COMMUTER RAIL IN RUSSIA AND FRANCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT

This study contains a comparative characteristic of suburban trains in Russia and France in terms of price, time, and other points. This topic is devoted to the consideration of the commuter trains that run on the Ryazansky railway line in Russia and on the railway lines of the Transilien, RER, and TER trains in France.

Keywords: suburban train, railway, Russia, France, train.

Commuter trains offer an affordable and convenient way for people to travel between cities and towns, which can help to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. They run between districts, sometimes between regions. The availability of different types of commuter trains with varying levels of comfort and amenities can provide passengers with more options to choose from depending on their individual needs and preferences.

The Ryazansky railway line in Russia offers several types of suburban trains, including Standard, Standard+, REX, and Premium trains.

Аll types of commuter trains have a similar appearance, but they differ in a few aspects, such as convenience and ticket price.

• Russian suburban trains

The first one is a standard train. The Standard train is the cheapest option, and it becomes much cheaper when, for instance, students buy a ticket with a student pass. But the seats are very hard and it is not very comfortable for long journeys and for occasional sleeping too. Also, its interior is not very clean and there is an unpleasant smell.

The second one is the Standard+ train. It is as cheap as the previous one, but the newer seats are also hard. It has a significant advantage – this type of train is relatively new and with a cleaner interior. Also, the presence of a properly working air conditioning system in the train is one more great advantage.

The third one is REX. The REX train is a bit more expensive than the previous two. Nevertheless, students can also use the student pass in order to get a discount. It has softer seats, making the trip more comfortable and convenient.

The last one is Premium train. It is the most expensive type of suburban train. However, it has many advantages such as comfort, soft seats, availability of folding tables, fast speed and other.

Table 1

The prices and time of a trip from Moscow to Platform 88 km

The duration of the trip decreases with the price increase.

It can be concluded that for students, the most convenient option is to travel by REX or Premium train if they need to travel long distances, for example, to Ryazan.

• French suburban trains

The first one is Transilien. These trains depart from the main Paris railway stations. The interior of these suburban trains looks like this one of REX train. There are 2 floors and it features comfort seats. This type of train is very clean. Moreover, these trains run on 8 lines. Unfortunately, they are overcrowded in peak hours.

The second one is RER (Réseau Express Régional). RER is faster than metro, because it has fewer stops. There are 2 floors inside too. In terms of convenience, this train is similar to Standard Plus or REX. However, according to tourists, there is a great number of old cars.

The last one is TER (Transport express regional). It unites all regional lines throughout the hexagon and connects small towns with major highways. Unlike the RER, trains depart less frequently and tickets are very expensive. A grate benefit is availability of places for bicycles and curtains in some trains.

Table 2

The prices and time of trips by RER, Transilien and TER

Prices mainly depend not on the distance and time of transportation, but on the type of train and travel card.

The price of a ticket seems to depend more on the type of train and the travel card used. In general, it can be seen that the Premium trains in Russia and TER trains in France are the most expensive, but also the fastest. Meanwhile, the Standard and Standard+ trains in Russia and Transilien and RER trains in France offer cheaper ticket prices, but longer travel times. Overall, it is important for commuters to carefully consider their options and choose a train type that meets their budget and travel needs.

Commuter trains in Russia and in France are approximately in the same price category, and Russian trains are practically not inferior to French trains in terms of the quality of transportation and passenger service.

Undoubtedly, suburban trains provide an excellent opportunity to discover new interesting cities and places regardless of which train people choose to travel on.

Список литературы:

1. RER и Transilien: внутригородские и пригородные поезда (электрички) [Электронный ресурс]. – Режим доступа: RER и электрички Парижа | Париж (visitefrance.ru) (дата обращения: 18.06.2023)
2. Транспортные зоны Парижа [Электронный ресурс]. – Режим доступа: Транспортные зоны Парижа и общественный транспорт. Метро - RER - TER (infrancer.com) (дата обращения: 18.06.2023)