How many hours in advance are train tickets issued? How to return an electronic ticket for a Russian Railways train purchased online? How is a refund processed? How to return a purchased travel document: step-by-step instructions. How to restore your claims

Also, a train cannot have more passengers than there are seats on the train (we mean passenger trains, not electric trains), so if all the tickets are sold out, a person simply will not leave on this flight, because there is no option to “ride while standing.”

Buying a ticket in advance and its advantages

That is why from all of the above it follows that it is better to take tickets in advance, this also applies to studying the schedule, so that there are no unpleasant surprises before the trip. Fortunately, today's technologies allow you to purchase a travel document without leaving your home. At the same time, a person can choose a suitable seat based on financial preferences and comfort (reserved seat, compartment or sleeping car), and the closer the travel date, the fewer suitable seats, so it is better not to postpone the purchase of tickets until later.

The main thing is not to wave after the train

The ideal travel option is to arrive at the station half an hour before the arrival of your train, board and get off at the desired stop. But situations in life are different, say, being late for a train due to some reasons, objective or subjective, leaves a person without a trip, because the driver leaves at exactly the set time and it doesn’t matter to him how many people did not manage to board the car, because the station dispatcher several times warns about the departure of the train.

The trip is canceled - we return tickets

Also, the trip can be canceled some time before the departure date, this is good if the person did not have time to buy a ticket. But if the travel document is already in hand, then the question becomes relevant: what are the rules for returning and returning train tickets (procedure, conditions and how much do you lose). After all, traveling by train, and even over long distances, is not a cheap pleasure. Of course not traveling by plane, but still. But the procedure for returning a ticket is quite extensive and it is better to know some of its nuances.

Return of an electronic ticket

So, the process of returning a ticket depends on several factors, the main one of which is the type of ticket:
— electronic;
- on the form.
In the first case, you can return it as well as purchase it without leaving your home. The reservation system has a special service where, following the pictures, you can complete the process of returning your travel document. As for the refund, it will be returned to the card within a month; if the payment was made using payment systems, this will happen within 10-60 days.

Procedure for returning a travel document

Returning an electronic ticket to the ticket office will not pose any special problems, the only thing is if electronic registration has not been completed or there is more than an hour left before the train departs from the starting station.

You can also return a ticket in the usual manner if the passenger did not board the departing train (was late) within 3 hours.

Whether it is a regular or a claim return procedure, you need to have with you the document whose data was entered into the order form and provide the 4-digit order number. By the way, the railroad will not refund service or commission fees.

We rent out earlier, they return more

Well, now it’s time to move on to the process of returning traditional (for now) tickets on blank paper purchased at the box office. In fact, it is not much different from the process described above. But passengers will be interested to know how much
can be returned for the returned travel document. By the way, the cost of a ticket consists of the price of the journey itself and the price of a seat in the carriage (reserved seat).

So, if the ticket is returned at least 8 hours before the departure of the train, the passenger receives the full cost of the ticket.

If you return it at least 2 hours in advance - 100% of the fare and 50% of the reserved seat.

You can also do this operation after the train departs (no later than 12 hours) - only the fare is refunded. The same proportions, but only different timing for trains departing abroad:
- at least 24 hours - full;
- at least 6 hours - 100% and 50%;
- no later than 3 hours after departure - minus the reserved seat.

Return of tickets

Sometimes plans for a trip collapse already at the preparatory stage for the trip. And the first question that arises for a person who has purchased train tickets is related to the possibility of a refund of the money paid for travel documents.
In the article I will talk about what grounds for the return of train tickets are provided for in the law, how to return the money paid for them and within what time frame.

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○ What does the law say?

Regulatory acts that will help you find the necessary answers to questions that arise with the return of tickets:

• Transportation Rules No. 473, approved by the Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, is the main document describing the grounds and procedure for the return of passenger and baggage railway tickets.
• Rules for the provision of services in the field of railway transportation No. 111.
• Railway transport regulations.
• The Consumer Rights Protection Law is an act designed to regulate relations in the field of railway transportation between carriers and passengers.

