Moscow – Berlin train: why, if the plane is faster?

The train "Swift" following the route "Moscow" Berlin" is very controversial, but it has its advantages and has a place to be. It covers a distance of 2026 kilometers, and the travel time takes more than 20 hours. What is the composition and why it is worth a ride, we understand in this article.

The sale of tickets for the "Strizh" train to the German capital begins 90 days before departure. A system of dynamic tariff management and demand stimulation is applied. An average ticket for an adult passenger costs from 155 to 353 euros per person, depending on the class of service and seat. There is also a discount system, thanks to which you can save from 5 to 50% of the ticket price. Discounts are valid for children's and family tickets (purchase of a whole compartment by two passengers), for group fares (both for adults and children), also for small groups of 6 people, for newlyweds during the month, for traitors a week before and after the birthday, and there are also discounts on the upper shelves. Therefore, do not forget about special fares before buying tickets.

The train from the capital of Russia departs twice a week on Friday and Sunday, from Berlin on Mondays and Saturdays. On the way , the train crosses three states: Belarus, Poland and Germany. Border and customs control is carried out at Brest and Terespol stations. In addition, intermediate stops are carried out in Smolensk, Orsha, Minsk, Warsaw, at the stations of Poznan, Rzepin and Frankfurt am Oder.

The train is designed for 216 passengers, it runs 20 cars. It consists of 2 1st class cars with seating, 4 2nd class sleeping cars with four-person accommodation and one 2nd class double sleeping car, five 1st class sleeping cars with individual shower and bathroom in each compartment, three of which have seats for people with disabilities and their accompanying persons. It also includes one dining car and a buffet car, as well as two technical cars. According to the classification, the Swift is considered a high-speed train, the average speed is 92 kilometers per hour. It is worth noting that at first glance the train is very similar to the one that runs between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, but they have minor differences.

Hand luggage carried by passengers should not exceed 200 centimeters in the sum of three dimensions. In Class 1 carriages and with seats, it is allowed to carry no more than 50 kilograms of luggage per one ticket. In second-class carriages, no more than 36 kilograms for an adult passenger and no more than 15 kilograms for children under 12 years old. Small animals are allowed to be transported in sleeping cars of any class, but this will require the purchase of the entire compartment. There is no additional fee, please read the rules for the import of animals into the territory of the European Union in advance before your trip.

What else can I add about amenities?

Each car has a cooler with hot and cold water, air conditioning, heating system and toilets. In the sitting cars, you can choose a single or double seat, depending on whether you are traveling alone or together. In a compartment (except for the 1st class) there is a washbasin under the folding table. It looks very unusual and unusual.

And now the main question is: why go on a Swift if it's cheaper and faster to get to Berlin on low-cost carriers?

Of course, the choice of transport for travel is everyone's business. Do not forget about the people who prefer to travel only by rail, and there are those who are afraid to fly. With its long route, the train will allow you not to rush anywhere. After all, you need to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before departure, pass customs control, wait for luggage on arrival, and that's all apart from the flight itself. And I calmly arrived on the train half an hour before departure to the station, settled in my place and left it with all my things at the right stop at a specific time.

More than 20 hours in a sitting position will be difficult, so it's better to choose seats in a compartment before Germany. Sedentary ones are more designed for those who plan to spend an average of 3-4 hours on a trip. By the way, the Swift is popular precisely on intermediate routes for rapid movement between countries. Therefore, if you plan to be in Russia, Poland, Belarus or Germany, a pre-purchased ticket will allow you to save money and quickly move between countries. Moreover, there is no difficulty in acquiring a place in this composition. For example, you can buy tickets for a train through our mobile application, where knowledge of foreign languages is not required, and in addition to entering your passport data, nothing is required.

Due to the pandemic and the closure of borders, traffic along the route has been temporarily suspended since March 16. But after the quarantine measures are lifted, train tickets will be on sale again, and you will be able to plan a comfortable train journey across Europe.