Tour of the Leningradsky Rail Station

Leningradsky Station Tour

Get an insight of the Lenigradsky Rail Station in Moscow where Sapsan trains depart from and arrive to. Learn about the station from the platform to what is located inside.

What to find on the station

Leningradsky Station Scheme

The Leningradsky Rail Station building in Moscow is an exact copy of the Moskovsky Station in St. Petersburg. It has 8 platforms and a total of 12 tracks.

The station has a 24/7 ticket office and is equipped with a luggage room where it is possible to keep your things for additional charge. The Leningradsky Station also has a waiting lounge and waiting hall, an information and help desk, as well as a pharmacy, and medical room. There are also several bathrooms, shops, where you can buy souvenirs or snacks, cafes to grab a bite before your trip, as well as other services like booking taxis, mobile operator points, postal services, and an internet cafe.

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How to board Sapsan

In order to board a high-speed Sapsan train from Moscow to St. Petersburg make sure to have all necessary travel documents ready prior to the trip. To board the Sapsan train passengers are required to have a printed out train ticket and original documents such as a passport and ID.

​Boarding opens 45 minutes before departure time so it is best to come to the station at least 20 minutes prior to departure.

When you're at the Leningradsky Station's main entrance, you'll need to pass security check similar to that in an airport. Then wall across the main hall to the timetable screens. Unfortunately all information on the schedule screens is displayed only in Russian. 

Required documents for boarding a Sapsan train:

• ​Passport
• Printed out train ticket

​To help you read the screen information correctly, firstly find the one labeled "Отправление" meaning Departure. ​The first column "№Поезда" shows train number info, the third column "Станция назначения" is the arrival destination (which should read "Санкт-Петербург" if you're going to St. Petersburg), the 4th column "Отправление" displays departure time and the next one "Платформа" indicates the platform number where your train is standing.

After reading all necessary platform information pass through the doors right below the information screen. Before you is the second security check, which is needed to pass before boarding a high-speed Sapsan train. There should be a sign saying "Санкт-Петербург" and your train's departure time right in front of the security check doors.

 When you pass the security check procedure you arrive at the platform from which your Sapsan train departs, so all that's left is to locate your coach, show your ticket and documents to the train staff, find your and seat and enjoy your quick 4-hour ride to St. Petersburg.  

How to get there?

By metro or public transport

Moscow Metro Scheme

If you choose to go to the Leningradsky Rail Station, also called Moscow-Passazhirskaya, in Moscow by metro, you can take the 1st (red) Sokolnicheskaya Line or the 5th (brown) Koltzevaya Line and exit on the connecting Komsomolskaya Station which allows to transfer from one line to the other leaving out the necessity to exit the metro. The location of the metro station is very convenient - right by the Leningradsky Train Station several minutes away on foot.

Please note that the Moscow metro isn't open round-the-clock and depending on the metro station and the line, the opening and closing hours may differ. Usually the Moscow metro's working hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

​On the left you can find the metro scheme of the tangled Moscow underground from the official website.

​As for other public transportation options, you can take the bus #40 and 122, the # 7, 13, 37 and 50 tram, or the trolleybus # 14 or 41 which all make stops near the station's main entrance.

​Bear in mind that although the Leningradsky is the oldest train station in Moscow, it isn't the only rail station located on this same Komsomolskaya Square. Yaroslavsky and Kazansky Stations are also situated here. Therefore make sure to save enough time for your commute and finding your station.

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Public transport

Metro:

• Komsomolskaya Station (red or brown line)

Bus:

• # 40​
• # 122

Tram:

• # 7
• # 13
• # 37
• # 50

Trolleybus: 

• # 14
• # 41

By taxi

If you prefer taking a cab to the Leningradsky Train Station we must warn you that using the services of uncertified taxi drivers, no matter how convincing they may appear to be, is a very bad idea that might cost you twice the price you'd pay a regular taxi and it actually may be dangerous.

Those staying at a hotel can simply request the reception staff to pre-order a car, many operators don't speak English so this can save you they trouble.

To make the process of ordering a taxi in Moscow easier, we recommend using an app such as Uber or Yandex Taxi. 

Moreover Taxity ("Таксити" in Russian) services are a safe and reliable option that we suggest as well, you can order a taxi in English on their official website.

On average the price for riding one kilometer in Moscow is about 150 Russian Rubles, but the price may vary depending on the time of the day.

Also it is worthy of mentioning that Moscow is a very large city and traffic jams are common. For this reason it makes sense to order the car ahead of time and to save enough time for possible traffic jams.

From the airport

There are 4 airports in Moscow therefore if you're planning to travel to the Leningradsky Rail Station straight from or to the airport, we have a couple of recommendations to make your commute safe and fast (about 1 hour). 

The best option is to use an Aeroexpress Airport Train and the metro. The Aeroexpress Train ticket price starts from approximately 9$. The trains depart every 20-30 minutes daily from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and arrive to central train stations without making any additional stops. On the right you can find the link to the official Aeroexpress website where you can purchase tickets and see the timetable.

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Domodedovo International Airport
On the route from the Domodedovo Airport to the city board the Aeroexpress train ("Аэроэкспресс" in Russian) that will take you to the platform of Paveletsky Train Station in about 40 minutes.  Upon arrival to the train station, follow the signs towards the Paveletskaya Metro Station which you can easily find without the need to exit the building. Board the metro's 5th (brown) line and exit on the third station called Komsomolskaya.

Sheremetyevo International Airport
​Those who need to travel from/to Leningradsky Station and the Sheremetyevo Airport should also consider using the Aeroexpress train + metro combo. ​After boarding the Aeroexpress train in the airport (close to terminals E, D and F) you arrive to the platform of Belorussky Train Station in about 35-40 minutes. Follow the signs to the metro entrance of the Belorusskaya Metro Station. Board the metro's 5th (brown) line and exit on the third station called Komsomolskaya. 

Vnukovo International Airport
Same advice applies for those who plan to travel from Vnukovo Airport to Leningradsky Station. The Aeroexpress train will take you to Kievsky Rail Station in 35-40 minutes where you'll need to follow the signs to the Kievskaya Metro Station. Take the 5th (brown) line to Komsomolskaya metro Station (5th stop).

From Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo or Vnukovo Airports

Train:

• Aeroexpress Train to the Paveletsky, Belorussky or Kievsky Train Stations

Metro:​

• Upon arrival to the train station, enter the metro and take the 5th (brown) line train to the Komsomolskaya Metro Station