Russia Rolls Out Auto-Purchase Service for Train Tickets

A new automatic ticketing system eliminates the need for passengers to constantly monitor seat availability on Russian trains.

Russia has launched a new digital service that automatically purchases railway tickets for passengers on the waitlist, according to spbit.ru. With this innovation, travelers no longer need to manually check for available seats—the system will book and pay for the ticket the moment it becomes available.

Here’s how it works: a user joins the waitlist on the Russian Railways website and links a bank card from any financial institution. They then set a spending limit for the trip. Once a seat opens up, the system instantly reserves and pays for the ticket—even in the middle of the night.

Previously, passengers had to respond to availability alerts and complete the transaction manually within a two-hour window. Now, the entire process is fully automated.

The new service also supports group bookings of up to four people, such as families, and allows users to specify preferences like upper or lower berths and carriage type. Tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the first half of 2025 alone, passengers submitted 1.8 million waitlist requests. The system not only simplifies travel logistics but also helps increase occupancy rates across the rail network.

This is a prime example of how digital tools are transforming everyday services in Russia. Russian Railways also reports more efficient distribution of passenger traffic as a result.