Russian Railways began selling tickets under the new rules, which are called "dynamic pricing of Russian Railways." According to the new system, the ticket price is not constant, but depends on the time, day of purchase and availability.
Dynamic pricing
The bulk of domestic Russian trains belong to FPK OJSC, and it is these trains that are subject to the new sales system. So, let's figure out what the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways is. The principle of the system is such that the price of a ticket from the moment sales are launched until its end is not constant. This means that throughout the entire implementation period, the cost can change both upward and downward. It depends on the ratio of the indicators of occupancy of the rolling stock and the amount of time before its departure.
From the beginning of 2017, the sale of tickets for long-distance trains across Russia begins 60 days before the departure date. Therefore, the cost of the ticket will increase along with customer demand. You can see the train belonging to the new system in the schedule, they are marked with a special icon.
Program action
The fare depends on the demand and the number of tickets already sold, on the season and day of the week. When buying 60 days before the trip, the price of the train ticket will be the lowest - the most advantageous ticket for a compartment on the top shelf will be 15–20% more expensive than a seat in a reserved seat car, and the fare in ST will be slightly different from the fare in a compartment car. As tickets are bought back, the fare will increase in accordance with demand.
All trains can be divided into:
- those in which the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways operates;
- those that do not use this program.
The fare may vary. It depends on various nuances and factors that are recommended to be guided when purchasing a ticket. Here they are:
- Payment term (number of days before train departure).
- Number of empty seats (wagon loading);
- Demand and rhythm of demand (depends on the time of departure and arrival, day of the week and season).
- Level of competition.
On the routes included in the new program, tickets for all areas of the rolling stock can be bought from the first day sales start. For any particular route, train and route, a different pricing policy is used.
Nuances
As the train fills up and the dispatch date approaches, full-route fares increase. However, the cost of a ticket in different areas of the journey can vary disproportionately. In conditions of high demand in certain areas, the fare is almost the same as for the full route. The situation is similar with those routes and areas where there is a small demand, that is, even on the day the train leaves, lower tariffs are used. This method is used when demand is below the expected level.
In addition, the fare depends not only on the day of the week, seasonality, but also on the time of day. For example, the main passenger flow occurs on Friday, in the evening, as people plan to spend the weekend in another city and return in the evening on Sunday. Accordingly, the number of tickets at a reduced fare is limited during this period.
The fare is significantly reduced during those times when people travel a little. For example, after the end of the New Year holidays. It is on these days that the minimum tariffs apply. During periods of mass travel (during school holidays or holidays), the cost of tickets approaches the maximum mark, as it is due to increased demand.
As a rule, the fare for a train leaving on a route at 4–5 in the morning is significantly lower than for trains leaving in the evening. Accordingly, if the time frame is very important for a person, then the cost of a ticket for him will be much higher. It should be noted that demand monitoring, based on the results of which a certain price policy is built, is carried out every day and week.
No dynamic pricing
If the pricing program does not work on the route, then the high tariff is determined by the fact that seats in reserved seats on the train are disassembled quite quickly (more often than not for short distances from settlements, so there are practically no places left for the full route), and the price of seats in compartment wagons for many high. As a result, there are no tickets in the reserved seat, but in an expensive compartment almost everything is free.
Seasonal Ratio
After it becomes clear in general terms how the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways works, the topic of fare remains open. When passenger traffic increases due to seasonality (Christmas holidays, holidays, school holidays), Russian Railways increases the fare for travel in accordance with the established coefficients. There is a fixed (base) ticket price accepted per unit. Further, the price changes for the above reasons.
Coefficients have been used for passenger traffic of Russian Railways for quite some time. They do not work on routes with the new program, therefore, when Russian Railways launched dynamic pricing, the seasonal coefficient actually lost its significance. However, there are routes on which these coefficients are still used, and therefore in 2017 they suffered some amendments.
Innovations
Premiums (10% above the ticket price) this year are used from the moment of maximum demand:
- In the New Year holidays (in January from 1 to 8).
- For a long weekend in February (from 22 to 28).
- For the May holidays (from April 27 to May 9).
- During the summer holidays (from June 9 to August 31) a surcharge of 20% applies.
It is worth noting that, compared with 2016 this year, periods of tariff increases are much less. However, there is also an unpleasant moment, namely, a 20% higher rate during the summer holidays (in 2016 it was 15%). But on all dates on which the increased seasonality coefficient does not apply, a lowering 10% was introduced this year, respectively, tickets will be even cheaper than last year. In 2017, there are no tariffs with a coefficient equal to one.
Program benefits
So, we continue to consider what the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways means. The advantages of the system are obvious: this is primarily due to the simplified scheme of returning tickets. If it becomes necessary to return the purchased ticket, the traveler is returned the amount by which it was purchased (if the terms of the return do not imply penalties).
The cost has become more flexible and depends not only on seasonality (with the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways, summer prices do not apply) but also on the date of purchase. Also, among the advantages of the new system, one can note the convenience of selecting a fare taking into account the trip period and planned costs.
Which trains do not have dynamic pricing?
The dynamic pricing of Russian Railways is used only for seats in compartments, luxury and CB, the system does not work in common and reserved seats, because the cost of them is fixed and regulated by the state. In addition, the system does not apply to commercial trains, Sapsans, Swallows, and foreign trains belonging to another carrier. According to the government’s decree, on the routes where the train is the main mode of transport for traveling to other cities and where alternative transport is not provided, the Russian Railways Dynamic Pricing program does not work.
The new system cannot be combined with discounts, promotions and special tariffs from Russian Railways. For example, dynamic pricing does not stack with discounts for senior citizens and does not apply to fare for travelers who will be on the road on New Year's Eve.
This system has been operating not so long ago, and today it is still difficult to give an unbiased assessment of its effectiveness and usefulness. The dynamic pricing of Russian Railways reviews is different. Many have already managed to evaluate the benefits, but there are those who are dissatisfied with the program. It does not yet function on all routes, but in the intentions of the railway company to cover the largest number of trains. You can clarify information about the program’s action in a certain direction on the official portal, as well as by the hotline number.
How can you save on dynamic pricing?
Having considered thoroughly the dynamic pricing of Russian Railways tickets, many passengers have a logical question: "How to get a train ticket with the greatest benefit?" Here are some ways:
- Monitor the cost, especially in the days of opening sales, when it is minimal.
- Make trips on weekdays and unpopular times.
- Buy a ticket in advance. Since the sale now opens in two months, many have the opportunity to buy tickets at an affordable price and choose a place among the first (when purchasing online).
- Choose a car class. When sales are just beginning, the cost of tickets to luxury cars is not very different from the compartment ones.
- Plan your travel date. It is good for those who do not have time limits and have the opportunity to choose a not very convenient option for other passengers, for example, when the train leaves on a working day, at night.
- Get to your destination in many ways. From time to time, you can save a lot by getting, for example, on different trains with a transfer or train and bus.
Dynamic pricing in brief
It’s not so difficult to navigate the new Russian Railways program and how it works, now everyone knows it. As a result, you can plan your trip in advance, save money and even get to your destination in more comfortable conditions. The main thing is to understand that the earlier a train ticket is purchased, the cheaper it will be, the higher the class of a carriage, the more expensive it is, the lower the demand for a route, the lower the fare.