The closer the opening day of the railway part of the Crimean Bridge, the more number of those willing to take a train to the peninsula and back. During the first week after the start of the ticket sales, over 20 thousand tickets were bought up. And the interest is growing. To help tourists, we tell about everything that is known about the trains so far, and how to make the long-awaited railroad journey.
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Trains to Crimea: how to make a railway trip
A month is left before the main event of this winter. Crimea is eagerly waiting for first trains to come. They will cross the bridge over the Kerch Strait this December and will forever connect the peninsula with mainland Russia by rails. Several years of unprecedentedly complicated work, and finally it is close to the end. In anticipation of this remarkable event, we answer the most common questions that tourists ask about the launch of the train traffic.
When will the first trains go to Crimea
Long-distance trains named "Tavria" (which got its name by analogy with one of the ancient names of the peninsula) will carry passengers from the mainland to Crimea and in the opposite direction. Train No. 7/8, St. Petersburg-Sevastopol will be the first to go across the Crimean Bridge and thereby resume regular passenger transport between the regions. It will depart from the Moscow railway station of the northern capital on December 23 at 14:00. The train will cover 2,741 km, travel time is 43 and a half hours.
A day later, on December 24, the first train from Moscow will leave for the renovated route. The "Tavria" train from the capital of Russia will depart from the Kazan railway station at 23:45. The distance to its destination, Simferopol, is 2,009 km. This journey will take about 33 hours.
Crimeans too can make a New Year trip by train. First trains from Sevastopol and Simferopol will leave to St. Petersburg and Moscow on December 25 and 26, respectively. Tickets are also bought up like hot cakes. And there is no wonder − the long New Year holidays are ahead, an ideal time to travel around the country.
What carriages will carry tourists
The launch of passenger rail transport to Crimea and in the opposite direction is a very long-awaited and remarkable event for Russians. Many have already forgotten how it is to travel by train to the favorite resort. And as it is remarkable, the "Tavria" trains will be different from their "sister trains", traveling along the roads of our vast country. This was said by Alexander Ganov, Director-General of the Grand Service Express company, which will act as the operator of passenger transportation to Crimea.
"We are preparing for the long-awaited event. For "Tavria" trains a corporate style has already been developed in accordance with which the interior of the carriages will be done", — said Alexander Ganov.
At the start of the railway communication, carriages with a special interior will carry passengers along two routes: St. Petersburg-Sevastopol and Moscow-Simferopol. Later the route coverage will be expanded.
So, five modern single-decker trains consisting of compartment and reserved seats carriages will be launched on the St. Petersburg direction.
"The reserved seats and compartment carriages are equipped with air conditioning, dry closets, 220 V and USB sockets. The upper and lower shelves are 60 cm wide" – we were told at the "Grand Service Express" company. – The trains offer standard services – tea, snacks and goods on the road can be purchased from a carriage conductor. In addition, there is a dining-car in each train, where passengers can always have hot meals from our varied menu".
Four comfortable double-decker trains with compartment and sleeping cars will run over the bridge across the Kerch Strait from Moscow to Crimea and in the opposite direction. All carriages, as well as on the St. Petersburg route, are equipped with air conditioning, dry closets and other amenities. Each compartment has two lower and two upper 60 cm wide shelves, each shelf is furnished with individual lamp.
Sleeping cars, which will initially be only in the double-decker trains on the Moscow route, are also equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable trip. Each compartment is designed for two passengers, there are two lower 60 cm wide soft sofas, a table and individual lamps.
According to the transport operator, it is allowed to travel with pets in compartment and sleeping cars, of course, under the current rules. If you are traveling with a big dog, you must pay for the entire compartment. The rules for carrying small animals depend on the class of service.
Price issue and where to buy tickets
The sale of tickets for long-distance trains to Crimea and back has been open since November 8. You can buy tickets on the official website and in the carrier’s mobile application, as well as at the railway ticket offices. Thus, on the territory of the peninsula travel documents are sold in all railway ticket offices of the Crimean Railway (KZhD). Namely: in the cities of Kerch, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Theodosia, Saki, Eupatoria, Bakhchisaray, Yalta, Sudak, as well as at a number of railway stations. A full list of ticket points of sale with addresses is available on the Crimean Railway official website.
The pricing is calculated on a dynamic basis, and it may vary depending on demand, season and other factors. The fare from Moscow to Simferopol in a compartment carriage starts from 2,966 rubles, the fare in a sleeping car starts from 9,952 rubles. The price of tickets from St. Petersburg in a reserved seat carriage starts from 3,500, in a compartment − from 3,906 rubles.
Train route to Crimea
Trains to Crimea and in the opposite direction will go through several large cities and railway stations. On the St. Petersburg-Sevastopol route, the train will proceed through the cities of Tver, Ryazan, Michurinsk, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol, Bakhchisaray. The longest stops will be in Ryazan (25 minutes), Michurinsk (33 minutes), Rostov-on-Don (33 minutes), Dzhankoy (25 minutes), Simferopol (15 minutes). In addition, trains will stop on the peninsula in the village of Vladislavovka, (Kirovsky District) and at the Sem Kolodezey station in the Leninsky District.
Getting ready to start
In Crimea everything is ready to receive trains. In anticipation of the Crimean Bridge railway traffic opening, a large-scale modernization of infrastructure has been done on the peninsula. Reconstruction of railway stations was completed and they are waiting for passengers.
The renovation of the Crimean railway facilities along the train route was carried out in stages. The scope of the works performed is impressive. Equipment and facilities were put in order at the stations, facades and interiors were renovated, conveniences for passengers with limited mobility were arranged. In a word, everything was done to make passengers feel as comfortable as possible.
"Preparation for the passenger transportation is a priority for the company. A lot of work has been done on the eve of the opening of the railway traffic across the Crimean Bridge", — the press service of the Crimean Railway informed the Crimea Travel Portal. — The main stations − Simferopol, Sevastopol, Dzhankoy, Eupatoria, Theodosiya and others − are ready to receive the predicted number of passengers at any time".
When there will be more trains
After the start of the railroad traffic, the Crimean Ministry of Resorts and Tourism expects improving logistic services for vacationers and reduction of cargo delivery costs, which ultimately should reduce the prices of accommodation. The Minister of Resorts and Tourism of the Republic of Crimea Vadim Volchenko believes that the opening of the railway communications will be a significant event not only for Crimea, but for the whole of Russia.
"Undoubtedly, Crimea will develop even more rapidly, improving transport accessibility in all directions. Traveling by train across Russia to Crimea will add bright, unforgettable emotions and impressions to the journey log of our guests. And our task is to preserve and increase those emotions and impressions here on the peninsula, ensuring comfortable vacations in any corner of Crimea", — the Minister said.
The expansion of the transportation geography is discussed in the republican government jointly with the "Grand Service Express" carrier company. New routes to Crimea from Yekaterinburg and Murmansk are planned to be added by next summer. In addition, a route that will connect the cities of the Republic with Kislovodsk and Krasnodar is being worked out. So, very soon a railway trip to the peninsula will become possible not only for the residents of the two capitals, but also for tourists from other cities of our country.
