The Ministry of Transport of Russia has approved an order that will allow tickets for suburban trains to be returned through mobile applications and carrier websites — not only at the ticket office. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2026.
The return conditions remain the same: when returning a ticket more than two hours before departure, the passenger receives the full cost minus the fee, less than two hours — 50% of the cost. The amount of the refund fee is determined by the carrier. The rule applies to tickets with reserved seats.
The same order obliges carriers to notify passengers of changes to the trip. When buying a ticket for a long-distance train, the passenger indicates a phone number or email address — notifications will be sent to them.
A separate set of changes concerns passengers with disabilities. Specialized seats will be limited in free sale and prioritized for those who use wheelchairs. Other passengers with disabilities will be able to purchase tickets for such seats no earlier than 10 days before departure. Attendants are prohibited from occupying specialized seats without the simultaneous passage of the passenger with a disability.
The ability to return a ticket online has long been standard practice for long-distance tickets, but suburban transport has so far remained an exception. For commuter train passengers living far from the ticket office, this meant that returning a ticket was often physically impossible without additional time costs. From September, this barrier will be removed — although the final return conditions will still depend on the specific carrier.
Read more materials on the topic:
- From March 1, you can return a non-refundable airline ticket if the flight is delayed by 30 minutes
- Combatants will be able to get a full refund for an airline ticket in case of a forced refusal to fly
- The Ministry of Transport has approved rules for tourist trains in Russia: it is now possible to catch up with the carriages