As stated in the above acts, passengers have the right to return unused tickets. The amount due for refund will be calculated depending on the time remaining before the train departs.

Basic return principles:

• The money is returned in the same way as it was transferred for the ticket.
• The refund amount depends on how much time is left before the transport is sent.
• There is a fee for returns.

○ In what cases can train tickets be returned?

Reasons for returning train tickets:

• If the train is delayed or cancelled, the passenger can get a full refund for the trip or reissue the travel document for a more convenient flight.
• Stopping the train - money is returned for the untraveled distance.
• If a passenger refuses to travel before the transport departs, the money will not be returned in full.
• Being late for transport within 12 hours after its departure or other good reasons for not using the ticket.
• If a passenger is removed from the train due to illness, the money will be returned for the untraveled distance.

✔ What tickets can be returned?

Regardless of the travel distance, you can return:

• Electronic tickets – through the website or the railway ticket office.
• Paper tickets - through any railway ticket office if you have an ID card and the ticket itself.
• Suburban transport subscriptions are returned to the ticket office (the passenger writes a written application to refuse the travel document).

When ordering several tickets, you are allowed to return all or only part of them. The only exception is “luxury” seats on long-distance trains - if you purchased 2 tickets in one compartment, you cannot return one of them. Also, sometimes there are temporary restrictions on returns on railway transport. You can find out about them on the official page of JSC Russian Railways or private carriers.

○ Is it possible to return e-tickets before receiving paper versions?

Electronic tickets are returned through the online page of JSC Russian Railways or through the website where the ticket was ordered. To do this, you need to open your profile, go to the “My Orders” section, select the required document and click the “Make a return” button.

The money is returned to your bank card within 7-30 days. Please note that a fee is always charged for returning tickets at the passenger's initiative.

○ How are funds paid for tickets?

If the passenger returns the ticket to the railway ticket office, the money is refunded on the spot. This rule applies only to those who purchased a ticket with cash.

As for payment via a terminal or via a card over the Internet, paragraph 83 of Rule No. 473 says:

“Refunds for an unused travel document (ticket), issued by bank transfer (or in cash for organized groups of passengers) or using a payment card, are made to the bank account of the legal entity or individual who paid for the travel document (ticket).”

Thus, it will also not be possible to return a large amount of money paid for the travel of a group of people through the ticket office. The repayment period is set by the bank. This is 7-30 days.

Money usually takes longer to return to an e-wallet - from 10 days to 2 months.

During the claim refund procedure, you can wait a very long time for money - up to 210 days, this is due to the fact that six months are allotted for consideration of the claim, plus a month for the bank to transfer funds.

Money for a subscription travel card will be returned within 10 days from the date of filing an application for its return.

○ Is it possible to return a ticket after the train has departed?

Yes. To do this, you need to contact the return office located at your place of departure. You can substantiate your requirements with the provisions of clause 87 of Rules No. 473:

“The passenger has the right to receive the cost of the ticket without the cost of a reserved seat, a service fee (if available) and other payments (except for the fee for reserving seats on long-distance trains):

• When returning an unused travel document (ticket) for a long-distance train to the ticket office of the passenger boarding station if the passenger is late for the train within 12 hours from the moment of its departure.
• When returning an unused travel document (ticket) to the ticket office of the passenger boarding station due to illness or accident within 5 days from the departure of the train for which the travel document (ticket) was purchased.”

Thus, after the departure of the railway transport, you can return the money, although not in full. The term “reserved seat” mentioned in the article refers to the fee for using the carriage and amounts to 30-60% of the ticket price. In case of non-use of a ticket due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, it is necessary to provide documentary evidence of this fact. For example, a doctor's certificate.

○ Return before train departure.

The simplest option is to return the ticket in a timely manner long before the trip. This way you can save more money on returns.

Let's consider in what period tickets should be returned and how much money can be returned.

✔ On Russian routes.

You can return the full cost of the ticket (except for the refund fee):

“When returning an unused travel document (ticket) to the ticket office no later than 8 hours before the train’s departure.
When returning to the carrier an unused travel document (ticket) purchased for travel as part of an organized group of passengers, no later than 7 days before the train’s departure” (clause 85 of Rules No. 473).

