Trains and planes: passenger rights you don't know about

Rights and obligations of railway passengers

The rules for the carriage of passengers are regulated by the main legislative acts:

• Law No. 2300-1 defining the rights of consumers of services.
• Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 18 “Charter of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation”.
• Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation dated December 19, 2013 No. 473, establishing the basic standards for the transportation of passengers and their luggage.

Rights

According to Art. 83 Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 18, a train passenger has the following rights.

1. If necessary, change your seat to any other free one, even if it is in a carriage with higher comfort.
   To do this, you should contact the head of the train and pay extra if the new place costs more. Attention. If the ticket price is the same, there is no need to pay extra.
2. Get hot water anytime. In addition, the passenger can buy coffee or tea from the conductor, who is required to offer drinks and dry confectionery several times a day. And also, if necessary, get a first aid kit.
3. The passenger has the right to travel earlier than the date indicated on the ticket if there are free seats on the selected train. To do this, check in with the cashier; you do not need to pay extra for this service.
4. While traveling on a long-distance train, a passenger can stop at one of the stations for a period of no more than 10 days. To receive this service, you must register with the station cashier within three hours after the train arrives at that station. You can continue your journey on the agreed day on the transport of the same carrier, having additionally paid for the services of re-issuing a ticket and the cost of a reserved seat from the stop to the destination.
5. If serious health problems arise during travel, the passenger has the right to leave the train to seek medical help. After recovery, he can resume his journey if he has a certificate from a medical institution confirming the fact of the illness and its duration.
6. A citizen waiting for a train can use the station toilet for free if he has a ticket. The opportunity can be used within 24 hours before boarding or after arrival. Passengers on a stationary train can also use the bathroom free of charge.
7. Bring one child under five years of age free of charge. Children from five to ten years old pay half price.
8. A passenger can carry hand luggage weighing from 36 to 50 kg, depending on the category of the carriage. The total dimensions of the cargo should not exceed 180 cm, the luggage is located so as not to interfere with the movement of other passengers.

Important. Disabled passengers purchase a travel pass at a reduced price and can use a special sleeping area and toilet.

In addition to the above, a citizen can count on the following services:

• If you are late for boarding, a passenger may, within 12 hours from the departure of the train:
  1. return the cost of the ticket minus the cost of a reserved seat;

  buy a ticket for another train minus the cost of the ticket.

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If the delay is due to deterioration in health, the right to return or reissue a ticket is extended for five days based on a certificate from a medical institution. If you are late for a transfer due to a train delay, a citizen may request a refund of the full fare.

• In the event of a train cancellation or delay, a citizen has the right to a refund of the full cost of the ticket until the transport departs on schedule. He may also require payment of a fine of 3% of the ticket price for each hour of delay. The passenger has the right to apply for compensation for damage and losses caused to the court.
• If the passenger decides to cancel the trip and return the ticket, the amount of the refund depends on the time of contacting the ticket office:
  more than 8 hours before the train departure - full fare;
• from 2 to 8 hours – the full cost of the ticket and 50% of the cost of a reserved seat are refunded;
• up to 2 o'clock – return only the cost of the ticket.
• A lost commuter train ticket cannot be restored. For long-distance flights, recovery is possible if the details of the lost pass can be accurately identified. If the information provided is incomplete, the service is provided for a fee.
• If the carrier is unable to provide the citizen with his purchased seat, then he is obliged to:
  provide a place of higher comfort without additional payment;
• allocate a place at a lower cost with payment of the difference;
• refund the full fare;
• reissue a ticket for the next train.
• A passenger who is injured while traveling on a train has the right to:
  compensation for health damage and monthly payments when a citizen is recognized as disabled due to injury;
• payment of expenses for treatment and retraining;
• provision of a wheelchair by the company.

Important. It is the responsibility of the guide to collect bed linen upon arrival.

Responsibilities

1. Purchasing a travel document and saving it to your destination.
2. Payment for baggage transportation in excess of the established norm according to tariffs.
3. Compliance with the rules for using railway transport, careful handling of the carrier’s property.
4. Presentation of a travel document upon request of authorized persons.

Cost of food on a Russian Railways train

Guaranteed meals are immediately included in the price of the train ticket. You can refuse it before paying for the travel document.

Additional meals are paid separately. The cost depends on the type of carriage and menu. You can cancel the service at the ticket office or on the Russian Railways website a maximum of 24 hours before the train’s departure. When canceling the additional meal service or ordering a new service, no commission fee is charged to the passenger.

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Transportation standards and regulations

The rules for transporting children, luggage and animals are regulated by Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation dated December 19, 2013 No. 473.

Children

Basic rules for transporting children:

1. Transportation of one child under 5 years old who does not occupy a separate seat is free of charge.
2. When transporting more than one child under five years of age, a citizen pays for one seat for two children.
3. For children from five to ten years old, a ticket is paid at a reduced rate.
4. The child's age is calculated on the date of boarding the train.

Baggage and hand luggage

When transporting luggage, several rules apply:

• hand luggage weight no more than 36 kg, in SV carriages no more than 50 kg, size no more than 180 cm;
• hand luggage is located so as not to interfere with the movement of passengers; the passenger is responsible for its safety;
• The carrier is responsible for the safety of paid baggage in a special compartment;
• The transportation of firearms and explosives, toxic and other dangerous substances is prohibited.

