Kyrgyzstan, Russia Resume Passenger Train Service After 4-Year Hiatus

Passenger train service between the capitals of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, which was suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, resumed on Wednesday.

"At 8:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. Moscow time) on December 18, the first passenger train in four and a half years will depart from Bishkek to Moscow," a representative of the state enterprise Kyrgyz Temir Jolu (Kyrgyz Railways) stated, The Caspian Post reports, citing Russian media.

According to him, the train consists of ten second-class sleeper and compartment cars. "All tickets have been sold, which was expected since this is the first trip in several years," the spokesperson noted.

Trains operated by the state company Kyrgyz Temir Jolu will depart from Bishkek on Wednesday and Saturday, and arrive in Moscow on Saturday and Tuesday. Trains will depart on Sunday and Wednesday in the opposite direction, reaching Kyrgyzstan’s capital on Wednesday and Saturday. The final destination for the passenger train in Moscow will be Paveletsky Terminal. Previously, trains from Kyrgyzstan arrived at Kazansky Station. Ticket prices start at 11,000 Kyrgyz soms (approximately $126.44).

The passenger rail service between the two capitals was suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.