E-tickets for Russian trains
E-tickets are one of the easiest ways to book tickets for Russian trains and remove the need for the actual tickets to be sent from Russia to you.
They are the quickest and safest way for you to book, receive confirmation and manage your order for Russian train tickets.
What is an e-ticket?
An e-ticket (or voucher) is an official confirmation that the places on a train have been paid for and booked. We will send you your e-ticket by email when we have processed your order and all you need to do is print it out and take it with you to Russia.
You can’t board the train using only the e-ticket and you must exchange it for a physical ticket at any railway ticket office in Russia or at specific exchange points and terminals in selected cities.
As the e-ticket is wholly in Russian we will also provide you with a translation in English for your reference.
Which cities have exchange points?
The cities below have a dedicated point for exchanging your e-tickets, if your departure city is not listed here then you should exchange your tickets at the railway station booking office.
How do I know which train station to go to?
In some Russian cities, including Moscow and St Petersburg, there are more than one railway station serving different directions.
On the English translation we will also include the name of the departure and arrival station so you know where to go to or, if you prefer, we can arrange for a transfer to the correct rail station for you to get you there safely on time.
What do I need to show to get my ticket?
Once you are at the ticket booking office, also known as a KASSA (KACCA), or at an exchange point at the railway station you should present a printed copy of the voucher we sent you by email and your passport or other government issued identity document which you used to book your tickets.
If you are travelling with children who have their own passport then you may also be required to show a translated copy of their birth certificate."
How long will it take to exchange the tickets?
The printing and issuing of the tickets only takes a couple of minutes, however if their is a queue or the desk is closed for a lunch break then of course this can delay things. As such we recommend that you exchange your tickets as soon as possible after you arrive in Russia or at least an hour before your train departs to avoid problems.
Can I exchange the tickets at any train station?
Yes you can, as long as the station is inside Russia. If you have more than one journey then you can obtain all of your tickets at the same time.
Are e-tickets safe?
Yes, they are very safe and hundreds of millions of people use them every year.
Can I use e-tickets for all trains?
No, Russian e-tickets can only be used for trains where the whole journey is within Russia, or, on most trains where the departure station is inside Russia and the destination is in a CIS or FSU country, such as Belarus or Ukraine.
If you have selected e-ticket and it is not possible for some reason then we will contact you to arrange alternative collection or delivery.
After I have exchanged my e-ticket do I need it anymore?
No, once you have exchange the e-ticket for the actual tickets you don’t need it anymore and in most cases the office exchanging your tickets will retain it.
What happens if I loose my e-ticket?
This is not a problem as anyone finding it will be unable to collect your tickets without your identity document, for example passport, and will not be able to cancel them and collect any money as only we can do that.
So, all you need to do is print another copy or contact us and we will be happy to help.
Does everyone listed have to collect at the same time?
No, if there is more than one person listed on the e-ticket then any one person who is listed may collect all the paper tickets for the whole group.
Please note that if you are travelling in a group and want to collect your tickets separately you must have separate e-tickets.
Can I collect a ticket for someone else using their e-ticket?
No, this is not possible unless you are also listed on the e-ticket.
I have further questions, can you help me?
Yes, while we try to make the information and services on our site as clear, complete and honest as possible, if you have further questions please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help, browse through our forums and ask others who may have the answers you are looking for or see some frequently asked questions about Russian train travel.
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