New rules and additional trains: demand for railway tickets has increased in Russia
It is already possible to plan a vacation — in March, sales of train tickets for southern destinations in Russia opened. You can arrange a trip 90 days before departure, but experts warn that places for the most popular dates in July and August are dismantled literally in the first 15 minutes after the start of sales. The new rules for passengers and useful tips before buying tickets can be found in the Izvestia article.
How will the ticket prices change before the holiday
Ticket sales for summer routes will start 90 days before departure at 08:00 Moscow time. Tickets for popular dates in July and August are sold out in the first 15 minutes after the opening of sales. For tourist and double-decker trains, the depth of sales can reach 180 days.
Dynamic pricing means that the cost of tickets in the compartment and in the passenger compartment varies depending on the number of remaining seats and the time before departure. Tickets purchased 45-60 days before the trip may be 25-30% cheaper than those purchased closer to the departure date. The most profitable time to buy is immediately after the start of sales, especially for trips in July and August, the Cupibilet service told Izvestia.
Experts note that savings are possible when choosing non-refundable fares, monitoring the price calendar, and choosing upper or side seats in the reserved seat. In a compartment, the location of the seat also affects the cost. Choosing between a regular train and a branded train can result in a price difference of up to 20-30% with a slight difference in route.
— Savings with non-refundable fares can reach up to 20% per compartment. In 2026, there are benefits for families with children to travel in a compartment — the discount can be up to 15-40%, depending on the route," said Elena Shelekhova, head of the OneTwoTrip travel planning service.
Where is it hardest to buy train tickets in Russia in the summer
For long-distance trains, the summer holiday season becomes the peak of congestion. Usually, it is at this time that the tickets in the compartment are almost completely redeemed in the direction of the south.
So, already in March, experts have recorded an increase in demand for tickets to Sochi, Krasnodar and Gelendzhik. Passengers are most interested in trains to Anapa, Adler, Rostov-on-Don and Lazarevskoye, according to the Tutu service. Destinations to Simferopol and Novorossiysk also remain difficult to buy tickets. For peak dates from July 20 to August 25, up to 60% of tickets are sold out in the first three days after the start of sales.
The high demand is explained by the popularity of the resorts, the limited capacity of the railway infrastructure and the active tourist season.
Additional trains will appear on popular and new destinations.
The number of tourist trains will increase to a total of 76 in 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. They will cover 52 regions of Russia, the press service of Russian Railways reported.
New train routes will pass through the Republic of Mordovia, Orenburg, Penza and Ryazan regions: "Inspiration of Epochs" (Moscow – Penza – Ryazan – Moscow), "Space Weekend" (Moscow – Samara – Orenburg – Saransk – Moscow), "White Nights" (Moscow – Arkhangelsk – Vyborg – Moscow), "Pereslavl Weekend" (Moscow – Pereslavl-Zalessky – Kostroma – Ivanovo – Moscow), "On Seliger" (Moscow – Ostashkov – Veliky Novgorod – Moscow), "In the Patrimony of Santa Claus" (Moscow – Veliky Ustyug – Yaroslavl – Moscow) and others.
In addition, all popular tourist trains will continue to run. Among them is the Pearl of the Caucasus (Moscow / Voronezh / Rostov-on-Don – Rostov–on–Don / Cherkessk – Vladikavkaz – Grozny – Derbent / Makhachkala - Nalchik - Rostov-on-Don / Voronezh / Moscow), "Along the Golden Ring" (including Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Murom, Vladimir, Kostroma and other cities), "To the vineyards by the sea" (Moscow – Taman – Novorossiysk – Moscow), as well as "Ritsa": from Moscow/The Voronezh train will pass through Rostov-on-Don, Novorossiysk, Sochi and further to Abkhazia.
Also, since March 29, Russian Railways has been increasing the number of Lastochka electric trains on popular southern routes. Thus, between the Central District of Sochi and the federal territory of Sirius, the number of pairs of trains will increase from 30 to 43, the average interval between departures will decrease from 38.5 to 26 minutes, and the minimum from eight to six minutes. On the Sirius – Rosa Khutor section, the number of trains will increase from 9 to 11, with an average interval of 1 hour and 21 minutes, and a minimum of 24 minutes.