Animals

The rules for transporting animals are as follows:

1. It is allowed to transport small domestic animals, birds, etc. in a passenger carriage for a set fee.
2. Transportation of large animals in carriages of a certain class is permitted. The condition is the purchase of all seats in the compartment.
3. A guide dog can stay in any carriage with its owner for free.
4. Feeding and maintaining sanitary and hygienic standards is carried out by the owners of the animals.

What do you need to know when traveling on long-distance trains in reserved seat carriages and compartments?

Important. According to the Rules of the Ministry of Transport, every citizen is obliged to occupy the seat for which he paid.

Therefore, a passenger in the upper bunk has no right to take the seat of a neighbor in the lower bunk without his permission. There are no exceptions for long-distance trains, even if the journey takes several days.

Russian Railways recommends that passengers negotiate and come to a compromise themselves. If you have a long journey ahead, especially with a child, it is advisable to choose a ticket for a lower seat in advance. You can buy a pass 90 days before your trip.

All passengers can use the table, but you cannot require a neighbor to give up a seat behind it. You can only agree on shared use. In other cases, you can use the following options:

• ask the guide to find a place to feed the baby;
• ask the train manager for another seat, if available;
• have a snack in the dining car.

When placing luggage, the following rules apply:

• the space under the bottom shelf is used by the person who occupies it;
• the overhead luggage compartment is intended for the passenger in the upper seat;
• If there is no upper luggage rack, hand luggage will be placed equally under the lower seat.

Who has the right to a table in the compartment?

If previously only the lower passengers had priority rights to a table, then from 2020 both upper and lower passengers saw the inscription on the electronic ticket: “Table shared.” Thus, all passengers can use the table; you just need to take into account one nuance: you cannot sit in the seat of the lower passenger without his permission.

The use of a common table raised questions among passengers in the upper side bunks - after all, they could only use the table with the lower side bunk folded.

Denis M. told:

“I was riding on the top side shelf, and there was a woman riding below, who just lay on the shelf all day. In response to my requests to make the bed and allow me to eat normally at least once a day, she stated that she had bought a ticket and could lie in bed at least 24 hours a day.”

According to Russian Railways recommendations, during the daytime, a passenger in the lower side berth must provide the upper passenger with the opportunity to use a table, except in cases where it is difficult for the lower passenger to get up due to illness or disability - then it is recommended to use the table in the compartment opposite.

It is important to note that these recommendations are not enshrined in regulatory documents, but were issued with the goal of reducing the number of conflicts between passengers and making travel more comfortable.

What should Russian Railways passengers not do?

The following actions are prohibited for railway transport passengers:

1. Stop the train with a stop valve, get on and off while moving, travel in places not intended for this (roof, step, etc.).
2. Smoking is allowed only during stops in specially designated areas, no closer than 15 meters from the station.
3. Consumption of alcoholic beverages outside the dining car is prohibited. The drinks offered there should not be more than 16% alcohol.
4. Disturb public order, organize gambling, litter.

Visiting the toilet is free

Long journeys or waiting for your train are often accompanied by the need to visit the restroom. As you know, going there at the train stations costs a fee, but not for everyone. So, if you have a train ticket in your hands, then they should not take money from you for going to the toilet. But there are time limits here:

• before departure – 3 hours before departure time;
• after arrival – 1 hour.

By the way, this rule applies not only at railway stations, but also at bus stations, ports, and stations. The main thing is to show your ticket when going to the toilet.

Responsibility for violation of norms of conduct

1. A fine for ticketless travel on suburban routes is 50 times the fare per 10 km, and on long-distance trains is 5 times the fare per 100 km.
2. Removal from the train for violating public order and rules of travel on railway transport. Travel costs are not refundable.
3. Fining for drinking alcoholic beverages outside the dining car.
4. Imposition of a fine in the amount of 3 to 5 thousand rubles for breaking the stop valve without a good reason.

A passenger may be removed from the train at the discretion of the conductor by the following persons:

• by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in case of violation of travel rules;
• medical professionals if the illness interferes with further travel or poses a danger to other passengers.

Attention. When planning a train trip, you should familiarize yourself with your rights and responsibilities. When choosing a ticket, you need to pay attention to the type of carriage, the seat provided and the class of service in order to travel with maximum comfort.

Rules of behavior on trains are regulated by legislation; violation of them can lead to interruption of the trip and administrative punishment. If his rights are violated, the passenger can complain to the railway management.

Temporary stop along the route

The rules allow you to interrupt your trip. In this case, you can continue to use the same ticket, but with certain nuances:

1. Interruption of the route is permitted for a period not exceeding ten days.
2. Within three hours from the moment the train stops at the station, you must contact the ticket office.
3. The employee is informed of the time of stop at the station (no more than ten days) and the desired date for continuing the journey.
4. Ticket extension is carried out after payment of the re-issuance fee and the cost of a reserved seat, subject to availability.

If you had to stay at the station for health reasons, the restrictions are lifted. But you will have to provide a certificate about the duration of your illness to the cashier.