How is a carriage with air conditioning reserved seat designated? What is a compartment on a train - features
The SV-class carriage is a premium offer (the abbreviation stands for “Sleeping Car”). It differs from reserved seat and compartment seats in that one compartment isolated by doors is shared by only two people. Also, speaking about CB train tickets, what they are, one cannot fail to mention additional services.
Some routes also offer meals and a robe and slippers to make you feel almost at home. On some branded trains, passengers have access to the latest press and are provided with free access to the Wi-Fi network, which can simply be called an invaluable “plus” - communication on the road, as we know, constantly disappears, and having access to the Internet makes it possible to work, solve business problems, watch movies and read while traveling and, of course, communicate in the usual ways.
How much does a SV train ticket cost?
As follows from what we talked about above, the price of the trip will differ significantly from others. The cost of train tickets is significantly higher than in second-class and compartment carriages. In some cases it varies by 20%. Also, the fare naturally varies depending on the distance. For example, tickets for the Moscow-Vladivostok train to SV will cost about 27,000 rubles.
But a special type of CB tickets is the “luxury” class. The service here is even more exclusive: some carriages (depending on the date of assembly) are equipped with a shower, and the price includes drinks, incl. and alcoholic drinks, which can be delivered from the dining car throughout the route. Not every ordinary tourist can afford to buy a “luxury”: such a trip can cost more than a plane flight. Therefore, the most pressing question before purchasing a carriage in SV or luxury: is the cost of the ticket justified or is it better to fly?
How can I purchase train tickets for the SV carriage?
There are two options: you can go to the train station and purchase a paper boarding pass there, or you can book your trip online. You can buy train tickets for the SV-car on the website. Thanks to the user-friendly interface, this is easy to do in just a few clicks. At the same time, the price of a train ticket for the SV carriage includes a small site commission for service.
To complete the process, you will not need anything other than your passport data. At the same time, after the ticket is booked, there is an opportunity not to pay for it for some time: the client is given time to think. The service also gives you the opportunity to get your money back if your plans change.
What is an SV car and what advantages does it have? This question interests many Russian Railways passengers, because each of us wants to travel in the most comfortable conditions.
What is a SV on a Russian Railways train? According to the generally accepted formulation, it is a sleeping car consisting of nine one-, two- or three-seater compartments and designed to carry 18 passengers.
Its main characteristic feature is the increased level of comfort.
The first SV cars appeared back in 1867. Their inventor is the famous American engineer J. Pullman. It was he who first introduced to the public passenger seats that could turn into comfortable sun loungers.
Before this, all seats on trains were exclusively seated and, moreover, quite hard.
What is included in the SV car? In addition to more comfortable sleeping places, SV has several important advantages:
It is worth noting the interior decoration of such cars - it is distinguished by its solidity and pleasant appearance.
In branded Russian Railways trains, the equipment of sleeping cars and the range of services provided may differ slightly.
Naturally, increased amenities could not but affect the cost of the trip.. In 2019, it can be compared with the price of an air ticket in economy class (for equivalent routes).
Classification of sleeping cars
All aircraft providing domestic passenger transportation are divided into several classes of service. The latter determine not only the list of services provided, but also the general layout of the car.
To understand how this or that abbreviation stands for, use this hint:
1BBusiness Class |
Seats in the CB business class are provided by branded trains of the Russian passenger railway carrier ZAO TKS. Services include:
Purchasing a ticket for a business class carriage involves purchasing the entire compartment (the ticket price is determined based on this calculation). |
1EVIP class sleeping car |
Seats in SV class 1E are available on high-speed trains "Strizh" on the routes "Moscow - Berlin" and "Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod". The range of services includes:
When purchasing a ticket for CB class 1E, the passenger must purchase all compartments. |
1EAnalogue class 1E or 1B with a reduced price |
A ticket for such a carriage cannot be purchased in advance. This “hot offer” from Russian Railways is put on sale only in one case – when there are many free compartments left in the sleeping car on some route. Purchasing a ticket with SV class 1E means purchasing only one passenger seat. |
1UClass 1B comfort level, but with a minimum set of additional services |
The conditions of service in 1U carriages correspond to first class, but all additional services (except bed linen) are purchased separately by the passenger. |
1LSleeping car without additional services |
The simplest option among all sleeping cars. Provides a basic set of services (except for a dry closet). Everything else can be paid on the spot and at will. |
RIC |
An analogue of SV, found only on international trains. Differs in the presence of an upper and lower shelf. The comfort level corresponds to class 1B. |
Another additional service that applies to all SV classes is the ability to transport containers with small pets.
