Increased vehicular traffic permitted on the route connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, as per FPK decree.
In the aftermath of numerous drone attacks that occurred across various regions of Russia early on July 6, the demand for train travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg has surged. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported that all tickets for trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow have been sold out, as flight delays and cancellations due to the drone attacks have left many passengers seeking alternative modes of transport.
The Federal Passenger Company (FPC), a subsidiary of RZD, has been closely monitoring the number of available seats on trains, including on the Moscow-St. Petersburg route. In response to the increased demand, FPC has announced that they will make a decision to include additional carriages in train compositions if the situation requires it.
The drone attacks did not specifically target airports, but they have led to significant disruptions in air travel. While no drones were shot down over Moscow Oblast or St. Petersburg Oblast in the mentioned incident, over 120 drones were reportedly destroyed by Russia's air defense forces in various regions, including three over Leningrad Oblast. The attacks affected several other regions such as Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Belgorod, Tula, Kaluga, Smolensk, Novgorod, Tver, and the Azov Sea.
Despite the drone attacks not causing any reported casualties or significant damage beyond flight delays and cancellations, they have had a ripple effect on other forms of transportation. For instance, the delay and cancellation of flights in central Russia's airports have led to an increase in demand for train travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
It is worth noting that Moscow is expanding its railcar fleet, with significant orders like the 700 Moskva-2022 carriages, but these are part of a broader strategy rather than directly addressing flight disruptions. As of now, there is no specific mention of drone attacks affecting flights between Moscow and St. Petersburg or any response from the Federal Passenger Company regarding adding carriages on this route. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed from the available information whether such adjustments have been made.
The specialists at AO 'FPC' regularly monitor the number of available seats on trains and are prepared to use additional carriages if the technical possibilities are available. This decision is contingent on the availability of the necessary resources and capabilities.
While the drone attacks did not directly affect Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, they led to a dozen of flights being delayed. The exact origin and purpose of these attacks remain unclear, with the location of the attacks not providing immediate information about their source.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Federal Passenger Company will continue to monitor the demand for train travel and make necessary adjustments to ensure the comfort and safety of its passengers.
- Given the surge in demand for train travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg due to disruptions in air travel caused by the drone attacks, the Federal Passenger Company (FPC) may consider adding additional carriages to train compositions on this route as a response to the increased demand, depending on the availability of the necessary resources and capabilities.
- In the automotive industry, there might be a shift in focus towards developing drone defense technology in response to the increasing frequency of drone attacks, as these incidents pose potential threats to various industries such as finance, transportation, and aviation, affecting their operations and causing significant disruptions.
