Train travel unavailable as railroad company yet to confirm tickets

Russian Railways (RZD) is set to introduce a new boarding option for passengers starting from September 1, 2025. The biometric boarding option is part of a project being developed by RZD, with the aim of making the boarding process more convenient for travellers.

According to Deputy General Director Yevgeny Charkin, the use of biometric data for boarding trains will be voluntary and does not replace the need for a passport during travel. Passengers will have the option to choose between traditional boarding using an identity document and the faster method using biometric data.

The passport remains necessary for identity confirmation and ticket purchase during train travel on Russian Railways. However, with the introduction of biometric boarding, passengers will be able to bypass the need for physical ticket checks at the station.

RZD is actively working on the project, developing the necessary regulatory framework and technical solutions for the entire industry. The implementation of biometrics on Russian Railways will require the availability of the appropriate technical base. The government has issued a decree for the implementation of biometrics on Russian Railways.

It's worth noting that the recommendation was made for companies such as Ozon, RZD, Aeroflot, Wildberries, and Russian Post to unite with the domestic messenger Max, as previously reported by "Live Kuban". However, there is no specific information in the sources about a corporate merger recommendation involving these companies and MAX. Instead, MAX is mandated to be preinstalled on all smartphones and tablets sold in Russia along with the Russian app store RuStore, reflecting a state-driven digital consolidation rather than a corporate merger recommendation.

In conclusion, the introduction of biometric boarding on Russian Railways is an exciting development that will make travel more efficient and convenient for passengers. With the necessary regulatory framework and technical solutions in place, passengers will soon have the option to board trains using biometric data, in addition to the traditional method of using a passport.