You can get a refund for purchasing a ticket (except for half the price of a reserved seat and a commission fee):

“When returning an unused travel document (ticket) to the ticket office less than 8 hours, but no later than 2 hours before the train’s departure.
When returning to the carrier an unused travel document (ticket) purchased for travel as part of an organized group of passengers, less than 7 days, but no later than 3 days before the train’s departure” (clause 86 of Rules No. 473).

You can get a refund for purchasing a ticket (except for the full price of a reserved seat and a refund fee):

“When returning an unused travel document (ticket) to the ticket office less than 2 hours before train departure.
When returning to the carrier an unused travel document (ticket) purchased for travel as part of an organized group of passengers, less than 3 days before the train’s departure” (clause 87 of Rules No. 473).

✔ Near Abroad.

You can also return tickets to the CIS countries, the Baltic states and Abkhazia before the train departs.

The full cost of the travel document can be returned if you contact the ticket office one day before the transport departs from the passenger station. If there are 6 to 24 hours left before departure, you can return the money paid minus half the cost of the reserved seat. If there are less than 6 hours left, you can only return the price for the ticket itself and for additional services (tea, bed).

✔ Far abroad.

You can only return an electronic ticket through the carrier’s official website. You can request a refund at least 6 hours before the vehicle leaves the passenger station.

The need to return a railway ticket for a passenger train arises for a huge number of people every day. There are many reasons for this, but whatever they may be, the Ministry of Transport has provided for the possibility of returning tickets to the ticket office both before the train departs and after its departure. There is no need to explain the reason for the return. It is enough to write an application, hand it to the cashier along with your passport and then withdraw the money previously paid or wait for it to be transferred to the card.

However, not all the money will be returned, but only part of it. The more time left before the train departs, the more money you can get back for your ticket. What percentage of the loss of money will be from the return of the ticket also depends on the type of train and its distance (across the country, near or far abroad).

How is the cost of a train ticket calculated?

A ticket for a passenger train is a kind of transportation contract between its purchaser and Russian Railways. Therefore, after purchasing a ticket, you should immediately carefully check all the information it contains.

A refund for a ticket is possible only if the discrepancy in the last name, first name or patronymic is no more than one letter. This refers to the discrepancy between the information in the passport and the ticket itself. Similarly, discrepancies in one digit of the passport are allowed.

If the discrepancy is more than one letter and one number, then a refund for a previously purchased ticket will not be possible.

When we purchase a ticket for a Russian Railways train, we pay money for the following services:

• use of common railway infrastructure;
• a seat in the carriage (the so-called reserved seat price, which averages from 30% to 80% of the ticket price);
• various tax and other monetary fees when purchasing a ticket through third-party companies;
• additional reservation or pre-sale fees;
• fee for organized transportation of people (groups with more than ten people).

Mandatory fees for returning a train ticket

If a ticket for a train trip in Russia is returned, then a fixed commission in the amount of 192 rubles 70 kopecks will be deducted from its cost. When returning tickets for a trip to foreign countries, the refund fee is 10 euros.

When returning an electronic ticket via the Internet, another fee is charged. But this only happens if the ticket is not returned through the official Russian Railways website. Typically this fee is as follows:

• if the ticket price is less than 1100 rubles, the fee does not apply;
• if the ticket price is from 1100 to 1700 rubles, the fee is 40 rubles;
• if the cost of the trip is from 1,700 rubles, the fee will be 90 rubles;
• In all cases, there is also a fixed fee for returning an electronic ticket - 30 rubles.

When returning a ticket purchased non-cash, you should also take into account the commission of the bank or electronic money system. It will also not be returned when exchanging the ticket for money.

