Who travels to Russia without visiting Saint Petersburg? Not me. When my Russian friend had to bail out on meeting me because of his schedule, that didn't stop me! I missed out on a ticket for the fast Sapsan train, but there was no way I was going to skip the beautiful city that awaited me. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to secure a Platzkart spot on a Firmenny train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg with Russian Railways!
Related Post: Travel to Russia in 2024: Safety Concerns, Travel Sanctions, and Highlights
Buying Russian Train Tickets in 2024
Addressing the elephant in the room immediately: buying the train ticket is the trickiest part of my experience. Supposedly, it shouldn't have been so complicated. But I was in for more hassle due to international sanctions, which meant Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside Russia didn't work on Russian websites. On top of that, the Russian Railways Website wouldn't load either. I was told that it does not work outside Russia, though it was unclear whether this was due to sanctions and restrictions or simply geo-blocking—a practice where access to a website is restricted based on the user's geographical location.
At the same time, I was skeptical about buying my tickets on third-party websites. In the end, I ended up buying the tickets directly at the train station.
Buying Tickets—Online VS Directly at the Train Stations
Regardless of the season, train travel in Russia is highly in demand as it is the most reliable and affordable way to get around. Buying your train tickets online and in advance is highly recommended. Since buying tickets directly from Russian Railways is challenging, there are third-party websites or sub-agents such as Tutu Travel, ZHD Online, or even local travel agencies who can book the tickets for you with an additional service fee.
For those with flexibility, buying your train tickets directly at train stations remains an option. You may visit any train station and head to the ticket hall for long-distance tickets—signage is clear, so it's impossible to miss it. However, don’t expect them to speak English just for you. While one or two staff members may know a bit of English, most speak only Russian. Make sure you have your online translator ready to help.
Also, expect the unexpected. Ticket availability is dynamic and constantly changing by the minute. Your preferred travel date and time may not always be guaranteed.
During my trip in September 2024, I assumed it was no longer a peak travel season and felt confident that there would be tickets for my preferred schedule. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way but was lucky enough to secure the last ticket left—departing that same afternoon instead of in the evening, as I had planned.
To make it a little more challenging, I realized a little later that the ticket office lady had scammed me. She charged me RUB 3,600 for the ticket, only for me to discover afterward that the actual ticket price was RUB 2,599.5, as clearly printed on the ticket. Well, maybe she just didn't like me, so life goes on.
Moscow Train Station - Vostochniy Railway Terminal
Moscow is the center of Russia's extensive rail network and this post can't cover them all. Instead, I will only focus on the railway terminal used in this particular train experience.
Vostochniy Railway Terminal is a relatively small yet modern and newly built terminal located in the eastern part of Moscow, which explains the name—"Vostochniy" which means "Eastern" in Russian. It is the farthest railway terminal from the city center and is primarily used as a transit station.
Compared to Moscow's main train stations, the Vostochniy Railway Terminal is smaller in size but well-equipped with all the essentials. Ticket counters, toilets, small shops for snacks, and waiting areas are all available.
With only five train tracks, they were all well-connected to the main building. Access to the platforms was convenient, with escalators and stairs available for passengers. Signages to indicate the carriage numbers were also displayed, making it easier to navigate and board the train.
The Platskart Experience on a Firmenny Train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg
Compared to the Platskart experience I had from Tbilisi to Yerevan back in 2019, riding the Firmenny train felt like a touch of luxury. The scam at the train station suddenly didn’t feel so bad, after all.
I learned that the Firmenny trains are branded or high-quality with modern facilities. Tickets cost more than the non-branded trains, and it clearly shows— cleaner and newer. And as with most Russian trains, there was no Wi-Fi or food cart on board, so make sure to bring your own.
The six-hour train ride from Moscow to Saint Petersburg was unexpectedly relaxing. I don't know about you, but I slept comfortably and peacefully. I even ate some of my snacks, listened to my music, and watched my K-Dramas.
The toilet traffic was also manageable. There were two toilets in each carriage (I assumed) and it looked decent and similar to airplane toilets, just slightly bigger.
Instead of feeling bored, the six-hour journey felt too short. I almost wished to spend a night on the same train. Taking the afternoon train turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to enjoy the scenic views along the way.
And just like that, I arrived in Saint Petersburg, ready to explore!
