Trips by Nizhny Novgorod's "Meteors" to Volgograd and Tver may become regular.

      21 November 2025 13:25 Culture and leisure NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria Orlova

      High-speed Meteor vessels from Nizhny Novgorod to Volgograd and Tver may become regular, the CEO of Vodolet, Nikita Italiantsev, said at a meeting of the City Duma commission on the development of road infrastructure and transport, NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" correspondent reports.

      Italiantsev recalled that in 2025 the company ran trial trips on these routes. The Meteor went to Volgograd as part of the "Cultural Outreach" project (0+) as a charter. On the return leg it was decided to test demand — the carrier opened ticket sales.

      "We began selling tickets only a few days before departure and were pleasantly surprised — demand turned out to be high," Italiantsev noted.

      According to him, the vessel was 80% full from Volgograd to Saratov, 60% from Saratov to Samara, and about 50% from Samara to Kazan.

      He added that inquiries from residents continue to arrive asking about the possible continuation of the routes. The company is now working with the regions so that they can allocate subsidies for these services in their budgets.

      "Without feedback from the regions and subsidies, we will not launch these routes," Italiantsev said.

      The situation is similar with the Tver route. It is planned as a two-day trip with an overnight stop in Yaroslavl. A trial voyage conducted at the end of August–early September also showed strong passenger interest despite the traditional seasonal drop at that time.

      According to the CEO of Vodolet, on the stretch from Yaroslavl to Tver the vessel was over 200% full. Instead of 120 seats the Meteor carried 245 people — due to some passengers getting off and on at intermediate stops in Rybinsk, Uglich, Kalyazin and Dubna.

      "We also received many inquiries after the route was completed. We are now working with the Tver region to include subsidies in the regional budget and make the services permanent," he added.

      Earlier it was reported that in 2026 interregional high-speed services along the Volga may be supplemented by a Nizhny Novgorod–Astrakhan route.

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