A new double-decker passenger train will begin regular service between Moscow and Yaroslavl on August 26, marking the first two-tier service on the line.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced the addition alongside Oleg Belozerov, the chief executive of state operator Russian Railways. The new passenger train will complete the journey between the capital and the historic city in three hours.
High demand has already filled most of the capacity for the inaugural runs. Belozerov reported that travelers had purchased 580 out of the 874 available tickets for the train, demonstrating strong interest on a corridor that already experiences heavy daily traffic.
Expanding daily passenger capacity
The double-decker service follows an expansion of regional rail links earlier this month. Russian Railways added a supplementary pair of Lastochka high-speed electric trains to the Yaroslavl line on August 1.
With the new double-decker train in service, the total number of daily passenger trains operating along the route will increase from six to eight. The additional departures will boost total passenger volume capacity on the line by one third.
Sobyanin emphasized that expanding train capacity and raising service standards would strengthen connections with Yaroslavl, one of Russia's most prominent historical cities. Located on the Volga River, Yaroslavl is a major regional hub and a key destination northeast of Moscow.
Upgrading Moscow's busiest rail corridor
The Yaroslavl direction represents one of the primary arteries of the Moscow Railway network. It leads all commuter rail routes in both Moscow and across Russia in terms of passenger volume.
Sobyanin described the Yaroslavl direction as one of the most critical railway lines in the metropolitan area. He stated that it remains the most congested, complex and heavily burdened route in the regional network.
The mayor explained that many older commuter trains operating along the line have become outdated. Authorities are carrying out an active replacement program to modernize the fleet.
Rail officials have already upgraded 40 percent of the suburban commuter trains on the Yaroslavl route. Future phases of the modernization effort will focus on replacing long-distance train sets.
Through comprehensive fleet upgrades and infrastructure improvements, city and transport authorities plan to triple train traffic intensity along the Yaroslavl direction by 2030.
Station renovations and infrastructure work
The transport expansion builds upon broader station improvements completed earlier this year. A major restoration of Moscow's Leningradsky Railway Station concluded at the end of May.
Following the comprehensive overhaul, Leningradsky Station now features five modern waiting halls, including dedicated spaces for passengers traveling with pets and specialized relaxation zones.
Workers completely replaced the station's underlying engineering infrastructure, installed digital navigation systems, and redesigned layout features to reduce transfer times for connecting passengers.
