Demand for the international high-speed train service continues to increase as the Russian Railways announced passenger traffic between St. Petersburg, Russia and Helsinki, Finland for January 2019.

In January 2019, the international high-speed Allegro trains running between St. Petersburg – Helsinki transported more than 37,000 passengers, 10.8% more than in the same month last year.

In 2018, Allegro trains carried 481,800 travellers, an increase of 0.5% on 2017. Since the high-speed Allegro services between St. Petersburg and Helsinki were launched on 12 December 2010, more than 3.3 million passengers have used the trains.

Flexible fares and marketing initiatives increase the attractiveness of Allegro trains to passengers. On days when demand is high, such as holidays, Russian Railways lays on dual trains with twice the usual number of carriages.

From 1 February to 31 March 2019, Allegro fares for organised groups of passengers consisting of more than 35 people will be reduced by 35%. The group fare is applied when tickets are booked for passengers travelling on the same train along the same route on the same departure date.

Fares for organised group travel, including children and schoolchildren, are available all year round.

Reservations for an organised group are possible if enough free seats/berths are available. Applications for travel are accepted from 90 days to 10 days before the train’s departure. Applications submitted less than 10 days before train departure are accepted only if it is possible to fulfill them.

Passengers can obtain detailed information about the Allegro train timetable and fares, as well book tickets, at rail ticket offices, online on the official website of Russian Railways and through the RZD Passengers mobile app.

When purchasing tickets, payments are settled in roubles at the rate set by the Central Bank of Russia on the day the tickets are booked.