SV vs compartment car
What is the difference between an SV carriage and a coupe? The main factor that distinguishes a 2nd class closed compartment carriage from a sleeping carriage is not only the level of comfort, but also the number of passengers.
If you can still find a common language with one travel companion, then a noisy company of 3 people can turn the trip into an ordeal. In addition, in compartment cars there is no button to call the conductor.
How is the SV car different from the Lux car? The latter, albeit a little, still surpassed the SV classes in terms of comfort.
What is offered in the Lux:
Lux is a separate carriage with the highest comfort conditions and designed to transport a certain group of passengers (politicians, stars and other VIPs).
Outsiders are prohibited from entering such carriages, so the appearance of random fellow travelers is completely excluded.
Now you know what a SV carriage means and you will be able to choose the most comfortable conditions for yourself. In addition, recently the management of Russian Railways has been actively practicing a system of discounts designed to increase the number of ticket sales.
For example, now you can get a 40% discount when purchasing tickets 2 months before departure.
The standard compartment car consists of nine compartments, separated from the general corridor by a door.
Each has 4 sleeping places, two of which are located on the upper shelves.
The room is quite small, its size is 1.95 * 1.75 m.
It contains 36 seats (read about the arrangement of seats in a compartment car and how many there can be there).
There are two bathrooms, which are located at opposite ends of the corridor.
- 2B and 2E are characterized by an increased level of convenience. There is definitely air conditioning and a dry closet. Bed linen, hot meals, periodical printing and hygiene kits are provided as a special service.
In 2F, double-decker trains do not provide passengers with kits or presses.
- 2U is a basic category supplemented by services. They provide passengers with air conditioning and bed linen. Not everyone is equipped with 2U dry closets. An additional option includes mandatory meals. It can be either hot or in the form of dry soldering.
- 2K provides passengers with air conditioning, a dry closet, and bed linen for the convenience of their travel. No additional service is provided.
- 2L establishes a minimum set of services. There may be no air conditioning system or dry closets. Bed linen is available as a service option.
- 2D is considered a category intended for the tourist class of travel. Of the services included in the ticket, only linen is included. Interior decoration is minimal.
You can learn about the differences between compartments in different types of trains, and also see unique photos.
Women's and men's coupes
On long-distance trains, there is a special car in which passengers in the compartment are selected based on gender.
This option does not affect the fare.
If you purchase a ticket online, you should pay attention to the category of the MZ car. This is where you can buy a ticket with men's and women's boxing on the train (you can choose a room with a specific gender composition). To do this, you need to either join a compartment that has already decided on the floor, or, if there is free space, book a seat in it.
Moreover, the type M or F will be assigned according to the passenger who first purchased a seat in it. On the Russian Railways website, the identified coupe is highlighted in blue (M), red (W) or orange (C-mixed). In a situation where free shelves remain only in passenger compartments for the opposite sex, you should not purchase a ticket for it. The conductor has the right not to allow such a passenger to enter.
When purchasing a travel document at the ticket office, you must tell the cashier, for example, the following: “I need a women’s compartment on the train.”
There are discounts on travel for children. If the child is under five years old, one adult can carry one child for free. For children from 5 to 10 years old you will have to pay about 35% of the cost of an adult ticket, and the child will have a separate sleeping berth. When traveling with small children, it is better to think about buying out all the seats.
