Discounted Train Tickets in St. Petersburg Now Available Online
Large families in St. Petersburg can now purchase discounted suburban train tickets via smartphone. The system removes the need for in-person document verification and may soon expand to other beneficiary categories.
Smartphone-Based Ticketing for Families
St. Petersburg has launched a pilot project allowing large families to buy discounted suburban train tickets online through the 'ProTransport+' mobile app. The user's eligibility for the discount is verified through the national government services portal, and the ticket appears directly on the smartphone screen. This initiative represents a new phase of smart service integration between public transport and e-government systems.
Besides being a leap in IT adoption, the move enhances user experience. It eliminates the need for waiting in lines or presenting paper documentation. Citizens now gain reliable, digital access to their entitled benefits. At a national scale, the project is seen as a step toward broader remote access to government services—reducing agency workloads and speeding up processes. The digital migration of public services is clearly taking root in the transportation sector.
Export Potential of the Public Transport-Gov Services Model
The combined model of 'transport services + government platform' could be exported beyond Russia. It offers potential integration with rail and air transport not only across the Russian Federation but also within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Domestically, the project may soon cover additional groups such as pensioners, students, and people with disabilities. Under the broader 'Life Situations' framework, integration with long-distance train and domestic flight services is also on the table.
Russia’s Broader Shift to Digital Transport Services
The digitalization of urban transportation in Russia has accelerated in recent years. In 2022–2023, St. Petersburg began automating fare payments through QR tickets and the 'Podorozhnik' card system. In 2023, over 150 regional and 35 federal government services were made available on the unified government portal via the 'Life Situations' interface.
Moscow's digital ticketing programs—such as e-tickets for the metro and Pulkovo Airport—have proven successful. The 2024 pilot program of electronic social group tickets also yielded positive feedback. As of 2025, the 'Lastochka' and 'Finist' trains operating out of St. Petersburg now use fully automated ticketing and access systems. These rollouts underscore the reliability of Russia’s digital infrastructure and have boosted public trust in smart mobility services.
Toward a National Rollout and Export Strategy
This pilot project marks another important step toward Russia's vision of a digital state. It holds strong potential for nationwide adoption, with the ability to serve more beneficiary categories in all regions. Moreover, the system could become an exportable digital solution for EAEU and CIS countries.
Key considerations for successful export include cybersecurity, document authenticity, and infrastructure reliability—even under offline conditions. Between 2026 and 2027, the government may unify related services into a single 'ProTransport+' app, possibly integrating digital ID support. Expansion to long-distance and air transport services is also being explored. The pilot will run through October this year, after which user experience and system gaps will be reviewed. These findings will shape the strategy for scaling the project.
