Russia’s two capitals are well connected by an efficiently run and rather quick railway network. There are a great variety of Moscow to St. Petersburg trains to meet everyone's needs. The choice ranges from the elegant Grand Express and Russia’s most famous train, the Red Arrow (Krasnaya Strelya) to the ultra-new, high speed Sapsan trains and the recently introduced Double-Decker trains that offer great value for your money. Express to Russia’s specialists have over 15 years of experience in issuing Moscow to St. Petersburg train tickets. We are able to issue electronic tickets for almost every train on Moscow to St. Petersburg route (with very rare exceptions). To search for Russian train tickets and train schedules, just use our train ticket search engine at the top of this page.
Below is a list of the most popular and well-known St. Petersburg to Moscow trains. There are day trains with airline type seating and also quite nice overnight sleeper trains. Most trains come with restaurant and/or club carriages which make the trip between Moscow and St. Petersburg all the more comfortable and entertaining. To browse specific trains, please see the information on individual Moscow to St Petersburg trains below.
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Double-Decker trains were introduced in Russia in 2013; starting from February, 2015 they operate on Moscow - St.Petersburg route.
The train runs daily. Both 1st and 2nd class tickets are available. A cabin for disabled passengers and persons accompanying them is equipped in the staff car. The restaurant car offers a wide range of meals that passengers can purchase with cash or credit card. Electronic tickets are available in this train.
The train 003/004 Express is a fast train with an increased level of service operating on St. Petersburg to Moscow route.
The train has VIP 1st, 1st and 2nd class cabins.There is also a restaurant car with a wide range of main courses, salads, desserts and beverages.
Russian Train Tickets on this train are available for purchase 90 days before the departure!
Grand Express is the most luxurious Russian train operating between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The train has 4 types of VIP cabins and also regular 1st class and 2nd class carriages. This St. Petersburg train has a very nice dining car that serves good meals. Travelers can also order food and drinks to their compartment.
Free Wi-Fi is available on board.
Express train "Megapolis" #19/20 has been operating between Moscow and St. Petersburg daily since October 2006. The train consists of new modern 1st and 2nd class carriages, produced by Tverskoy Car-Building Factory. The train is managed by Tverskoy Express Company and offers high lever of service and comfort. 1st and 2nd class tickets are available with and without meals.
Free Wi-Fi is available on board.
Nevsky Express is a high-speed electric train that operates on Moscow to St. Petersburgroute. It is a daily train; the trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes 4 hours.
The Red Arrow is probably the most famous Russian train. This was the first firmenny (branded) train in USSR. The train has its own theme song that plays as it departs from the station.
The train has VIP 1st, regular 1st and 2nd class carriages. There is also a nice restaurant car that serves good meals.
Tickets on this train are available for purchase 90 days before departure.
Sapsan is a high-speed electric train that operates on Moscow to St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg to Nizhny Novgorod routes. There are several trains daily; the trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes less than 4 hours. The train offers several classes: First class, Business class and Economy class. There is a bistro on board.
Smena train was named in honor of the 65th anniversary of the popular Russian youth magazine . The train has an important tradition: only graduates of the St Petersburg State Transport University work here. In November of 2009, the name was changed to Smena–A.Betankur.
There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd class carriages on the train, and also a restaurant carriage. The trip takes 7 hours 50 minutes.
There are high speed and overnight trains available on this route. The fastest train called Sapsan takes 3.5 - 4 hours, regular overnight trains take 8 - 10 hours. There are several overnight trains offering different levels of comfort including the famous Grand Express and Red Arrow trains.
In St Petersburg, the Sapsan arrives and departs from Moscovsky Train Station, Nevsky Prospect 85, Metro Ploshad Vosstania.
In Moscow, for all Sapsan trains running between Moscow and St Petersburg it is Leningradsky Train Station, located at Komsomolskaya Ploshad 3, Metro Komsomolskaya. Sapsan trains operating on the Nizhny Novgorod to St Petersburg route arrive and depart from Kursky Train Station, Zemlyanoi Val, 29, Metro Kurskaya.
Each 2nd and 3rd class passenger is allowed to bring up to 36 kg of hand luggage. 1st class passengers can carry up to 50 kg. The sum of the hand luggage's three dimensions should not exceed 180 cm. Children under 4 travelling on a free ticket (without a separate seat) are not granted a separate piece of luggage.
No, there's no WiFi on Russian trains.
Though the price and time on board is almost the same when you travel by air or by train, traveling by a high speed Sapsan train is considered to be the most convenient and fastest way to travel from Moscow to St Petersburg. Train stations in both cities are in the city center so the travel time is significantly shorter when compared to traveling by plane which includes airport check-in and traveling to and from the airport. Another advantage to the train is that passengers can bring up to 36 kg of hand luggage without paying anything extra. Sapsan seats are much more comfortable than airplane seats and you can also enjoy a nice meal at a reasonable price on board.
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