Travel Notes

A new two-story train is running between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The train departs the capital at 22:50 pm and arrives shortly before 7 am the next day. Because the train can hold more passengers, ticket prices are being held lower – about 2,000 rubles ($30) – at least for the time being. The price is for a regular Russian “coupé,” a four-bunk compartment, though space is more cramped than on a regular train. Russian Railways says the train is also able to accommodate wheelchair-bound passengers.

The company Yandex has launched its latest app to help Muscovites navigate the city. Yandex Transport helps people find the right bus, tram, or trolleybus to get where they are going and shows public transit options on a map. The free application grabs information about transit routes and times from the capital’s transportation system. The app is available for iPhones and Android devices.

Russia’s tourism industry may continue to contract in the months and years ahead. According to the Russian Tourism Association, only 10 million Russians are considering traveling abroad for vacation, down from 18 million in 2014. Favorite destinations in the coming year are beaches in Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, the association reports. The decrease in demand is leading many international airlines to cancel service to Russia’s regions.