Russian Railways has publicly shared via its telegraph channel that the depth of ticket sales will be temporarily limited to 45 days for a number of long-distance trains starting from May 17. This change is linked to ongoing reconstruction work at the Central Transport Centre, a major effort aimed at upgrading the railway infrastructure to improve reliability and service across the network.
In light of the large-scale reconstruction at the Central Transport Centre, the current timetable and the routes of several long-distance trains departing from May 17 will undergo adjustments. The altered schedules are planned to stay in effect for a period of 45 days, during which travelers should verify the latest information and consider alternative travel options if needed.
The modifications cover multiple regions, with affected services announced in Moscow, St. Petersburg, several cities in the Krasnodar Territory, as well as areas in the Volga region, the Urals, the North Caucasus, and other locations. Travelers across these areas may experience changes to departure times, platform assignments, or routing, so checking real-time updates before planning journeys is advisable.
Historically, it is understood that the state owns Russian Railways (RZD) and has pursued modernization plans, including ambitious procurement of new locomotives. In recent years, there were announcements to acquire more than 600 locomotives to refresh its rolling stock, a move aimed at enhancing performance, capacity, and efficiency across the nationwide network. The current reconstruction effort fits within a broader strategy to modernize infrastructure and improve long-distance service for passengers and freight alike.