Agent's Guide to Booking and Processing Domestic Russian Rail
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Agent’s Guide to Booking and Processing Domestic Russian Rail Tickets 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 ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Processing Train Tickets ............................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Types of Tickets: Children, Less able & Group Booking ................................................................................ 8 2.5 Confirmation of the Booking ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.0 VALIDITY .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 4.0 DISCOUNTS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9 5.0 CONDITIONS OF USE ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Changes to the Booking and Cancellations ................................................................................................ 10 5.2 Lost Tickets ................................................................................................................................................. 10 5.3 Journey Delays ........................................................................................................................................... 11 6.0 GENERAL: Russian Rail Travel and Region Travel Notes ............................................................................... 11 6.1 Train Facilities ............................................................................................................................................. 11 6.2 Train Culture ............................................................................................................................................... 13 6.3 Sightseeing ................................................................................................................................................. 14 7.0 APPENDIX: ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 7.1 Table of stations for customers (Cyrillic translations): ............................................................................... 14 1 | P a g e 1.0 FEATURES 1.1 Booking Horizon - When can customers book their tickets? - 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. - Booking on the first day of sale will be the cheapest possible ticket available, and then from there, the ticket price will rise Moscow Train station depending on the demand for the date. - Tickets can be booked online up to 3 hours before the train’s departure from the passengers boarding station. 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 Allegro Train 2 | P a g e - 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 1.2 Restaurant Carriage in Grand Train 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 st and shower cabin. Comes with hairdryer, Grand Train 1 class carriage 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. Smena 1st class train carriage - 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. 3 | P a g e - Standard (1st & 2nd class re Grand Express only): 9 compartments in each carriage, with 4 berths in 2nd class and 2 berths in 1st class. Facilities include: air conditioning, wardrobe, Wi-Fi, LCD TV and an electrical socket. - Spalny Vagon (aka SV) – 1st 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) – 2nd 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 4 | P a g e 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 Grand Train 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. Red Arrow Train - Has one stop between St Petersburg and Moscow – in Tver. - Sapsan - Introduced