Russian Railways experiment: trains with children’s compartments were launched in the southern direction
From August 22 on the route Moscow - Anapa (train No. 109/110) trains with carriages in which there are children's compartments run.
Seats for passengers with children are in every first compartment of all compartment cars, and are equipped with devices to protect the child from falls, small passengers are offered board games and toys. Ticket prices for children's compartments will not differ from other second class cars.
The train with a children’s compartment will run until September 27, 2019. Following the results of the first month of transportation in Russian Railways, passenger reviews will be analyzed, and a decision will be made on the feasibility of further distribution of the service.
Tour operators pay attention to the fact that children’s coupes are launched late, almost at the end of the season. Market players believe that the experiment does not take place in “natural” conditions, when the results would be relevant to demand, and the market will not have time to evaluate the novelty.
Experts of the tour operator ALEAN: “If such a train was launched in early June, then tickets could be booked already in March, when most tourists begin to think about choosing a destination for vacation in the summer.”
Some market participants doubt that cars with children’s compartments will be in demand: when buying train tickets, people proceed from the time of departure, the number of seats and prices, and seats from 1 to 4 are not popular, as is the last compartment by the toilet. It is believed that in this part of the car "passage yard", and passengers choose a coupe in the middle of the car.
The number of tourists who travel by rail to the sea is decreasing. People are looking for affordable airline tickets, or go by car.
The policy of Russian Railways in the organization of children’s compartments in the Anapa direction is considered logical by tour operators, since many families go to Anapa.
Most often, tourists with children under 4 years old travel by train, as a trip in the car tires them, and there is a place in the car for walking and sleeping.
The tour operator "Multitour" is sure that children's services (library, room) will be an argument for those who are important for the safety of travel and leisure of the child. There are always tourists who, for health reasons, because of age or fear of flying, will go by train.
In general, experts believe that children’s coupes need to continue to introduce – primarily in the Krasnodar and Crimean areas.
The railway connection with the Crimea will be opened at the end of 2019, the sale of tickets from 11 cities of Russia will begin in the autumn.
Source: atorus