General principles for returning a train ticket

Here are the basic rules for returning tickets for railway trains:

• Refunds are always made using the same documents used to purchase the ticket. In most cases this is a passport. Without it, it will not be possible to issue a refund;
• Usually, tickets can be returned no later than 12 hours after the train departs. Otherwise, you will have to write a claim;
• When returning, a commission is always charged, but the cost of individual services (for example, the cost of bed linen) that the passenger did not use is always refunded in full;
• If several tickets were purchased at once to transport a large group of passengers, then a refund is possible for either one ticket or all of them at once;
• If you need to return a ticket for a trip on the Sapsan or on a regular Luxury class train, then this must be done for 4 purchased seats at once. When returning roundtrip tickets, the cost of the return ticket is returned first, and then the cost of the return ticket. But only a return ticket can be refunded.

Refund of tickets intended for travel within Russia

How much money you lose when returning Russian Railways tickets depends not only on commissions and mandatory fees, but also on the time remaining before the train departs (or on the time that has passed since its departure). You will be able to get the most money if you return your tickets 8 or more hours before your trip. But this time only applies to trains that travel throughout Russia. For trains heading to other countries, different rules apply.

The percentages in the table are approximate; the actual refund amount depends on the cost of the ticket. If the ticket is inexpensive, then the refund for it may be significantly less than in the case of an expensive ticket.

Tickets for travel through the CIS countries, the Baltic states and Abkhazia

Returning tickets to the CIS countries, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Abkhazia is done according to slightly different time parameters than returning train tickets for traveling around Russia. In addition, the return of an electronic ticket to these countries is possible only if there is more than one hour left before the departure of the train.

Tickets for trips to foreign countries

Refunding Russian Railways tickets for trips to foreign countries is somewhat more difficult. This is only possible at international ticket offices. If there are no such ticket offices at the departure station, then you will not be able to get your money back.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the return of electronic tickets for trains whose route runs to countries outside the CIS. If there is less than 1 hour left before the train departs from the initial station of its route, and there are still more than 6 hours left from the station where the ticket was purchased and at which the landing will be made, then a ticket refund is possible. But this can only be done with a written complaint.

If there are less than 6 hours left before the train departs from the current station, then it will not be possible to return the money even on a claim.

Refund of train tickets in case of sudden illness

The peculiarity of returning tickets in case of illness is that this can be done quite a long time after the departure of the train. But this is only possible at the station where the ticket was purchased.

In addition, you will need to present a passport (or birth certificate for the child), a paper ticket or its number (in case of purchasing an electronic ticket), as well as a medical certificate from the hospital or sick leave. After presenting the documents, the cashier will issue an application form for a refund.

In this case, the refund will not be immediate. The application will be considered up to 30 days, and the process of returning the amount of money will take approximately another 7 to 30 days, depending on the method of purchasing the ticket.

If the passenger does not have a certificate from the hospital or sick leave, he can still try to return the money for the unused ticket. To do this, you will need to write a claim to the carrier. A refund decision will be made after careful consideration.

Refund of Russian Railways tickets after train departure

Russian Railways rules allow a regular refund for a ticket to travel around Russia only when 20 minutes to 3 hours have passed since the train departed. The money will be transferred to your bank card within 30 days.

If less than 20 minutes or more than 3 hours have passed since the train departed (but not more than 12 hours), then a refund is possible only by submitting a written claim to the carrier. If the train left more than 12 hours ago, then you can get your money back only if you have a medical certificate of illness that prevented you from using the purchased ticket.

Let us remind you that refunds for a passenger train ticket are made in the same way in which the ticket was purchased (cash, bank card, electronic money). Cash is issued at the time of contacting the cashier, after filling out an application.

The time for transferring money to the card usually takes from 7 to 30 days, depending on the bank. Refunds of electronic money also occur in different ways, ranging from approximately 10 to 60 days.

If a refund for a ticket occurs based on a claim, then you should expect money on the card only in the next 2 months (a month for consideration of the claim and a month for transferring money).

The terms, procedure and rules for the return (delivery) of Russian Railways tickets, for domestic and international routes, are regulated by the established standards of the railway company JSC Russian Railways and are regulated by legislation that protects consumer rights.

The rules for the return of such documents establish a sequence of conditions on the fulfillment of which the possibility of a refund of funds spent on purchased and unused tickets will depend.

Tickets sold both through the railway ticket office and those purchased through the website - electronic coupons - are subject to refund and compensation.

