Russian Railways Introduces Biometric Access to Business Lounges
Rail passengers will soon be able to enter business lounges at railway stations without QR codes or paper credentials, using facial recognition instead. The technology is intended to streamline passenger services while modernising transport infrastructure.
Russian Railways (RZD) has introduced biometric access to business lounges, allowing passengers to select biometric entry at a terminal and authenticate themselves by looking into a camera.
To use the service, passengers must first register their biometric data through the Gosuslugi Biometriya (State Services Biometrics) app or through a participating bank, and then activate the feature in their Mir Pass account. The system is currently operating at Moscow’s Kazansky station and Nizhny Novgorod station. In June 2026, deployment is scheduled to expand to Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Ivanovo, Moscow’s Paveletsky station and Moskovsky station in Saint Petersburg.
The significance of the project extends beyond premium passenger services and represents a practical step toward broader use of biometrics across transport infrastructure. For Russia’s IT sector, the initiative demonstrates the integration of state digital services, transport systems and loyalty programmes within infrastructure handling high passenger volumes. For passengers, the system offers faster and more convenient lounge access without the need to present documents or use a smartphone. Meanwhile, biometric registration remains voluntary and is carried out only with passenger consent.
More broadly, the rollout of such services is helping to raise the digital maturity of transport infrastructure while creating demand for domestically developed biometric systems, terminal equipment, integration platforms linked to government services and secure personal data processing technologies. For both government and industry, the programme also provides an opportunity to test contactless passenger-service models in real operating conditions.
From Business Lounges to Wider Deployment
The main long-term prospect lies in extending biometric technology from premium services to wider transport applications, including train boarding, airport access, fare payment and identity verification without paper documents. Business lounges provide a practical environment for testing the technology because the access scenario is comparatively simple, the number of users is limited and operators can evaluate both recognition accuracy and integration with Mir Pass and the Unified Biometric System, or EBS.
The export potential remains limited because biometric systems are closely tied to national personal data regulations and security requirements. Nevertheless, Russia could export parts of the technology, including terminal hardware, identification software and operational experience gained from deploying biometrics in transport systems.
If Russian-developed systems demonstrate reliability, security and passenger convenience in live transport environments, the experience could attract interest from countries developing digital identity platforms and contactless passenger-service infrastructure.
Face Recognition Replaces Traditional Ticket Checks
The rollout of biometrics in Russian transport has progressed in stages. In 2021, the Moscow Metro introduced Face Pay, allowing passengers to pay fares using facial recognition. Similar technology was later deployed in Yekaterinburg. In 2023, authorities discussed the use of biometrics for train boarding and airport access, including on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg corridor.
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has repeatedly emphasized that biometric registration remains voluntary and that passengers who choose not to register should not face discrimination. That principle is considered essential for wider adoption, with biometrics intended to complement rather than replace conventional access methods.
The Future of Biometrics in Transport
The launch of biometric access for RZD business lounges is not simply a new passenger service, but part of a broader shift toward digital passenger identification. The technology is being tested first in controlled-access areas before moving into more complex operational scenarios, including train boarding, accelerated passenger processing and additional transport services.
The success of the programme will depend on three factors: passenger convenience, recognition reliability and public trust in biometric data protection. During 2026 – 2027, biometric systems in transport are expected to expand through pilot projects and selected service areas. The most likely model is voluntary biometric enrolment as an additional access channel while retaining conventional methods of entry and verification.
