Train boarding system trials using biometrics to be held in Russia in the coming months

Passengers in Russia will be able to board trains and planes without a ticket or passport — only by presenting their face. The Ministry of Transport announced that real tests of biometric systems will begin in the near future, and if the results are successful, the technology will gradually appear on individual routes.

The legal framework for implementation has already been created in railway transport. On September 1, 2025, a government decree came into force allowing carriers to organize boarding using biometrics if technically feasible. Russian Railways is preparing its own solution: first, the technology will be tested on one route, and then the issue of its scaling will be decided.

Deputy Head of the company Evgeny Charkin confirmed that the launch is possible after resolving legal and technical details.

The process is more complicated in aviation. The Ministry of Transport explained that additional coordination with safety and personal data protection standards is required for airplanes. Therefore, the implementation will be gradual and will begin only after confirmation of the technology's reliability. The first tests are planned to be carried out in the coming months.

The use of biometrics in transport is actively developing in many countries. In China and the UAE, passengers are already boarding airplanes only by presenting their face, and pilot projects are operating in major airports in Europe. Russia follows global trends, but focuses on security and data protection.

Read materials on the topic:

• Will reduce document verification time: Russian Railways is testing a new option — boarding a train using biometrics
• Biometrics for purchasing long-distance train tickets will be introduced in Russia from September 1
• Russia has begun checking train passengers using biometrics