OREANDA-NEWS. October 09, 2013. In the three years since international train No. 17/18 linking Moscow and Nice came into service, more than 25,000 passengers have travelled between the two cities. The train is operated by the Federal Passenger Company, a subsidiary of Russian Railways. The train's route passes through seven countries and is the longest trans-European rail service.

In 2011, 6,621 passengers used the train, rising to 9,213 in 2012 and to 8,274 passengers in the first 9 months of 2013.

The Federal Passenger Company offers various categories of passengers convenient discount programmes. Passengers between 12 and 26 and over 60 years of age, for example, can take advantage of the special fares Junior, Junior-Single, Senior and Senior-Single, which give discounts of 30% off the total cost of travel when buying tickets for carriages in any class.

Children aged between 4 and 12 are issued tickets in accordance with the children's fare, which offers a discount of 50% off the adult fare. In Lux class carriages, a special Family fare is available, which gives a 30% discount on two adult passengers travelling together.

Organised groups of passengers of 6 or more people can obtain a group discount of 20% off the total cost of travel. For groups of 20 or more passengers, the Voyage fare give a deep group discount of 40% (and of 20% on the territory of the Republic of Belarus).

Since 16 September 2013, the Federal Passenger Company has extended its marketing initiatives by introducing additional discounts depending on the sales of tickets from 60 to 45 days before the train's departure date with a 10 % discount, as well as a 5% discount when buying tickets for the top berth.

The Federal Passenger Company has also been introduced a special new Wedding fare for newlyweds, as well as a Holiday fare when passengers purchase a ticket on their birthday. The discount in both cases is 35%.

Train No. 17 departs from Moscow on Thursdays at 11:18 and arrives in Nice on Saturdays at 09:38.

Travelling in the opposite direction, Train No. 18 departs from Nice on Saturdays at 20:45 and arrives at Belarus Station in the Russian capital on Mondays at 22:30.

Due to timetable changes, from 31 October to 12 December 2013, Train No. 17 will depart from Moscow on Thursdays at 12:40 and arrive in Nice on Saturdays at 09:38.

In the period from October 26 to December 7 2013, Train No. 18 will depart from Nice on Saturdays at 20:45 and arrive in Moscow at 23:20 on Mondays.