OREANDA-NEWS. The new Moscow - Berlin - Paris service is scheduled to begin on 12 December 2011. The service will be run by the First Passenger Company, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, reported the press-centre of RZD.

Tickets for the service are now on sale.

Train No. 23/24 Moscow - Berlin - Paris will pass through five countries: Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France via Vyazma, Smolensk, Krasnoe, Orsha, Minsk, Brest, Terespol, Warsaw, Poznan, Rzepin, Oderburk, Frankfurt (Oder), Berlin, Hanover, Fulda, Frankfurt am Main, Saarbrucken, Forbach and Metz-Ville.

The Moscow - Berlin - Paris route is 3,177 km, making it the second-longest trans-European route plied by Russian trains after the Moscow - Nice run.

The trains on the new service can attain a maximum speed of around 200 kph.

Moscow - Berlin - Paris is the second service which links Russia and France following the launch of train No. 17/18 Moscow - Nice in September 2010.

A direct connection with Paris has existed since 2007, but hitherto this service has been a single carriage, but the number of passengers expressing a wish to travel to the French capital by rail has long exceeded the limited capacity available. This single carriage is therefore now being replaced by a direct Moscow - Berlin - Paris train.

Conductors on the Moscow - Berlin - Paris service were selected by a competitive process. The main requirements for the candidates were higher education and a basic knowledge of a foreign language. Preference was given to candidates with at least two years of work experience.

The train has luxury, first and second class carriages, as well as a restaurant car.

Luxury carriage Each compartment features individual toilet facilities and shower, chair, TV and lounge bar. The berths are arranged vertically. The lower one can be expanded into a double bed.
First-class carriage All first-class carriages have 10 two-berth compartments with berths arranged vertically. Each compartment has a reclining chair and wash basin.

Second-class carriage Second-class carriages have 11 triple-berth compartments with vertical beds. Each compartment has a reclining chair and wash basin.

Dining car Between Moscow - Brest - Moscow, the Moscow branch of the First Passenger Company operates a restaurant car which is serviced by staff with experience in premium-class trains. The menu is in Russian and English and includes Russian and European dishes.

Between Warsaw - Paris - Warsaw, the Polish company PKP Intercity provides RIC dining car for passengers. The personnel speak English and Polish. The menu is in Russian and English and includes European cuisine. Passengers from luxury class (business) can enjoy a complimentary breakfast every day.