Speculators beware: fines will be introduced in Russia for the resale of train tickets.

      On June 18, 2026, at 19:24 Society In Russia, the development of a legislative mechanism aimed at combating the resale of railway tickets at inflated prices is coming to an end. The Federation Council approved a bill that provides for fines for so-called resellers who forced passengers to overpay for travel. The adoption of the new norm was a response to numerous complaints from citizens who had faced the problem of overpaying for tickets for several years. The law introduces fines for the resale of tickets with a markup: for individuals, they will range from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles, and for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities, from 400,000 to 500,000 rubles. The law applies to those who sell tickets without the official permission of the carrier or a contract for the issuance of electronic travel documents. Lawyer and lecturer at the Financial University Natalia Kubasova, in a comment for 360.ru, called the adoption of the law a timely and justified step aimed at protecting citizens' rights. She noted that the problem is not only in overpayment but also in the principle of service availability. The introduction of a separate administrative offense for the resale of tickets with a markup will provide law enforcement agencies and Russian Railways with a legal tool to block illegal services and hold their owners accountable. According to Kubasova, today Russians are often forced to pay significantly more than the basic fare of the carrier, especially on popular routes and dates. The mass purchase of tickets by bots or through aggregators creates the illusion of a lack of seats, making it difficult to plan trips, especially during vacation and holiday periods. This particularly negatively affects socially significant categories of passengers, such as families, students, and people who need to urgently travel for personal reasons. The expert noted that the ban on the resale of tickets with a markup fits into the overall trend of market regulation. Previously, similar measures were introduced for tickets to cultural and entertainment events. Without such restrictions, the market is unable to independently filter out speculative schemes, which is why the state intervenes where the interests of the mass consumer are harmed. "A railway ticket is essentially a social good. For many people, the train is the only real way to reach relatives, education, treatment, and so on. Fines are not about fighting business, but about protecting ordinary passengers who should not have to compete with bots and semi-legal services for their place on the train," the lawyer concluded. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+