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Buying a train ticket in Russia does not have to be an agonizing experience. In addition to lining up to buy it yourself, there are several agencies that will arrange the ticket for you, at a nominal cost.
If you have a decent command of Russian, you should be able to do it yourself. All of Moscow's eight major train stations have ticket booths (kacca), but in order to avoid long lines, it's easier to buy tickets at a central ticket office booth designated for foreigners.
The two most convenient central offices are located near the Yaroslavsky Station: one is kassa 45 on the second floor of the administrative building between Yaroslavsky and Leningradsky stations. The other is the Central Railway Agency at 5 Komsomolskaya Ploshchad.
The average price of tickets from Moscow To St. Petersburg is between 1215-1160 rubles ($40) for first class, 250-840 ($10-30) rubles for second class, and about 160 rubles for plarzkart. Prices increase in the high season, which is summer. Russians are charged lower prices.
Buying tickets for prigorodnye (suburban) trains involves a lot less waiting, but is difficult if you don't speak Russian. Suburban kaccas are located at each station and are separate from the kaccas long-distance trains. Ticket prices range from $1-$3 and can be bought on the day of travel. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, trains leave very frequently.
See Getting Around by Train for more information about traveling on Russian trains.
Options for Purchasing Train Tickets
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Central Railway Agency
Sells all tickets, including tickts to some international destinations
Address: 5 Komsomolskaya Ploshchad
Tel: 266-8333
Metro: Komsomolskaya
Agentsvo
Sells International tickets.
Address: 1 Lenningradsky Prospekt
Tel: 262-0807
Metro: Beloruskaya
Diner's Club International
Arranges Tickets to all destinations in the CIS and abroad. They can also help with visa applications. The service is free to Diner's Club members, and $2 each way for non members on tickets less than 500 rubles, $4 on tickets over 500 rubles.
Address: 17B Andronievskaya Ulitsa
Tel: 912-0752
Fax: 745-8404
American Express Moscow
Provides regular Am Ex travel service, as well as train ticket booking.
Address: 21 Sadovaya Kudrinskaya
Tel: 755-9000
American Express St. Petersburg
Located in the Grand Hotel Europe.
Address: 1/7 Mikhailovskaya Shosse
Tel: (812) 329-6060 |
Infinity Travel
Will arange train travel; can also help with visa support and invitations.
Tel: 234-6555
Fax: 234-6556
Email: visa@infinity.ru
http://www.infinity.ru/
Star Travel
This agency caters to students and those on a budget. Will arrange train travel as well as hostel stay.
Tel: 797-9555
Fax: 797-9554
Email: help@startravel.ru
http://www.startravel.ru/
Traveler's Guest House
Will arange train tickets and visa support. Offers various options for various budgets. Excellent English spoken.
Address: 50 Bolshaya Pereyaslavskaya, 10th floor.
Tel: 971-4059
Fax: 280-7686
Global Union Express
This Hong Kong-based agency will arrange train tickets and visa support for the CIS and China for those embarking on the trans-Siberian railway.
Tel: 2845-4109
Fax: 2537-2605
Email: guehk@netvigator.com
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