MOSCOW, October 28 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian railways passed to the winter train schedule. The winter train schedule took effect in all Russian regions at midnight Moscow time on Sunday.
“The adjustment of the train schedule before the winter is a standard procedure, which is held on the last Sunday of October,” a source in Russian Railways (RZD) told Itar-Tass. First of all, the winter train schedule cancels the so-called ‘seasonal’ trains, primarily in the southern direction, which the passengers need only during the summer vacations. Meanwhile, special commuter trains for major countryside communities are cancelled. The schedule of several trains running in other countries is also changed, because most European and CIS countries pass to the winter time that turns the clocks one hour back.
Meanwhile, broad public debates over the need to come back to the seasonal time have complicated considerably the process to make up the winter train schedule. “Actually two schedules were prepared by the specialists,” the source said. Waiting for a final decision to move the clocks, the railway authorities even had to suspend the ticket sale for the long distance trains, which run as of October 28 that is a very rare fact.
Meanwhile, the winter train schedule is made up and already entered into force. The railway authorities ask the passengers to be attentive and take into account seasonal changes in the planning of their trips, particularly commuter train trips. “They will be able to learn about all changes in the train schedules from special announcements at the railway stations and platforms,” the RZD source underlined.