You can return your travel document at the return desk; they are available at any railway station. To do this, you must present your passport.

Please note that in any case, part of the amount spent will be withheld.

Full reimbursement (without deductions and commissions) of the cost of a travel document is possible only in one case - if the trip did not take place due to the fault of the carrier.

The money will be returned in the same way as the ticket was paid for. Cash is issued on the spot at the cash desk, and funds transferred through a bank card will be transferred to the same card.

If the ticket is returned abroad, the money for it is paid upon return to Russia. You will have to show the refund receipt you received. To return the maximum amount, you need to submit your “international” travel documents as early as possible.

If the trip had to be canceled due to emergency reasons - illness or accident, you must provide documentary evidence. In this case, 5 days are given for return.

Organized passenger groups have their own return regulations.

If a ticket is lost, Russian Railways does not refund the money, since the fault lies with the passenger.

Return of electronic tickets

The general rules also apply to electronic documents of Russian Railways.

We return online

Please note that a return is possible if the purchase was paid for by a bank card or payment systems. Go to the carrier’s website (Russian Railways) in your account – personal account.

1. "My orders" tab.
2. "Ticket status"
3. "Return Processing"

If you have multiple travel documents in your order, you have the option to cancel them all or selectively if necessary.

If electronic registration has taken place, no more than an hour will be available for ticket refunds before the train departs from the first station of its route.

If more than an hour has passed, it is not possible to carry out the return procedure remotely on the website - you will have to go to the cashier.

Through the cash register

To return an electronic document, you also need to appear in person at the ticket office with your passport. The cashier will ask you for the 14-number code found on your boarding pass.

Returns are possible in two cases:

• electronic registration has not taken place or is not available at all for this direction;
• electronic registration has taken place, but there is still more than an hour before the train departs (counted from the starting point).

If there is little time before departure (less than an hour), the normal return procedure is no longer possible. You will have to resort to the claim form. If the train has already moved, then the normal return procedure applies.

Ticket return fees

The carrier's tariff for the service consists of the price of transportation (train travel), type of car, and commission component. Expenses for various fees (commissions, service) are non-refundable. Each route has its own tariff.

Suburban destinations:

1. After the “start” of the composition – 0%.
2. Less than 2 hours before the train “start” – 50% with other deductions.
3. More than 2 hours – full cost with other deductions.

Foreign destinations:

1. Less than 6 hours before the “start” and no more than 1 hour after it (at the ticket window of the client’s station) - fare minus the reserved seat and all commissions;
2. From 24 to 6 hours – 100% and 50% reserved seat with other deductions;
3. Up to 24 hours and earlier – the entire cost with other deductions.

Interregional directions:

1. Less than 2 hours before the “start” and no more than 12 hours after it (at the ticket window of the passenger station) - the fare minus the reserved seat and all commissions.
2. From 8 to 2 hours – 100% and 50% reserved seat with other deductions.
3. No more than 8 hours – full cost with other deductions.

A reserved seat refers to the fare classification, and not the type of carriage familiar to the passenger. The share of a reserved seat in the total cost of a ticket varies from 30 to 80%.

Payment for services for the provision of bed linen and other travel “needs” is fully refundable, regardless of the route and the deadline for submitting travel documents.

International destinations have their own tariffs, which depend on the transport policy of another state. Each carrier has its own regulations.

In case of any complaints, you need to contact the box office where you purchased the ticket.

Commission fees

When issuing a refund, the passenger is charged a claim fee of 185.40 rubles (suburban destinations – 50 rubles).

A service fee is also deducted, which is announced by the carrier and its partners before making a purchase (these are the costs of payment, booking, telephone consultation, technical support, etc.).

Its size depends on the class of the car - from 274 to 785 rubles. Payment system fees are non-refundable.

The rate for returning tickets online is 90 rubles for each travel document.

Return deadlines

The rule for returns is that they are returned in the same way the purchase was made.

This allows you to stop the actions of scammers.

Regardless of the payment method, a single return period is established - 30 days from the date of return of the ticket.

