1. Booking tickets in advance
2. Choosing a train
3. Using electronic tickets
4. Getting to the train station
5. At the train station
6. Cancellation policy

Booking tickets in advance

This website allows you to book both Russian domestic and international tickets. In case of domestic trains, you can book a seat 45 days or less prior to the departure date. If you are booking more than 45 days ahead, we will place a pre-order in our system and notify you as soon as your ticket becomes available for purchase. You can book a ticket for international trains up to 120 days in advance.

Choosing a train

There are two types of trains in Russia: express and regular. Express usually runs between large cities located relatively close, like Moscow and St. Petersburg. An express train from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes about 5 hours. The seating in express trains is usually comparable to seating in other European trains or in airplanes (although with far more leg room).
The second type of Russian trains, regular, usually has bunk beds instead of seats. These trains are designed to travel for longer distances. There are three types of carriages in these trains: "SV", "KUPE", and "PLATKART", which means 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class, respectively.
The specific arrangements vary from train to train, but 1st class generally has two beds in one enclosed room, 2nd class has 2 lower beds and 2 bunk beds in one enclosed room, and 3rd class has 4 beds in a non-enclosed area.
We do not recommend our customers buy seats lower than 2nd class. If you book two tickets for 2nd class, you should expect to share a room with 2 other people.

Using electronic tickets

Electronic tickets are a simple booking method that indicates a certain seat is reserved in your name. When you book your ticket here, we will send you a booking receipt that will have your name and the reservation number on it, as well as a bar code. Please print it out and bring it with you to the train station - you will need it to get your boarding pass.

Getting to the train station (important for Moscow and St. Petersburg!

Large Russian cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg have more than one train station. Each station specializes in a certain direction. Obviously you need to be at the correct train station not to miss your train. You will find the key to Moscow and St Petersburg railway stations below.
If you are not certain which train station you need, please let us know. You can contact us by email at info@russiantrains.com or by telephone at 1-800-884-1721 (office hours are from 9 am to 6 pm New York time, Monday - Friday).
Tip: if you want to arrange transfer to or from your train station, let us know as we offer transfer service for additional charges: info@russiantrains.com

Moscow stations:

• Leningradsky Station: Estonia, Finland, St. Petersburg and northwestern Russia.
• Belorussky Station: Belorus, Kalliningrad, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and some trains to Latvia.
• Kazansky Station: Central Asia, Ryzan, Ufa, Samara and Novorossiisk.
• Kievsky Station: Serves Western Ukraine and Southeastern Europe.
• Kursky Station: Southern Russia, Caucasus nations, Eastern Ukraine, and Crimea.
• Paveletsky Station: Voronezh, Tambov, Volgograd and Astrakhan.
• Rizhsky Station: Latvia.
• Savyolovsky Station: Kostroma, Cherepovets and some trains to Vologda.
• Yaroslavlsky Station: Siberia, the Russian Far East, Mongolia and China.

St. Petersburg stations:

• Moskovski railway station: Moscow, Murmansk, Novgorod
• Vitebski railway station: Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Ukraine (Kiev), Belarus (Minsk).
• Finlandski railway station: Finland (Helsinki)
• Varshavski railway station: Poland (Warsaw)
• Baltiiski railway station: cities around St. Petersburg
• Ladojsky rail station: Petrozavodsk 

At the train station

At the train station, you must must exchange your electronic ticket receipt for a boarding pass. This can be done in any ticket booth or electronic terminal. Look for booths that have an e-ticket sign or just go to a booth and scan the bar code at the automatic booth machine.
It is important that you have a government issued ID that verifies your identity. You will not be able to board a train without your ID. Please make sure that your name on the electronic ticket receipt is printed the same way on your passport.

Cancellations and Modifications

Plans change sometimes. You can cancel a ticket reservation at any moment, but no later than three (3) days before the departure date. The cancellation fee will equal 30% of the total ticket price. If you need to change your ticket, please contact us. You can change a ticket no later than three (3) days before the departure date on the original ticket and the fee will equal $40 dollars. For cancellations and modifications please write to info@russiantrains.com.