The new Aurora train, presented at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), will be launched between St. Petersburg and Moscow on December 19, 2024. The train will make two trips per day, The Russian Railways said.
The Aurora train, named so after the cruiser of the same name, ran between Moscow and St. Petersburg from 1963 to 2010. The Federal Passenger Company (FPC, a subsidiary of Russian Railways) announced plans to bring the train back to the route in an upgraded double-decker version with seats.
The train will be able to carry more than 1,000 passengers at a time.
The train will consist of 15 modern double-decker carriages with standard and improved seating, a staff carriage with seats for passengers with disabilities, a deluxe sleeper, and a bistro carriage. All carriages will be equipped with climate control systems, bio-toilets, and additional space for luggage and belongings. Interiors will be made using eco-leather in calm blue, gray, and beige tones.
Passenger seats will feature individual sockets, USB and Type-C ports for charging mobile devices, as well as folding tables and footrests.
In carriages with improved seating, passengers will additionally be able to rotate their seats 180 degrees and adjust the angle of the backrest. The train will also have two-seater compartments with a TV.
The travel time on the route will amount to 5.5 hours.