Train and bus services halted from St. Petersburg to Moscow due to flight cancellations
In a series of unexpected events, airports across several Russian cities have temporarily halted flights due to a drone threat in the region. This has caused mass flight delays and cancellations, affecting airports in Ivanovo, Kaluga, Pskov, Tambov, Moscow, and Nizhny Novgorod.
The drone threats have caused significant disruptions at airports serving Moscow and St. Petersburg, with numerous flights canceled or delayed. On July 6, 2025, about 90 flights were canceled and 37 delayed at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport alone, while Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport saw 171 flights canceled and many more delayed.
Authorities have imposed temporary restrictions on flight operations "to ensure flight safety," which has crippled air traffic between the two cities. With flights grounded, Russia's Transport Ministry has advised passengers to consider traveling by train. However, the surge in demand for train tickets has led to an unprecedented rush, quickly exhausting available seats.
RZD (Russian Railways) has responded by urgently increasing the number of carriages on "Sapsan" trains to accommodate the high demand from people wanting to return to the capital. Yet, even with these additional carriages, tickets are selling out fast. Bus transportation providers have also sold out tickets for today's and tomorrow's trips.
Suburban electric trains with transfers through Tver stations, known as "by dogs," are unavailable until tomorrow morning. Additionally, there are no tickets available for the "Lastochka" to Tver. With no other train or bus tickets available, hitchhiking, taxis, or walking are the only remaining options for travel between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
This situation arose due to a series of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian airports, leading to numerous flight cancellations and delays. The normally robust rail services are overwhelmed as stranded air passengers seek alternative routes between the two cities.
Sources: [1] BBC News [2] The Moscow Times [3] RIA Novosti [4] TASS News Agency
- The unexpected drone threats, initially affecting airports in various Russian cities, have subsequently disrupted lifestyle choices as stranded air travelers seek alternative modes of transportation, such as politics of railway services or general-news about hitchhiking or walking between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
- Amidst the travel chaos caused by the drone attacks on Russian airports, an extraordinary surge in demand for trains has been observed, with even travelers opting for unconventional means of transportation like hitchhiking, taxis, or walking, escalating the need for broader news coverage and broader discussions on politics regarding transportation infrastructure.
