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Russian
Railways Rules - Know Your Rights When You Travel by Train
in Russia
Have you ever wondered what would happen
if you are late for a train, suddenly decide to stop in the middle
of a 4-day Trans-Siberian journey, or
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People selling food outside of a train
(c) Celine Smith 2003 |
whether you can carry this
fancy motorcycle back home?
All these and many more situations are regulated by the two acts:
The Transport Codex of the Russian Railways (further - TC) and
The Rules of Passengers and Cargo Transportation (further RPT).
We carefully read through the both documents to present you a concise
summary of the most interesting and important rules. It is not
a legal advice, but useful information that will allow you to make
your train journeys through Russia more flexible and less expensive.
(Article
90 of TC) will not be re-issued or renewed if it is not possible
to do so or to identify the owner.
(Article 92 of
TC). Passengers have the right to carry one child for free (maximum
age 5 years old) if the child doesn't
require an extra place. A special child ticket should be obtained
prior to departure. Children aged from 5 to 10 can travel on a
reduced fare.
(Article 92 of Transport Codex and Sections 24 and 44
of Passenger Transportation Rules). Passengers have the right to
make one stop along the way for not longer than 10 days (to be
able to use the ticket for the remaining journey). In order to
prolong the validity of their tickets, passengers should present
it to the station's master during the first 4 hours after the train's
arrival. The station master should make two special stamps on the
ticket: one prolonging the validity and the other specifying the
time and date of the next train's departure.
These rules are not valid for local suburban trains.
Comment: You should make sure that you stamp your ticket at the
station's master to indicate that a stopover at a particular station
was made. You will need to get a reservation for the next train
you're going to take directly at the station, before boarding it.
In reality this procedure might take a lot of time, so a more time-efficient
way is to buy separate tickets. However, if you have more time
than money, this is a good option.
(Article 92 of
TC). Passengers have the right to depart with an earlier train
than the one they have tickets for, but a
special mark made on the ticket by the train station ticket office
is required.
(Article 92 of TC). If a passenger is less than
3 hours late for the train, he has the right to get another ticket
for
an extra payment that equals the price of "platzcarta" (the
reservation for a certain train - usually 25% of the total fare).
If a passenger is late for the train because of an illness or an
accident this time span is prolonged up to 3 days.
(Article 92). If a passenger returns the tickets
to the train station's ticket office, he has certain rights for
a refund (or for a new ticket), depending on how much time is left
before the departure:
- Not later than 15 hours before departure. Get the full refund
for the fare paid (consisting of the ticket price and platzcarta-reservation
price) or have the ticket exchanged without any fees.
- Between 15 and 4 hours before departure. Get the refund minus
50% of platzcarta (reservation price) - usually this equals 13%
of the total fare paid or have the ticket exchanged (the fee that
equals 50% of platzcarta price is payable)
- Less than 4 hours before departure. Get the refund minus platzcarta
(reservation) - usually this equals 25% of the total fare paid
(or get a new ticket issued).
Passengers are entitled to the full refund (ticket exchange) before
the train departure if the train is cancelled or is going to be
late.
If a passenger is late for a train connection due to the Russian
Railway's fault, he is entitled to the full refund for this train.
Passengers can also get a refund for the part of the journey
they didn't make, if they decide to stop along the way, but the price
of platzcarta (usually 25% of the total fare) will be retained.
To prove that only a part of journey was made, passengers should
get a stamp from the train master or station's master at every
stop they make.
Comment: If you paid a service fee to a travel
agency, this fee is not usually refunded if you return your ticket.
The tickets
should be returned directly to the train station where they were
purchased. Also, it is important to note, that the other
document (RPT) provides different time spans: the first is up to
24 hours (instead of 15), the second is between 24 and 4 hours.
The TC should have a priority, but if you want to avoid any fees,
it's better to refund / change your ticket 24 hours before the
departure.
(Article
94 of TC). If it is impossible to provide the reserved seat or
couch to the passengers, the Russian
Railways have to propose a similar place of the same or higher
category at no extra charge. If a lower class place is proposed
the difference in the fare should be refunded. It is up to passenger
to accept or refuse this alternative, and in case of refusal, the
full refund should be provided.
(Article 130). If the
train is departing later than the scheduled time or arrives to
the destination later than scheduled, the Russian Railways will
pay a fine to the passenger that equals 3% of the total fare for
every hour of the delay. Unless it can prove that the delay was
incurred by force-major situation or by a technical problem that
was putting to risk the passengers of the train.
(Section
11 of RPT). Each passenger has the right to occupy only one space
in regional, seating, or
platzcart (common) trains, no matter how many tickets were purchased.
In 2nd class (kupe) and 1st class (sleeper) carriages one passenger
can purchase maximum two places.
(Section 35) you should notify
the station's master about this, and he will be able to prolong
the
validity of your ticket by stamping it. If you had your belongings
left in the train that you missed, the station's master will send
a telegram to the train's master to ask them put out your belongings
from the train and store it at the next available station. You
will then be given a free ticket to this station to be able to
collect your belongings (and ticket). All this service should be
provided for free.
(Sections
49 and 50 of RPT). Passengers have the right to upgrade their accommodation
in the trains by notifying
the master of the train and paying the price difference. In case
a passenger decides to downgrade his accommodation, it is also
possible, but no refunds will be made.
Comment: This is an useful rule especially for those who are traveling
on long-distance trains where you have a risk of sharing a compartment
for four days with a neighbor you don't like. The easiest way is
to ask the conductor to change your seat and then if it's not possible
use the procedure described above.
(Section 57
of RPT). The Russian Railways have the right to refuse carrying
or to put
out of the train the passenger
who is drunk or who disturbs other passengers.
Smoking is allowed in "tambur" only (the passage
areas between the carriages).on long-distance trains.
(Section 59). Each passenger has the right
to carry for free up to 36 kg of hand luggage. Each item should
be not more than 180 cm in 3 dimensions. These restrictions do
not apply to handbags, ski, fishing equipment, kayaks, cameras,
umbrellas and other small items. It is allowed to carry camping
gas bottles.
Comment: It is possible to carry bigger items in the baggage carriage
of the train. In order to do it, you need to purchase a special
ticket before the train departs. The minimum weight is 5 kg, the
maximum is restricted by the space there is in the carriage (it
is even possible to carry motorcycles, mopeds, etc.)
(Article 64-65). It is allowed to carry dogs on the train,
in baggage carriages (a cage with a tray is required).
HOW
TO BOOK A TRAIN.
Tickets can be bought directly at train stations. You can
also reserve a train ticket online to any destination in
Russia through WayToRussia.Net (the service is provided by our
advertiser,
Train Line Russia). For more information, prices, and confitions,
please, see our Train
Tickets Reservation section.
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