Today there are special compartments for disabled people on long-distance trains. Usually there is only one for the entire composition. They are equipped with wider doors.
One of the toilets is spacious enough to easily accommodate a wheelchair and has grab rails.
When purchasing a travel document in a compartment for disabled people, you must have a document indicating that the passenger requires special technical means of rehabilitation.
When purchasing a place, it is worth checking about the possibility of transporting animals.
Moreover, in some cases it is necessary to buy out the entire department, in others there is no such need. For 2E and 2B, there is no additional charge for transporting a pet.
In the rest, you need to pay extra for transporting small animals. For a large pet, you need to buy out the entire compartment. Category 2D is not intended for transportation of animals
Since January 10, 2017, there have been changes when transporting pets on trains. Now a veterinarian's certificate is not required.
Characteristics of services
When purchasing a rail travel document, the passenger simultaneously receives a number of options that are usually included in the price. Almost all Russian Railways compartment cars are equipped with air conditioning, and the cost of the trip always includes bed linen.
Many carriages with an increased level of comfort have dry toilets, which allow you to keep the toilet rooms open while moving in the sanitary zone and at stations.
For 2B and 2E, services include the provision of sanitary and hygienic products, printed materials, as well as drinks.
When registering on the website on the Internet, you can choose the type of food. It will depend on the view on the train. For example, standard breakfast, children's breakfast, porridge breakfast, etc. Meals are not included in the “economy” or “tourist” transportation categories.
If you do not want the cost of the trip to include additional options, such as hot meals, drinks, then you need to choose tickets marked 2L, 2K or 2D.
In all other categories, services are provided that are somewhat different from each other. So for business class (2B) the sanitary and hygiene kit includes soap, napkins, toothbrush and toothpaste, for economy class (2E) - only soap and napkins. If this is not a fundamental issue for travel, then you shouldn’t overpay.
The options offered by Russian Railways are distinguished by the variety and number of services they provide, which are included in the cost of the trip.
Before traveling, you should familiarize yourself with what classes are available in the destinations you are interested in, as well as what additional services they provide, so that there are no unpleasant surprises along the way.
On many forums, after purchasing tickets, passengers often ask questions about what is written in the “class of service” column. Most often there are the following inscriptions: 1C, 2E, 1YU, 2T and others.
What does service class 2T mean?
In order to improve the services provided and improve the quality of service on long-distance trains, the Russian Federation uses a classification system for luxury cars. This classification was put into effect by the order of JSC Russian Railways dated March 20, 2008 No. 537r (as amended on February 17, 2010) “On the classification of luxury passenger cars and requirements for the provision of paid service to passengers in luxury cars.”
According to this classification, a 2T class car is a car with four separate seats. In other words, it is called basic. Meals and linen are included in the list of services provided in 2T class carriages.
Meals in carriages of service category 2T
Passengers in 2T class service carriages are provided with two meals a day: hot and cold. The hot food assortment includes a minimum of 3 dishes. You can choose hot dishes from the menu offered by the restaurant car. You can make an order for food from the conductor, a coupon for which passengers receive upon boarding the carriage. It should be noted that meals can be ordered delivered to your compartment, which is a definite advantage.
Along the entire route, passengers are offered 0.5 liters of mineral water, hot tea (black or green Lipton Viking), instant black coffee, sugar, cream, lemon and sauce. All this is issued at the request of the traveler and is included in the price of the travel ticket.
The assortment of cold food includes yogurt or other fermented milk product, cheese, sausage, and chocolate. Changes are constantly being made to this list.
Meals are provided in compact lunch boxes, and disposable cutlery and napkins are also included.
Service in a carriage of branded service class 2T
Each passenger is also offered a set of periodicals, which are hermetically sealed. Each compartment has an LCD monitor on which feature films or documentaries are broadcast. Headphones are provided at the passenger's request; the kit includes disposable ear pads.
