Good news from Moscow today, which we hear is planning to introduce several new types of universal public transport tickets in February and April 2013, according to the Moscow News.
The universal ticket, aimed at tourists (but also available for locals), will allow for unlimited use of all public transport for one day, and will cost 200 rubles. It will be introduced in April. Looking further ahead, universal tickets will be available for up to 90 days. There will also be a composite (or "complex") ticket, allowing for an unlimited number of changes on above ground transport for 90 minutes. The universal ticket will allow for one metro ride and unlimited use of above ground transport for 90 minutes.
The universal ticket is to be introduced on February 1, 2013, and sold at the same cost currently collected for metro tickets, according to the document prepared by the local Regional Energy Commission. Starting from April 2 next year, when the complex ticket is to appear on sale, the price is to go up by 15 rubles for five-trip tickets. For tickets with a larger limit of metro trips, the cost is to decrease a little.
Prices for the complex ticket have been set at 200 rubles for a one-day ticket. For 30 and 90 days, passengers will have to pay 2,200 and 5,200 rubles respectively. Limitless travel on all kinds of Moscow’s public transportation is to be priced at 17,000 per year.
In other public transportation news from Moscow, visitors will have to pay more for bringing luggage on the city's metro as city officials want to hike prices next year for large items being transported on mass transit.
In April, the cost for luggage transportation is to hit the mark of 50 rubles per oversized items, which is nearly twice as much as the current tariff, according to a draft regulation by the city’s Regional Energy Commission, the Inmsk.ru local news website reported.
For light-traveling passengers, however, metro fares are to remain without changes, according to the document, which is yet to be endorsed.