OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2008. Around 27,000 passengers have now taken advantage of the new international routes with through carriages from Moscow to Paris, Munich, Basel and Amsterdam which Russian Railways launched in December 2007, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

During the first year of operation, more than 1,500 passengers travelled between Moscow and Paris, over 6,200 between Moscow and Munich, more than 7,000 between Moscow and Basel and more than 12,000 between Moscow and Amsterdam.

On 11 December 2007, a through railway service was resumed between Moscow and Paris. The direct carriage runs twice a week during the winter and 3 times a week in the summer and departs from Moscow as part of Train No. 13/14 Moscow - Berlin. In Berlin, the carriage is hitched to the night train of Deutsche Bahn No. 450/451 Berlin - Paris.

The train timetable includes a daily stop in Berlin of about 12 hours en route from Moscow to Paris and of 7 hours in the opposite direction, giving passengers the opportunity to see the sights of Berlin.

Total travel time between Moscow and Paris, including the stop in Berlin, is 51 hours 30 minutes and 45 hours 49 minutes in the opposite direction.

On the Moscow - Paris route a Ritz carriage operates which is capable of speeds of up to 200 kmph and which has convertible two and three berth compartments for passengers wishing to travel in 1st and 2nd class respectively.

A single 2nd Class adult ticket in a sleeping compartment costs EUR333.00, while 1st Class costs EUR 497.00. A single passenger in the compartment pays EUR 545.00.

The single fare for an adult travelling in a group in 2nd Class is EUR 241.50 and in 1st Class EUR 360.10. A single adult travelling in a compartment as part of a group pays EUR 408.10

A 2nd Class child’s ticket in a sleeping compartment costs EUR 185.50 and a 1st Class ticket EUR 275.50. A child travelling alone in a compartment costs EUR323.50. Children’s fares when travelling in groups are EUR139.70, EUR207.10 and EUR 255.10 respectively.

The cost of the ticket is based on the total price (registration on one form of the ticket and seat reservation).

All carriages run daily all the year round as part of Train No. 11/12 Moscow - Warsaw, which are then attached in Warsaw to train No. 346/347 Warsaw – Amsterdam or in Hanover to Deutsche Bahn trains running between Moscow – Basle and Moscow - Munich. RITZ carriages also operate on these routes.