The premium linen set also includes an expanded set of sanitary items: disposable and wet wipes, a disposable razor, comb, toothpaste and brush, cotton pads and swabs, disposable slippers, a wet wipe and a shoe horn.
To charge mobile devices, each compartment has a 220 V outlet, which can be used at any time of the day. 
All 2T class carriages have an air conditioning system.
When setting the cost of travel in 2T class carriages, “dynamic pricing” is used, according to which the price of tickets will increase as demand grows and the number of available seats decreases. Price changes are possible if lower tariff offers appear on the market. Tickets for 2T service class can be sold until the train departs.
Traveling in a 2T class carriage is undoubtedly very comfortable. You feel almost at home, and this is very important. It is especially important to feel comfortable when traveling long distances. This is exactly what class 2T cars are designed for.
As you know, a train delivers passengers slower than a plane, but at the same time is much cheaper.
Therefore, for most people traveling long distances, this option is the most suitable - passengers receive a convenient, safe and affordable way to travel.
Although traveling in a reserved seat will most likely bring less pleasant emotions than in a compartment. In any case, the level of comfort depends on the class of service (indicated on the ticket).
In the article we will look at the 2U service class on a Russian Railways train, what it is and what advantages this category has.
In addition, the room has more free space. The Russian Railways company offers a choice of different classes of compartment service.
Each class is characterized by certain conditions, which, in turn, affect the cost. Class 2U is considered one of the most popular: passengers get seats in a comfortable carriage at an affordable price.
Russian Railways uses three main types of trains: business, luxury, economy. Let's look at their advantages and disadvantages:
This class is considered quite high. Let's consider what services are used in it.
The passenger receives a comfortable compartment carriage at an affordable price. The benefits are especially noticeable when traveling long distances.
Ticket price includes bedding and other amenities. You also don’t have to worry about the presence and functionality of air conditioning - in class 2U carriages this service is guaranteed, as well as cleanliness.
To understand the advantage of class 2U, let’s compare all modern categories of cars:
As an example, we can compare cars 2U and 2E, what is the difference. In 2U cars, bedding is provided, there may be a dry closet, and air conditioning systems work.
Service class 2E includes: meals, sanitary and hygiene kit, air conditioning, a set of printed materials, etc.
Despite the greater number of services, 2E (economy class) is cheaper, because... in which most carriages use only seats.
When choosing the level of comfort, it is recommended to take into account the year of manufacture of the car. In older models, the windows may not be very clean in combination with a missing air conditioner - typical for trailer cars removed from long-term storage.
Therefore, if the train looks old, with wooden window frames, then the trip is unlikely to be pleasant. In this regard, class 2U provides a certain guarantee of comfortable travel.
Moreover, the Russian Railways car fleet is constantly being updated (most actively in the Central Federal District).
Long-distance trains in Russia are of two types - branded and non-branded. The first ticket costs significantly more, which is explained by a higher level of comfort. In other types of trains, it is impossible to say exactly what type, class and which cars will be used.
Class 2U branded trains guarantee all the necessary amenities. Service class 2U on a non-branded train assumes the availability of bedding, without taking into account their quality.
In this case, we cannot talk about increased comfort. Air conditioning is present only in some carriages, but even they may not work.
It must be borne in mind that the 2U class of the carriage means that, as a rule, there are no dry closets in the cabin, and food, newspapers and hygiene kits are not provided (regardless of the type of train).
When choosing a carriage, you should not follow the opinion of the cashiers at the station. After all, their logic does not always coincide with the logic of the passenger - seats are often sold for purely financial reasons.
The best options are left for later in order to raise the price shortly before departure. The type and class must be stated immediately when purchasing a ticket.
If a ticket is purchased on official websites, it is important to carefully study the cost and description of the carriages - some classes of service only suggest, but do not guarantee the availability of certain amenities.
Now you know what compartment 2U is on a train, as well as what types of domestically produced cars there are. Your next trips will definitely become more comfortable.