Igor Artemiev: tariffs for transportation in sleeper coaches will not be indexed

On 10 November 2017, FAS Board approved the zero tariff indexation rate for passenger transportation in sleepers and sitting coaches of long-distance trains.  Therefore, fares for travelling in sleepers and sitting coaches in long-distance trains in 2018 remain the same as in 2017. Head of FAS Igor Artemiev pointed out that in comparative prices in view of the inflation it means that fares would go down.

Earlier “Russian Railways” OJSC and the “Federal Passenger Company” OJSC asked to for 3.9% indexation of transportation in 2018. FAS wanted to reduce the tariff by 10%.

“This is a compromise”, said Head of FAS Igor Artemiev. The antimonopoly body expects that in the near future the “Federal Passenger Company” OJSC will resume ticket sale for sleepers.

FAS believes that there is a trend for decreasing passenger transportation, the passenger flow dropped down by 8.4% in 2017. In such a situation it was not possible to talk about increasing the costs of sleeper coaches.

Making a compromise decision, FAS issued conduct conditions to “Russian Railways” OJSC. The railway company was required to:

• Introduce enroute expenditure accounting
• Reduce expenditures, particular, in long-term contracts, some of them were concluded without competitive bidding
• Improve the quality of services
• Conclude long-term contracts for coach purchasing
• Install air conditioning and bio-toilets in all coaches on long-distance trains

Resume ticket sales for sleeping and sitting coaches in long-dist