OREANDA-NEWS. December 23, 2014. December  marks three years to the day since international train No. 23/24 Moscow - Paris went into service. Operated by the Federal Passenger Company, the train has since made more than 580 runs and carried some 200,000 passengers, including 22,400 people on the direct link between Russia and France.

From 25 January 2015, train No. 23/24 will run new RIC carriages built jointly by OJSC Tverskoi Wagon Plant and Siemens.

Currently, the train includes RIC luxury carriages (VIP), 1 class (double berth), 2 Class (3-berth) and a dining car. All carriages are equipped with air conditioning, washbasins in the compartments and environmentally-friendly toilet units. The luxury carriages (VIP) feature double-berth compartments with extra area and space, with each compartment containing a collapsible sofa bed and upper berth, armchair, private bathroom with shower cabin, washbasin and bio toilet, TV, DVD, individual air conditioning and a wardrobe. Passengers are provided with a toiletries pack and a daily breakfast. The carriage also has a saloon bar.

Passengers travelling in luxury class carriages (VIP) can also use the services provided at the Grand Voyageur waiting room at the Gare de l'Est station in Paris free of charge upon presentation their ticket.

The Moscow - Paris train has also introduced rapid access to the Internet using a combined satellite + 3G solutions.

All the onboard personnel have undergone a special training programme that includes the psychology, ethics and culture of serving passengers and knowledge of foreign languages.

In winter, the service runs three times a week, departing from Moscow on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, and from Paris on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The summer timetable provides for 5 departures a week from Moscow, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and from Paris on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Tickets for train No. 23 /24 can be obtained at the ticket offices of Russian and international railways. Passengers can also buy e-tickets and register online on the Russian Railways' website.