Quick Summary (2026 Update)
- Since 2022, the official Russian Railways website (rzd.ru) no longer accepts foreign-issued credit cards, and it is blocked in much of Europe. The route that once let you book directly on the official site is effectively closed for most travelers abroad.
- As of 2026, the realistic way to book Trans-Siberian and other Russian train tickets from abroad is through an authorized booking agent (subagent) such as RussianTrain.com.
- The ticket you receive is the official Russian Railways e-ticket itself — same car number, same seat, same reservation in the central system. It is not a voucher. You can pay with a foreign Visa/Mastercard without a VPN.
- Note that many governments currently advise against travel to Russia. Please check your own country’s official travel advisory and make your own decision before traveling.
Some time ago, I traveled across the Eurasian continent on the Trans-Siberian Railway. To make that journey happen, I first booked my ticket through the official Russian National Railway website.
As I described in my other article, making that reservation was genuinely difficult. Even after setting the language to English, the interface switched to a mix of English and Russian partway through. I managed only by using the Google Translate app on my phone — and that would be very tough without a solid internet connection.
On top of that, since 2022 the official site no longer accepts foreign-issued credit cards at all. So the “book directly on the official site” route that I struggled through back then is now essentially unavailable to most travelers abroad.
The realistic option that remains is a booking site a friend once recommended to me: RussianTrain.com.
Why RussianTrain.com now?
RussianTrain.com is an authorized booking agent (subagent) for Russian Railways (RZD). It is operated by Anyday Travel LLC, a Russia-based company connected to VisitRussia.com, which was founded in 2000.
The natural worry here is: “Isn’t a booking agent just a shady middleman handing me some voucher?” The answer is no.
The ticket issued through RussianTrain.com is the official Russian Railways e-ticket itself — the same car number, the same seat, and the same reservation in the central booking system as if you had bought it on the official site. It is not a separate “voucher.” In exchange for a commission, you get:
- A clear interface in English (also Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese)
- Payment with a foreign Visa/Mastercard, without a VPN — decisive in 2026
- The e-ticket delivered as a PDF to your inbox
- Customer support in English
Beyond the Trans-Siberian Railway, you can also book tickets for Helsinki ⇄ St. Petersburg (ALLEGRO) and St. Petersburg ⇄ Moscow (SAPSAN) here.
When I actually used it, the whole process was far smoother than the official Russian Railways website. And now that the official site no longer works with foreign cards, this is effectively the only legitimate route left.
How to book a ticket on RussianTrain.com
The booking process itself is very simple.
On the top page of RussianTrain.com, just fill in the blanks: departure station, arrival station, and your preferred date.
As an example, say you search for a one-way ticket from Vladivostok to Moscow. After filling in the fields, click “Search.” On the next screen, candidate dates for the itinerary are displayed.
If there are no trains on your exact date, nearby operating dates are shown instead. If no candidate dates appear at all, choose “Click to try to find multiple destinations” below to search routes with connections.
Once you pick a date, the departure options for that day are displayed, and you can filter by departure/arrival time, seat grade, and whether you are traveling with children.
If you want to avoid early-morning or late-night departures, adjust the departure time here. An “e” next to a train’s name means an electronic ticket (e-ticket) is available.
When you find a suitable option, click “View Seats” for further details.
On this screen you choose the seat grade and whether you take an upper or lower bunk in the compartment. After deciding, click “+” and enter the number of tickets. Note that “1” means one seat, not one whole compartment or “single room” in first or second class.
- Class: 1st class, 2nd class, or 3rd class
- Services: upper bunk or lower bunk within the compartment
- Price: the price of each seat
Click the photo icon to see what each seat type looks like.
First and second class are compartment-style. (The photos may be slightly older or from a different line than the exact car I rode.)
Third class matches what I saw in person. It is an open carriage rather than a private compartment, so you’ll hear people snoring and should be a little more mindful of your belongings — but it is significantly cheaper than first and second class.
Confirm your seat and the number of tickets, then click “Continue” and “Continue with booking.”
Review all the ticket information and enter your contact and payment details.
The email address you enter under “Contact person” should belong to the person who wants to receive the e-ticket. In the comment field, note things like meal allergies or traveling with pets.
Payment can be made by credit card (Visa/Mastercard/Maestro/Mir) or PayPal. Payments are processed through Uniteller’s secure, PCI DSS–certified system. After entering everything, click “Complete Booking” to confirm.
Should I print the e-ticket?
Yes — I strongly recommend printing it.
The e-ticket sent to your contact email becomes your ticket simply by printing it out. You do not need to exchange it for another ticket at a counter when boarding.
The ticket I received looked like the image above. I printed it, brought it to Vladivostok station, and it was enough to board the train.
For trains that do not support e-tickets, you’ll need to exchange your booking for a ticket at the station counter or an automatic check-in booth. In all cases, conductors will check your ticket and your passport when you board, so don’t forget your ID.
Booking window, cancellations, and changes: FAQ
How early can I book?
Can I cancel?
Can I change my itinerary?
Can I pay with someone else’s credit card?
How much does it cost? How to think about the commission
Because RussianTrain.com is a booking agent, a commission is added on top of the base ticket price. It’s fair to wonder whether that makes it more expensive than the official site.
But in 2026 the premise has changed. There used to be a meaningful comparison — “the official site is cheaper because there’s no commission.” Now that the official site no longer accepts foreign cards, that comparison no longer exists. The commission isn’t a markup on a cheaper alternative; it’s the cost of using the only legitimate route available.
| Seat class | Features | Price level |
|---|---|---|
| 1st class | 2-berth private compartment, most comfortable | Highest |
| 2nd class | 4-berth compartment, standard | Mid-range |
| 3rd class | Open carriage, no compartment, cheapest | Lowest |
Go for third class if you’re keeping costs down, or first/second class if you value privacy and comfort. The best approach is to check the actual fare on the search screen and choose based on your budget and how much comfort you want.
My take after using it
Compared with the (former) official Russian Railways booking page, RussianTrain.com was overwhelmingly easier to navigate. The official site repeatedly confused me by mixing English and Russian; on RussianTrain.com I got through the whole process without a single point of confusion.
Beyond the quality of the English, the page guidance and the transparency of the information gave me real peace of mind. The details that travelers worry about most — how e-tickets work, how to cancel or change a booking — were all clearly accessible.
Now that the official site no longer works with foreign cards, RussianTrain.com stands out as a realistic option that combines three things that matter: a genuine official e-ticket, clear support, and payment with a foreign card.
Book here
With the travel notes above in mind (see the top of this article), you can check fares and book from the link below. Searching and checking prices is free and requires no sign-up.
Have a great journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway!
