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12 March 2025

New Rules Make Train Travel Easier For Young Passengers

Children now require only their birth certificate or passport for train travel, enhancing accessibility.

New regulations have come to light for young passengers traveling on long-distance trains across Russia. According to the Privolzhskaya Railway press service, children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 will no longer need to present school certificates when boarding. Instead, they only need to show their birth certificate or passport, significantly simplifying the travel process for families.

This change is aimed at easing the travel burden for young passengers, making train journeys more accessible throughout the country, including the remote Kaliningrad region. The new rules came to effect recently, reflecting the Government of the Russian Federation's commitment to facilitate children's travel across the nation.

"Children traveling on trains no longer need to present a certificate from school," stated the Privolzhskaya Railway press service, which has heralded this move as redressing the earlier cumbersome requirements associated with traveling by train.

The new rules mean all Russian citizens within the specified age range will enjoy easier access to rail travel. Now, instead of providing school documentation, kids can present their birth certificate or passport when boarding long-distance trains. This streamlining is expected to encourage parents to take their children on trips more often without the hassle of preparing additional paperwork.

Adding more incentive, the recently enacted rules also provide for significant financial benefits. Children traveling on these trains will continue to benefit from a 50% discount on adult fare tickets. This provision is available year-round, thereby ensuring cost-effective travel options for families, irrespective of the season.

"The benefit can be used throughout the Russian Federation, including the Kaliningrad region," reported V102.RU, highlighting the extensive application of the rules. The discount applies to all long-distance trains travelling within domestic routes — with exceptions only for high-speed trains.

It’s worth noting how the type of train carriage influences this discount. For reserved and general cars, children aged 10 to 18 can enjoy half the price of adult tickets. The same discount applies to 2nd and 3rd class rail cars on motor car rolling stock. Parents can rest assured knowing they’re not only affording their children safety and supervision during travels but also financial relief.

Previously, these discounted rates were subject to temporal limitations, only effective during holiday seasons. The newly implemented year-round authorization opens up travel possibilities for families to plan their journeys without the constraints of time. This change aims at enhancing children's ability to travel more freely within their own country.

Now, when buying tickets, children, regardless of their educational setting, can simply confirm their identity without the added burden of securing school documentation. This move signifies significant progress by railway authorities toward modernizing and adapting travel regulations to the needs and realities of family life.

For the various stakeholders involved, such as parents, educators, and the railways, this is not just about easing the travel norms. It resonates with the broader aspiration to improve the overall travel experience for young citizens of Russia. Families can now approach their travel plans with renewed enthusiasm and fewer logistical hurdles.

The overall impact of such changes promises to reshape the way families engage with rail travel. Children between the ages of 10 to 18 who hold Russian citizenship will benefit from this initiative, and the assurance of discounted rates means more families will likely choose trains as their primary mode of transportation for domestic travel.

Traveling not only plays an integral role in children’s growth experiences but also inspires ideas, fosters relationships, and shapes their perspectives. The new provisions are indicative of how the railways are responding to the needs of younger commuters and their families, aiming to provide holistic travel experiences catering to comfort and accessibility.

With these progressive changes now solidified, young travelers are set to explore Russia more freely and easily than ever. The authorities remain optimistic about increased uptake of rail travel among families, rooted firmly on the foundations of these new regulations.