Cash amounts are issued on the spot at the cash desk - immediately .

Practice shows that the amount is received on a bank card within 30 days, through payment systems - within 10 days (maximum 60 by law).

If you return your ticket and the carrier refuses to return the money, feel free to go to court.

Power of attorney for return

If there is a need to submit a child's document, in addition to your passport, you will need the child's birth certificate. It is also possible to return a ticket issued for any member of your family. You are required to present identification documents for yourself and your relative.

Each person's life situations are completely different. Just yesterday you were planning to go to your relatives in the hope of having a wonderful vacation, but today you are forced to take a train to the capital to resolve work issues. What to do in such a situation? Can a passenger cancel his trip and get the amount spent without any problems?

Such questions often arise at the most inopportune moment, so every Russian Railways passenger should, at a minimum, familiarize themselves with the basic rules for returning train tickets before organizing their trip.

In this article, we will look at the main nuances and stages of canceling a trip, and also demonstrate common mistakes and rules for returning train tickets for international and domestic trains.

Russian Railways

Russian Railways acts as the main operator of the railway network throughout our country. This abbreviation first appeared in 2003 according to a decree of the Russian Ministry of Railways. Today, Russian Railways is one of the three largest transport companies in the world. The company's main office is based in Moscow, but almost every city in Russia has its own local office.

Over the entire long period, the company had to change its corporate image once. This event occurred in May 2007, when management announced the entry into force of a new corporate logo in the form of the red inscription of Russian Railways.

Conditions for returning train tickets

In the case of the Russian Railways company, any passenger must remember one simple truth: a ticket purchased at the ticket office can only be returned in the same way. Users who have a personal account on the company’s official website can cancel a purchased boarding pass via the Internet or mobile application.

The procedure for returning a ticket is purely individual and depends on a number of factors, which will be described later in this article. Depending on the time of contacting the company’s employees regarding the registration of ticket refunds, the appropriate monetary compensation provided for by the rules of Russian Railways will be charged.

How to return a ticket?

Return of train tickets through the ticket office is made at one of the company's offices or directly at the station. The passenger only needs a passport and a ticket. When a ticket was purchased in the name of a child, his birth certificate must be provided; you can also return the ticket of another passenger without his participation, providing both passports at once. Therefore, the conditions for returning train tickets through the ticket office sometimes depend on the category of passengers and the specific issue.

It is worth noting that a refund of another passenger’s ticket can only be issued if two passengers traveling on the same route and on the same train cancel their trip at once. Other options are possible only if you have a power of attorney certified by a notary.

The conditions for returning train tickets through the Russian Railways ticket office are no different from other possible options. The main difference from online returns is personal appearance and the possibility of receiving funds directly in your hands. All fines and service fees in this case are subject to the basic rules of the company.

How to request a refund for train tickets purchased online?

Let's look at the option of canceling a trip using a mobile application for iPhone. Using your login and password, go to the page with your account in the “My Orders” section, then stay in the “Active” tab and open the currently valid e-ticket. In the mobile application, on the page with each ticket there is a corresponding “Action” item, which opens up expanded opportunities for the user, including an option for returning a purchased ticket.

You can also return your ticket using a computer through the company’s official website. In this case, go to your profile, then in the “My Orders” section, request the status of tickets and issue a refund by clicking on the corresponding item in the menu.

International direction

The conditions for returning train tickets for international travel include contacting one of the company’s employees no later than 24 hours in advance. But even in this case, the company provides for charging a fixed fee in the form of a commission.

You can also return tickets for one of your relatives if you have his and your passport. It is this kind of procedure that can guarantee the reimbursement of all payments, otherwise the company employee will be forced to refuse to provide his services.

If the time interval lies between 24 hours and no later than 6 hours before the train departure time indicated on the ticket, the conditions for the return of train tickets provide for a 50% refund of the reserved seat and the full fare. In other cases, the passenger can only count on a refund of the fare without compensation for the reserved seat.

In case of purchasing tickets in the Baltic or CIS countries, the money is returned to the place of purchase and in accordance with the rules in force in the territory of that country. It is also worth noting the fact that the circulation time is recorded from the moment the ticket is interrupted.

