg of hand luggage,
not more than 180cm in each dimension.
- These restrictions do not apply to handbags, skis, fishing equipment, kayaks,
cameras, umbrellas, and other small or obscure items.
- It is possible to carry bigger items in the baggage car of the train. In order to do
this, you need to purchase a special ticket before the train departs.
- What sort of things should a customer consider taking with them on an overnight or
long distance train?
- Light clothes – as the trains can be warm, although would recommend to take
some warmer clothes also as if air con is on the trains can be much cooler.
- Toiletries
- Bottled water
- Savoury snacks
- Flip-flops
- Carrier bags for rubbish
- Personal first aid kit
- Plug adaptor for Europe
- Feminine hygiene products - difficult to find on a train, and not easy to ask, so
would recommend to always bring in your luggage.
- How much money should a customer allow for the train? (approximate price guide)
- Meals cost on average 500 RUB per meal
- Showering can cost 100 - 150 RUB per shower
- Snacks cost ~ 50 RUB per snack
Moscow Business City
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- How many bathrooms are in a carriage?
- 2 bathrooms per carriage – one at each end – with a toilet and a sink.
- These may or may not have a shower.
- Are there showers in the cabins?
- There are often no showers in the cabins themselves, so the customer can ask the
conductor to allow them to take a shower in another carriage for approximately
150 RUB.
- In some trains there are no showers available at all.
- What kind of meals can be bought on the train?
- A range of meals are available, from refreshments to more complex meals
(including the occasional vegetarian option).
- What is the cost approximately per meal?
- It is roughly 500 RUB /£10 per meal.
- Can customers bring refreshments with them on the train?
- Yes – the best food to take with them would be dry stodgy foods, as well as
bottled water and any other supplies.
- When the train stops, can travellers get off the train and buy supplies at the station?
- Yes, travellers can leave the train and buy food from vendors, with snacks costing
around 30-50 RUB (about £1). Be careful with hopping on and off the train, as the
trains only stop for 5-20minutes. It will not wait for passengers so be sure to get
back on the train before you hear the hissing!
- Are there any mini fridges on the train for customers to keep their food and drink, or
the option to cook their own meals?
- There are no places available to store food or water, other than being with their
belongings; and no cooking facilities on the train.
- Are pets allowed on the train?
- Pets are allowed on the train, but either in the baggage cars (where a cage and
tray are required), or in some passenger carriages under certain regulations.
6.2 Train Culture
- How can a customer find the station, their train
or the carriage?
- See appendix for info below
- How does a customer read a Russian train
ticket?
- See appendix for info below
- What are gender specific cabins?
- Some train cabins allow for single gender
booking, provided they are available at
the time of purchasing tickets.
St Basils Cathedral
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- Is travelling by train safe?
- Millions of people travel safely every year
- There are one to two conductors per carriage, keeping watch 24 hours a day
- Every passenger must have ticket checked and present a passport to board the
train.
- Most trains have police teams on board
- The train gets thoroughly checked at each stop to ensure no minor damage
- How many compartments in a carriage?
- 9 compartments per coach in 1
st
and 2
nd
class
- Is there Wi-Fi available?
- There is usually no Wi-Fi available on the trains. If a customer needs to work and
need access to the internet, then we would recommend that they purchase a
dongle; which should give them internet access as they travel.
6.3 Sightseeing
- Key places to visit in Russia?
- The most popular destinations in
Russia after Moscow and St
Petersburg are (in no order):
Irkutsk (for Lake Baikal), the
ancient Golden Ring (for Sergiev
Posad, Yaroslavl, Kostroma,
Ivanovo, Suzdal, Vladimir),
Vladivostok, Nizhny Novgorod, Ulan Ude, and Yekaterinburg.
Vladivostok Coastline Landscape
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7.0 APPENDIX:
7.1 Table of stations for customers (Cyrillic translations):
- What are the main train stations in Moscow & St Petersburg, and what are the main
destinations from these train stations?
Main Stations in
Moscow
Metro
Airport
Main destinations
Belorussky –
Белорусский
Belorusskaya –
Белорусская
Sheremetievo -
щереметьево
Kaliningrad, Lithuania,
Belarus, Poland,
Germany, the Czech
Republic and Latvia.
Kazansky –
Казанский
Komsomolskaya –
Комсомольская
Domodedovo -
Домодедово
Central Asia, Ryzan, Ufa,
Samara and
Novorossiisk.
Yaroslavlsky –
Ярославлский
Komsomolskaya –
Комсомольская
Domodedovo -
Домодедово
Siberia, the Russian Far
East, Mongolia and
China.
Leningradsky –
Ленинградский
Komsomolskaya –
Комсомольская
Domodedovo -
Домодедово
Estonia, Finland, St.
Petersburg and North-
western Russia.
Kievsky –
Киевский
Kievskaya –
Киевская
Sheremetievo /
Domodedovo /
– щереметьево /
Домодедово
Western Ukraine
and South-eastern
Europe.
Paveletsky –
Павелецкий
Paveletskaya -
Павелецкая
Domodedovo -
Домодедово
Voronezh, Tambov,
Volgograd and
Astrakhan.
Savelovsky –
Савеловский
Savelovskaya –
Савеловская
Sheremetievo -
щереметьево
Kostroma, Cherepovets
and Vologda.
Kurskiy –
Курский
Kurskaya/Chkalovskay
a stations –
Курская / Чкаловская
Domodedovo -
Домодедово
Southern Russia,
Caucasus nations,
Eastern Ukraine, and
Crimea.
Rizhskiy –
Рижский
Rizhskaya –
Рижская
Sheremetievo -
щереметьево
Latvia, Velikie Luki,
Volokolamsk, Sebezh
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Main Stations in
St Petersburg
Metro
Airport
Main destinations
Moskovsky –
Московский
Ploshchad Vosstania /
Mayakovskaya –
Площадь Восстания/
Маяковская
Pulkovo -
пулково
Moscow, Far North,
Central Asia, Crimea,
and the Caucuses.
Finlandsky –
Финландский
Ploshchad Lenina –
Площадь Ленина
Pulkovo -
пулково
Helsinki and other
destinations in the
north western area
such as Murmansk.
Varshavsky –
Варшавский
Baltiyskaya –
Балтийская
Pulkovo -
пулково
Pskov, the Baltic states
of Latvia, Lithuania and
Estonia, and Eastern
Europe.
Baltiysky –
Балтийский
Baltiyskaya –
Балтийская
Pulkovo -
пулково
Local and suburban
services only generally
by elektrichka.
Vitebsky –
Витебский
Pushkinskaya –
Пушкинская
Pulkovo -
пулково
Poland, Belarus
including Minsk,
Ukraine including Kiev
and Odessa.