Earlier it was reported that in 2026 the number of flights of trains "Belorussky Voyage" (Moscow – Brest / Grodno – Minsk – Moscow), "Gastrotour" (Moscow / Voronezh – Maykop – Krasnodar / Krymskaya / Novorossiysk – Taganrog – Voronezh / Moscow), "Silver route" (Moscow – Pskov – Veliky Novgorod – Rybinsk – Yaroslavl – Moscow or a shortened version), "To Karelia" (Moscow – Petrozavodsk – Sortavala (Karelian) – Vyborg – Moscow), "Zhiguli weekend" (Moscow – Tolyatti – Samara – Moscow), "Moroz-express" (Moscow – Veliky Ustyug – Moscow). Also, starting in 2026, the Baikal Fairy Tale train will depart not only from Moscow, but also from the Port of Baikal.
How to buy tickets to the south in the summer of 2026
To snatch tickets at favorable prices, you should start tracking sales at least two months before the trip. The highest demand is at the end of May, with active growth in bookings starting in April.
Experts advise considering a combined "train + plane" route. For example, you can fly to Sochi or Krasnodar, and from there go to Tuapse, Lazarevskoye or Anapa on high-speed Swallows.
The most convenient way to get to Crimea is by train from Krasnodar or by bus.
— In 2026, the single ticket service (train + bus) to Crimea via Kerch is actively developing, — said Elena Shelekhova.
What innovations appeared for train passengers in 2026
In Russia, they began testing boarding trains using biometrics. The system is currently being tested at Yaroslavsky Railway Station in Moscow, but without the participation of passengers, these are still internal tests.
In parallel, the technology is being tested on routes from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo and Kostroma. If everything goes well, passenger access is planned to be opened in the first quarter of 2026. To use the service, you will need to submit biometrics in advance — this can be done through banks connected to a Single biometric System, or from special operators. Consent to the processing of personal data will also be required.
Since January, the rules for booking tickets for international railway flights for children under 14 have changed. Now it is impossible to buy a ticket with a birth certificate — you will need a foreign passport to travel abroad. At the same time, children who left Russia before this date on their birth certificate will be able to return using the same document.
The new requirements apply to trips to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Abkhazia and other countries. As before, ticket sales for such destinations open 90 days before departure.
Nothing has changed for trips within Russia: tickets for children can still be issued using a birth certificate. However, when buying discounted tickets and boarding the train, you need to confirm the child's citizenship — a stamped birth certificate or passport is suitable for this if the child is already 14 years old.
On September 1, 2026, updated rules for the carriage of passengers and luggage by rail will come into force, aimed at improving the accessibility and convenience of travel.
In particular, disability when buying a ticket will be confirmed automatically through the system of interdepartmental interaction. Passengers in wheelchairs will receive priority when purchasing specialized seats, and passengers with disabilities without wheelchairs will be able to book such seats no earlier than 10 days before departure. The new law also prohibits the travel of accompanying persons in specialized places without the passenger with a disability.
Additionally, it is mandatory to provide contact information when purchasing a ticket to promptly inform about cancellations, route changes, or train changes.
The changes also affect additional services: in reserved cars, bed linen is no longer included in the ticket price. Passengers will now have to choose this option themselves when checking in, and if necessary, they will be able to purchase underwear from the conductor on the way.
What rules have been introduced for passengers of tourist trains
On March 1, separate rules for tourist trains began to operate in Russia for the first time. Previously, such trains did not have their own regulations. In general, the requirements are similar to long-distance trains.
According to the new rules, passengers on tourist trips are required to carry an identity document and comply with the smoking ban. Passengers wearing dirty or smelly clothes will not be allowed to board.
At the same time, there are also allowances. For example, the use of musical instruments and sound-amplifying equipment is allowed in consultation with the train staff. Minor errors are also allowed in the tickets: no more than one in the personal data and one in the details of the document.
There are also separate restrictions for tourist trains: you cannot make stops along the route or extend the validity period of the ticket. If the passenger decides to interrupt the trip, it will not be possible to continue it on another similar train. Themed wagons may be included in such trains, provided that technical standards are met.
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