Fast Ufa-Kazan: only for tourists?

'Many people will go to Kazan by train, not by car, with pleasure'

One of the Bashkir mass media told about a possible appearance of a fast train from Kazan to Ufa on 5 October. RBK-Ufa told the Committee for Tourism of Bashkiria agreed with the analogous entity in the Republic of Tatarstan and Russian Railways about the development of the transport connection. Now the launch of a direct train to Kazan is under discussion.

'We roughly imagine the amount of passenger traffic. Many people will go to Kazan by train, not by car, with pleasure. In spring, we plan to hold the first advertising tours. And the train will have appeared at least by summer holiday,' RBK-Ufa cites the deputy chairman of the State Committee on Entrepreneurship and Tourism of Bashkortostan Roman Shaikhutdinov (photo).

The press secretary of the Kuybyshev Railway in Bashkiria Andrey Savelyev confirmed RBK-Ufa that the route was created.

However, the press service of the Kazan Territorial Administration of the Gorky Railway did not know about the plans but promised to know the details from their colleagues in the short run.

'Railway charter'

The State Committee for Tourism of Tatarstan confirms the idea. But they tell about it and carefully specify that not regular trips but a tourist programme is meant. It is a train designed for tourists only. Its frequency and amount of such railway charters are unknown at the moment.

'On an exhibition Holiday 2016, which took place in Moscow on 20 September, the State Committee for Tourism of Tatarstan signed a trilateral agreement on intentions with the Committee on Entrepreneurship and Tourism of Bashkiria and Russian Railways Tour CJSC,' explained Ekaterina Barabanova, who is the deputy chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of Tatarstan.

'A cooperation between Tatarstan and Bashkiria within a mutual promotion of tourism possibilities of our republics and creations of different tours, including tours by train, is the subject of the agreement.

According to Barabanova, a possibility of fulfilment of this project (a tourist train between Kazan and Ufa in spring) is discussed now. In spring, the train is likely to have a one-day trip – people will take the train in the evening, sleep there, arrive in the morning and go sightseeing in Kazan or Ufa and go back in the evening.

The State Committee for Tourism of Tatarstan specifies that the feasibility, price for the package and so on are discussed now.

Fast and problematic

Now there is no direct railway connection between the two capitals of the neighbouring regions. Moreover, there is no direct spur. In addition, Kazan refers to the Gorky Railway, while Ufa belongs to the Kuybyshev Railway. There can be a trip en route Kazan-Ulyanovsk-Ufa or Kazan-Agryz-Bugulma-Ufa. It is unknown which way the train will choose. In any case, the trip presupposes a big diversion, which can make the trip last for 20 hours or more.

'Railways between Ufa and Kazan don't allow to reach one city from another directly,' a journalist, publicist and political consultant Shamil Valeyev tells. 'Earlier such a train spent 19 hours, which is unacceptable for 600-650 km. I used this train. Indeed, it is difficult to go there by bus – it takes an entire day. I also used this option. And I don't want to do any more.'

'Now there is a plane at a reasonable price for a business trip: 3-4,000 rubles. It is Utair's plane that operates a flight from Surgut to Kazan through Ufa. I often use it because it flies every day. Going to Kazan by car, you will certainly find two-three hidden cameras. So you can prepare 1,000 rubles for letters with fines. It also should be taken into consideration that Ufa and Kazan are not whole Bashkiria and Tataria,' he continues.

However, if the authors manage to reduce the time to 10-12 hours as they promise, the trips will be in demand. For example, a trip by bus Ufa-Kazan takes 10 hours. Even passengers with non-tourist goals will agree to use this 'tourist' train.

'Sure, such a train is certainly needed if it is really fast and it covers this distance during one night,' Shamil Valeyev continues. 'In other words, I went to sleep in Ufa and woke up in the morning in Kazan. Then it will be comfortable for life and business. I know there are many people who won't take a plane on no account. I need this train myself. I would certainly use it if it covers this route for 10 hours. I have to visit Kazan because of my work. I did it by bus many times – it is sheer hell.'

A journalist and blogger from Ufa Bulat Galiev also thinks the night train will be popular: 'Such a train is needed. I always used it before its cancellation, in 2010. The trip took almost one day – 21 or 22 hours. I always took it because it was more comfortable than a bus, I could lie, read and sleep there. Meanwhile, a trip by bus lasted for 12 hours. And it was at night. Secondly, it was 3-4 times cheaper than a plane. If such a train appears again, I will use it because I have kids: it is more comfortable than by bus and cheaper than by plane. My parents live in Kazan. This is why I go there several times a year.'