Return by proxy

We have already briefly mentioned that a ticket issued to a third party can be returned only by proxy. In such a situation, you must provide your own passport, power of attorney for the transaction and boarding pass to the ticket office. In addition, the power of attorney must be certified by a notary.

If an electronic ticket was issued to a third party, you must obtain a paper form. In turn, there is a need to provide a second power of attorney to carry out this operation. Only after providing all the documents listed above will the passenger be allowed to return the ticket at a specialized ticket office, called a return ticket.

Despite the complexity of the algorithm, commissions and fines are subject to the same rules as in any other cases. An important point is to contact the company’s office in a timely manner; in the worst case, the passenger will lose most of the money spent.

Fines

The moment we think about canceling a trip, we ask ourselves: “What is the fee for returning train tickets?” This is a completely appropriate question for a person who is encountering a similar situation for the first time. How to apply for a refund of train tickets and how much do you lose? These are almost the main questions that trouble poor passengers. Let's look at this issue thoroughly.

Russian railways have their own strict policies, which influence the final amount that will ultimately be sent back to you. This depends directly on the passenger himself and timely contacting one of the offices.

First of all, you should understand how the cost of a ticket is determined by Russian Railways. The total cost consists of the following components:

• Fare (ticket) price.
• Cost of a reserved seat (fee for using the carriage).
• Commission.
• Insurance.
• Services.
• Service fee (in the case of an agent).

The return times for train tickets are as follows:

1. An interval of more than 8 hours before the specified time - a refund of the entire cost of the ticket + reserved seat.
2. From 2-8 hours - full ticket price and 50% of the reserved seat.
3. Less than 2 hours and no more than 12 hours - only the tariff is refunded.
4. In case of an accident, the cost of the ticket can be returned within 5 days.

Refunds are non-refundable in all of the above cases:

1. Commission charged for pre-sale of tickets.
2. Service fee for a specific type of car.
3. Advertising fee.

We hope that in this paragraph we were able to clearly answer the question that worries many readers: “How much do you lose when returning train tickets?”

How long to expect a refund to my bank card?

The main difference when returning a ticket issued online is that the money will be returned exclusively to a bank card. The company does not make any cash payments. The funds will be returned to the same card from which the debit was made. The Russian Railways company guarantees the crediting of funds within 7-30 days from the date of registration of the return. It is worth noting that when handing over an electronic or regular ticket, the company charges a small commission in the form of an established mandatory fee.

What to do if you are late for the train?

Don't be upset if you missed your train. In such a situation, you need to follow very quickly and without unnecessary distraction. When we talked about possible commissions when returning a ticket, there was a clause that addressed this situation. Fortunately, the Russian Railways company allows passengers who miss their train to return part of the amount. If you are late, you can return your ticket only at the ticket office at the station and in person.

List of documents if you are late for a train

The list of basic documents required for a refund in case of missing a train is as follows: passport and original boarding pass or electronic ticket number.

A ticket refund can only be issued if the time interval is no more than 12 hours. Recommended - between 20 minutes and 3 hours.

A long registration procedure awaits those passengers who have overstayed the recommended time interval; in this case, the company will consider your question within one month. The receipt of funds on the card directly depends on the speed of consideration of your request.

Trains traveling on an international route have their own special nuances and rules. If you are late, you can return your ticket no later than 1 hour after departure. In addition, it is not possible to return train tickets purchased via the Internet in the CIS and Baltic states. These also include tickets for commuter trains.

Conclusion

The conditions for returning train tickets in Russia are the envy of many cities and countries around the world. The Russian Railways company is quite loyal to its passengers and provides them with ample opportunities, which perhaps some readers did not know about until this moment. It is also worth noting the fact that the cost of tickets to domestic destinations cannot be called high, and the company is ready to provide its passengers with various fares that satisfy the needs of completely different segments of society.

As you may have noticed, the conditions for returning train tickets through the Russian Railways ticket office are practically no different from the network mode, so passengers can actively use both methods in practice at their own discretion.