Until what age can I buy a children's ticket on the train?

Trains usually have a relatively short route, and therefore the cost of a ticket for them is relatively low. At the same time, passengers of electric trains usually use them regularly, so various discounts can be a very profitable offer. If you often travel by commuter trains with children, you can save on your little fellow travelers.

For a small child, you can not pay at all. This rule applies if the accompanying adult can document that the child not yet 5 years. It should be noted that if a commuter train has number places, and a child, even if under 5 years old, occupies such a separate place, then a ticket for him will still cost money - though at a special, child fare.

According to the rules, one accompanying adult cannot transport more than one baby under five years of age free - only one of them is entitled to this right, whereas for everyone else you will still need to issue paid tickets.

It all depends on the conditions under which the baby will go. If for any reason he is in a separate seat in the car, where the numbering of seats is provided, he will need a paid children's ticket even if he was born literally today. After reaching the age of five, the child can no longer travel for free - he needs to buy a children's ticket, which includes significant discounts depending on the specific region and the distance that is planned to be covered.

The last date on which a child can go on a journey by train on a children's ticket is the day on which a small passenger celebrates his seventh birthday.

The administration of Russian Railways does not impose any special requirements for those who want to issue children's ticket for the child on the commuter train. To do this, it is enough to present the Russian birth certificate of the baby, which will confirm that the passenger has not turned 7 years old.

This person is not even necessarily a small relative - he can be his teacher or coach. In other words, for the transportation of a child, no additional documents are needed, except for his birth certificate.

In short, the rules for carriage of children in trains can be summarized in a few simple sentences:

• If the child is already 7 years old, then he travels at an adult fare - unless he confirms that he has the right to certain benefits. The logic of the administration is such that a passenger, even if very small, traveling on an adult ticket, no longer needs to be accompanied by an adult.
• Children up to 7 years old can travel on commuter trains with a children's ticket. - either at a discount or for free, but strictly accompanied by an adult.The travel document is issued in any case.
• If the passenger occupies a separate place, then it does not matter how old he is. - the ticket will be paid anyway. Free of charge, you can go strictly up to five years, and only on condition that a separate place is not required.
• The only necessary document for the purchase of a children's train ticket - Passenger birth certificate issued on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Children older than 7 years old, purchasing an adult ticket, still in most cases claim to certain benefits, allowing somewhat lower fare. Typically, such benefits are related to the fact that the child gets to study or home from school - a time frame is established. During the summer holidays such benefits do not apply.

The reason is that the benefits are covered by local administrations, and in each region the conditions for preferential travel, determined by the subject of the federation, are different. In general, benefits are relevant to students of any general education or special schools, as well as students of military schools.

A special document entitling to discounts when traveling on commuter trains is a school ticket. This is a special certificate of the established form, confirming that a certain person really is in this academic year (date required) a student of a particular school. At the same time, the school that issued the document must indicate in it all of its details, including the exact address, and the paper itself is supported by the school stamp and signature of the director. This solution allows you to drive with discounts up to 14 years.

In some cases, commuter trains can be purchased tickets, dividing into categories of return and non-return. The return travel document is a bit more expensive, but you can return it without any problems at any time - provided that the train has not left yet. This is a good option for those who are planning a trip and are afraid that all tickets will be disassembled, but are not completely sure that they will go on a specific date.

A non-refundable ticket is cheaper, but is only suitable for those who are sure that they will go as planned. It is almost impossible to return such a ticket - this will only come out if there is documentary evidence of a force majeure that interferes with the planned trip - for example, there was an accident or a potential traveler suddenly became ill.

It is possible to meet like this unless the train (in spite of its suburban status) has a rather long route and numbering of seats in the cars. Since the presence or absence of privileges is determined by local governments, the specifics of returning discount tickets to train trains must also be recognized by location, since there are no uniform all-Russian rules for this case.