“We will do it from December 1”: Russian Railways is preparing a big surprise for all Russians
From December 1, Russian Railways will change the rules for returning tickets: how much money will you lose when you pass?
Are you planning a winter trip or are you already looking for tickets for the New Year holidays? Russian passengers should be on guard: from December 1, 2026, Russian Railways radically changes the policy of refunding money for tickets for long-distance trains.
The usual fixed fee (which is now a symbolic 3.70 rubles) is a thing of the past. It is replaced by a progressive scale, where the size of retention depends on how much you changed your mind beforehand.
How will this work in practice?
• Pass the ticket 45 days or more before departure - you will lose only 1% of the cost.
• For 30-44 days - hold 3%.
• For 10–29 days – 5%.
• Less than 10 days before the train, the fee will increase to 10%.
Let's do the math. Let’s say your ticket costs 5,000 rubles. If you refuse to travel at the last minute (less than 10 days), Russian Railways will hold 500 rubles. And if you inform about the cancellation in advance (a month and a half), the fee will be only 50 rubles. The benefits are obvious!
Important life hack: the new rules will affect only those tickets that will be purchased from December 1. If you make a purchase before November 30 inclusive, it will be subject to the old, more favorable tariff with a fixed fee.
So, if your plans for the winter are still shaky, it makes sense to have time to buy before the end of November. And if the ticket is already bought under the new rules, do not delay with a return: the sooner you change your mind, the more money you will save in your wallet.
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