RZD Tests Biometric Boarding on Sapsan Trains

Russian Railways will test biometric boarding on trains 'Sapsan' Moscow – St. Petersburg.

Consensus

RZD is testing biometric boarding for Sapsan trains between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The testing is being conducted on a focus group consisting of RZD, CBT, MinCyfry, and media representatives.
The full rollout of the biometric boarding system is planned for 2027.
The system is intended to handle high passenger volumes, with Sapsan trains exceeding 90% occupancy.
A pilot biometric boarding service for 'Lastochka' trains was launched in April 2026 on five routes.
Passengers need a verified account on Gosuslugi and registered biometric data in the Unified Biometric System to use the service.
Passengers must have their passport with them during boarding for verification.
RZD is introducing dedicated zones for passengers with animals at train stations.
A new two-level children's carriage is under development.

The test began on October 16 during a conference in St. Petersburg, with Anton Petrov, head of the High-Speed Communications Directorate, announcing the timeline. — fontanka
The biometric boarding system has already started being used on Sapsan trains. — tg_moscash
Ivan Kolесnikov, Deputy General Director of RZD, announced the testing at the 'Public Transport – 2026' forum, and mentioned ongoing pilot projects on other routes. — m24
RZD is working on a high-speed rail project from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Yekaterinburg, with a technical and economic justification to be completed. — m24
Russia and Belarus signed a memorandum on the high-speed rail project Moscow–Minsk. — m24