Tour of the Moskovsky Rail Station

Tour the Moskovsky Station

Follow the path from the entrance of St. Petersburg's Moskovsky Train Station to the security check procedure to the platform from which the high-speed Sapsan trains depart to Moscow.

What to find on the station

Moskovsky Station Scheme

The Moskovsky Rail Station is one of the oldest train stations in St. Petersburg that services numerous long-distance train routes. The station has a total of 7 platforms and 14 tracks.

On the station you can find a 24/7 ticket office as well as a luggage room where you can store your belongings for a small fee. Among the station's other facilities are waiting areas, a lounge room, information and help desk, pharmacy, medical room, several shops, cafes as well as post services, phone operators points, taxi ordering and hotel booking services.

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How to board Sapsan

Before boarding a high-speed Sapsan train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, make sure to have your printed out train ticket as well as ​all your travel documents, including your passport and ID,  because they will be required for boarding the train.

​Train boarding begins 45 minutes prior to departure time. It is highly advisable to arrive to the station no later than 20 minutes before departure.

Upon arrival to the main entrance of the Moskovsky Station and passing the security check, cross the main hall and head for the timetable screens. Keep in mind that all information is in Russian. 

Required documents for boarding a Sapsan train:

• ​Passport
• Printed out train ticket

For departures info, look at the right screen saying "Отправление". The first column of the table "№Поезда" contains train number information, the third column "Станция назначения" is the arrival destination (which should read "Москва" if you're going to Moscow), the 4th column "Отправление" shows departure time and the next one "Платформа" indicates the platform number.

Then go through the doors below the information screen. You'll need to pass a second security check before boarding a high-speed Sapsan train. There should be a sign saying "Москва" and your train's departure time right in front of the security check doors.

 After passing the security check procedure you arrive at the platform from which your Sapsan train departs. Find your coach number indicated on screens on the train, provide your rail ticket and documents to the train staff, find your and seat and enjoy your ride.  

How to get there?

By metro or public transport

St. Petersburg Metro Scheme

If you are planning to go to the Moskovsky Rail Station in St. Petersburg by metro, you can either take the 1st (red) Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya Line and exit on the Ploshchad Vosstaniya Station or take the 3rd (green) Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya Line and exit on the Mayakovskaya Station. Both the Mayakovskaya and the Ploshchad Vosstaniya Stations are connected so you can transfer from one line to the other without the need to leave the metro.

The metro stations are located very close the Moskovsky Vokzal and it takes less than 5 minutes on foot to reach the station's entrance. Keep in mind that the St. Petersburg metro doesn't work 24/7 and the working hours differ depending on the line and station with the earliest opening time being 5:30 a.m. and the latest closing time - 12:45 a.m. ​For your convenience, on the left you can click and enlarge the St. Petersburg metro scheme from the official website.

​Also it is handy to know that you can take the bus #9, 24 and 191 to the Moskovsky Vokzal as well.

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Public transport

Metro:

• Ploshchad Vosstaniya Station (red line)
• ​Mayakovskaya Station (green line)

Bus:

• # 9
• # 24
• # 191

By taxi

For those who wish not to use public transport and prefer a taxi ride instead, we have a couple of handy tips to know about before you go.

First and fore-mostly, to avoid an unpleasant experience we highly insist you to not use the services of uncertified cab drivers without a proper official taxi license. Many of such drivers can be very convincing when offering you their services but we have to warn you that this may be dangerous, moreover, may cost you a large sum of money which can actually change in comparison to what you were told when you got in the car.

If you're staying at a hotel, it is best to ask the reception staff to pre-order a taxi for you. This way you are guaranteed to be met and taken to your destination in a timely manner.

If you'd like to call a taxi by yourself, keep in mind that not all operators speak English, so in such cases it is smarter to use an app.

​For a safe cab trip in St. Petersburg, we advise using the services of the local Taxovichkof company which you can reach by phone or via their free app. Uber is also a suggested option.

The average price per 1 kilometer is about 70 Russian Rubles, yet again this may change based on the time of the day.

Since St. Petersburg is a large metropolitan city with a high possibility of heavy traffic, it is wise to order the taxi ahead of time and to have enough extra time saved for the commute and probable unforeseen traffic complications.

From the airport

Those who plan to come to the Moskovsky Rail Station straight from Pulkovo Airport or vise versa may consider taking a taxi or using public transportation. You can read the recommendations for using taxi services in St. Petersburg above.

The connection usually takes about 1 hour yet be prepared that there might be cases of heavy traffic.

If you choose to take public transportation bare in mind that there are no straight connections and you'll need to change transport.

​As an option, take a bus (for instance bus number 13) to the nearest Moskovskaya metro station which is part of the 2nd (blue) Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya Line, then on the Tekhnologichesky Institut Station transfer to the 1st (red) Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya Line and exit on the Ploshchad Vosstaniya Station.

Public transport

Bus:

• # 13​ to the metro

Metro:

• Moskovskaya​ Station (blue line) to the station Tekhnologichesky Institut and transfer to the red line