Trains
Trains in Russia
No foreign cardsCash at the stationIranian cards do not work
RZD (Russian Railways) · rzd.ru has taken only Russian Mir cards since 2022 and rejects foreign Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Amex. UnionPay works erratically in Russia. You may need a VPN to open rzd.ru from some countries. The Shetab–Mir link for Iranian cards covers ATMs and shop terminals, not online payment, and its last phase was still unconfirmed as of June 2026.
Checked 3 November 2026Official sources
What we could not confirm
- Whether Shetab–Mir phase 3 launched after June 2026; even then it covers shop terminals, not online payment on rzd.ru.
- The Sapsan 30–90 day booking window and Mir cards for foreigners are not on the fetched page.
- Tutu's affiliate offer status and whether Tutu accepts non-Russian cards from foreigners.
- Whether 12Go or Trip.com resell Russian trains.
How to buy
- 1If you have a Mir card, book on rzd.ru.
- 2Otherwise use an intermediary with a foreign card: RW.by (Belarusian Railways: Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay, charged in Belarusian rubles, close to RZD's price), Tutu (foreign cards through a Belarusian gateway, about 5–15% fee) or RussianTrain (an RZD subagent, about 20–30% markup, issues the same RZD e-ticket).
- 3Or buy at a station ticket office with cash or a Russian card.
- 4The Sapsan Moscow–St Petersburg train is sold on rzd.ru; booking reportedly opens 30 to 90 days ahead.
If you cannot pay yourself
Someone in Russia with a Mir card can book on rzd.ru for you. Foreigners can reportedly open a Mir card with a passport at major Russian banks.
Routes worth knowing
Moscow–St Petersburg (Sapsan)
Sold on rzd.ru; booking is said to open 30–90 days ahead.