FPC to resume rail links to Chinese border from April 29

Federal Passenger Company (FPK, a subsidiary of Russian Railways) from April 29, will resume rail traffic to the border with China as a result of the lifting of coronavirus restrictions by China, reported in company.

“In connection with the lifting of coronavirus restrictions by China and the increased demand of passengers for trips in this direction, JSC FPC appoints train No. 328/327 Irkutsk – Zabaikalsk. It will run along the route from April 29 to August 26,” the message says.

The FPC clarified that passengers will leave Irkutsk on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 00:15 (hereinafter, local time is indicated) and arrive in Zabaikalsk on Wednesdays and Sundays at 09:15. On the same days, the train will depart in the opposite direction at 13:41 and return to Irkutsk at 18:14 the next day.

“Passengers will spend 32 hours on the way from Irkutsk to Zabaikalsk, and 29 hours in the opposite direction,” the FPC added.

Ministry of Transport of Russia in 2023 expects a multiple increase in flights to China and the number of passengers carried between Russia and China. In February, the ministry noted that this would be facilitated by the lifting of restrictions related to COVID-19, as well as the restoration of visa-free travel for groups of tourists.

On February 20, it became known that Russia and China resumed agreement on visa-free tourism. The Ministry of Economics explained that in order to allow tourists to enter Russia, they are waiting for a list of travel companies that plan to send group tours to Russia from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China. After that, the department will send the documents to the border service. At that time, the ministry did not specify when the visa-free regime would start working.

ATOR explained to Vedomosti that the renewal of the agreement does not mean the start of sending tourists from one side or the other. The association stressed that the date of the launch of the visa-free regime has not yet been announced, now there is an exchange of lists of tour operators. A step towards the resumption of tourism between the countries has been made, however, due to the lack of a date, it is not enough to restart travel, ATOR concluded.