Between the Capitals: Sapsan or Plane

A trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg is one of the most popular routes in Russia. Travelers have to choose between two of the fastest modes of transport: the high-speed Sapsan train and an airplane. At first glance, it seems that a plane is always faster and often cheaper. But is that really the case? Let's figure out what's faster, Sapsan or a plane, why Sapsan is more expensive than a plane, and in what situations you should choose a plane. And buy tickets from Moscow to St. Petersburg or plane tickets to St. Petersburg you can always find on the Kupibilet website.

Sapsan Features

Sapsan is a modern high-speed electric train that runs between Moscow and St. Petersburg. In Moscow, Sapsan departs from Leningradsky Station, and in St. Petersburg, it arrives at Moskovsky Station.

Characteristics

• the maximum train speed reaches 250 km/h;
• travel time is 3 hours 40 minutes – 4 hours 5 minutes;
• service classes: from economy class to first class and "Lux" class. There is a bistro car, negotiation compartments;
• onboard infrastructure: Wi-Fi, power outlets at seats, air conditioning.

Advantages

From city center to city center: you board the train in the center of Moscow and alight in the center of St. Petersburg. There's no need to spend time traveling to the airport, going through security checks, and waiting for luggage. This significantly reduces the total "door-to-door" travel time.

Total time savings: the flight is shorter if you count pure travel time, but with all the stages (travel to the airport, early arrival, check-in, security, boarding wait, baggage claim, travel from the airport to the city), Sapsan often wins. For example, travel to Moscow airports can take from 40 minutes to 2 hours, plus 1-2 hours for pre-flight formalities, plus 1 hour to exit Pulkovo. Total: 5-6 hours. Sapsan – 4 hours, and you are already in the city center.

Comfort: in Sapsan cars, there is significantly more legroom; you can stand up, walk through the car, visit the bistro car. Along the route, with the exception of some sections, there is often stable mobile internet. The train runs smoothly: there is no shaking or turbulence, and the scenery outside the window constantly changes.

Simplicity and predictability: Sapsan's schedule is stable, and delays due to weather conditions are extremely rare.

No baggage restrictions: on the train, baggage is treated more leniently than on a plane.

Convenience for work: for business people, Sapsan offers 4 hours that can be spent productively, for example, working on a laptop or relaxing peacefully.

What about a plane?

Aviation, undoubtedly, remains the fastest way to cover long distances.

Characteristics

• the flight takes about 1 hour 20 minutes – 1 hour 40 minutes;
• airports: in Moscow – Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO); in St. Petersburg – Pulkovo (LED). To each, there is an Aeroexpress, with which you can get to the city center in half an hour to an hour.

Advantages

More schedule options: airlines offer many flights, which provides greater flexibility.

Convenience for connecting flights: if you are flying to St. Petersburg in transit, then a plane will obviously be the most logical choice.

Quiet and calm: the passenger in the next seat definitely won't be talking on the phone for the entire flight.

Pure flight speed: if you compare only the time spent in the air, then a plane is significantly faster than Sapsan. 1.5 hours versus 4. This answers the question of what is faster, Sapsan or a plane, in terms of the journey itself.

Price: you can often buy tickets from Moscow to St. Petersburg by plane on promotion or from low-cost carriers at very attractive prices, especially if booked in advance. However, a low price may only include hand luggage.

Disadvantages

Travel to and from the airport takes a significant amount of time and money. Pre-flight formalities (check-in, baggage drop-off, security, boarding wait) can take another couple of hours. There are always risks of delays/cancellations due to weather conditions. There is less space in the airplane cabin, movement options are limited, and at the end, you still have to wait for your luggage.

Why is Sapsan more expensive than a plane?

This is a common phenomenon, especially when comparing Sapsan's basic fare with a promotional low-cost airline ticket bought well in advance.

Russian Railways (RZD) fares are more stable and predictable: the price depends on the car class, purchase time (the earlier, the cheaper), season, and day of the week. Moreover, the Sapsan ticket price already includes luggage space and comfortable seats.

For planes, on the contrary, pricing is dynamic: the ticket price changes depending on demand and time until departure. This allows you to "catch" very cheap tickets. Low-cost carriers offer low basic fares, but charge separately for all additional services (luggage, seat selection). And don't forget about hidden costs: to the airfare, you need to add the cost of travel to and from the airport.

In what situations is a plane more advantageous?

If you live close to Moscow's Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo, or St. Petersburg's Pulkovo. Then the journey to the train station will simply "eat up" all the supposed time savings.

You prefer to plan all your trips in advance and "catch" tickets during sales.

You are a member of several airline loyalty programs and accumulate miles with their help. A short flight from one capital to another is an effective way to do this.

Before you buy tickets from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back, carefully weigh all the pros and cons, compare the total cost (including transfers) and the total travel time.