On the morning of Wednesday, December 25, the first Tavria passenger train, passing the bridge across the Kerch Strait, arrived at the final destination of the route - the railway station of Sevastopol.

The composition meeting was held in a festive atmosphere, with the participation of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Black Sea Fleet with an orchestra that performed the city’s anthem - “Legendary Sevastopol”.

Previously, the train from St. Petersburg made a stop in Simferopol, which lasted 15 minutes. At this point, the head of the Crimea Sergey Aksyonov and the acting governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev joined the passengers, proceeding to the final station.

  • People are waiting for the arrival of the Tavria train on the platform of the station in Sevastopol
  • RIA News
  • © Konstantin Mikhalchevsky

The train from St. Petersburg to Sevastopol departed from the Moscow railway station of St. Petersburg on Monday, December 23, at 14:00. Between 2:10 and 2:40 on December 25, the train proceeded along the Crimean bridge.

According to TASS, the train approached the platform in Sevastopol at 9:21. The total distance covered by the train was 2,741 km, and the travel time was about 43.5 hours. About 600 people followed the train, including 33 members of the train crew.

The first passengers arriving on the peninsula by Tavria trains on December 25 and 26 will become owners of individual plastic cards of the guest of Crimea and Sevastopol, which can be used in 300 museums, palaces, hotels, cafes and other infrastructure facilities, as well as non-cash payment for travel in public transport Crimea.

It should be noted that the first railway connection between St. Petersburg and Sevastopol started almost 145 years ago, with subsequent interruptions during the years of the revolution and World War II. The first post-war train from Leningrad headed to the peninsula in 1950.

Commenting on the launch of railway communication with the peninsula, State Duma deputy from Crimea Ruslan Balbek in an interview with RT appreciated the importance of these events.

“This is a significant event - the arrival of the first train in Crimea over the past five years. And it was not for nothing that people at the station met a line-up with welcome slogans. Crimea finally “moored” to Russia, ”the parliamentarian said.

In assessing the importance of starting train traffic, she agreed with Olga Kovitidi, member of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Senator from the Crimea.

“In addition to the fact that the opening of the bridge will positively affect tourism, it is also an essential transport component, which can deliver guests to the peninsula year-round. I would like to note that this is also a serious economic and political component. They promised - they did, ”the senator told RT, being directly on the train to the Crimea.

According to her, the train is very comfortable, and the speed of 120 km / h is not felt at all.

“We see here and other Crimeans, smiling faces. I want to congratulate everyone on the beginning of the railway connection, this is a common victory. This is a wonderful New Year's gift for all Russians, ”said the senator.

“An important event for the entire south of Russia”

The opening ceremony of the railway traffic on the Crimean bridge on December 23 was attended by Vladimir Putin. The president proceeded by train from Kerch to Taman, where he was met by the builders of the crossing. The head of state addressed the audience, noting in his speech the importance of the implemented infrastructure project for the country.

“The event is important for the Crimea, and for Sevastopol, for the entire south of Russia, because, of course, infrastructure facilities such as the grandiose bridge that we built will affect the entire economy. But I want to tell you that we are not launching it first, but we are restoring this movement, ”Putin emphasized.

Later, the president got in touch with St. Petersburg and took part in the ceremony of departure of the Tavria train to Sevastopol, wishing the passengers a good journey.

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It is interesting that the head of the first train to Crimea, Alexander Kaleuschenko, did not manage to enter the departing train and was forced to catch up with him on another train, TASS was told in the press service of the train operator in Crimea, the company Grand Service Express.

Kaleuschenko via video communication reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the complete readiness of the staff to work on the route. However, he did not have time for the train, since the direct line was delayed, the company said.

As a result, Kaleuschenko took the Sapsan and arrived at the Uglovka station at 16:30, overtaking the first train to the Crimea. At 17:13 the head of the train got into the Tauris. He told reporters that a similar incident occurred for the first time in seven years of work.

“I was sure for my train crew that they could handle it. Therefore, I didn’t particularly worry, I was in constant contact with them, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

Trains to the Crimea so far follow only from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but now new routes are being worked out, the Federal Tourism Agency said.

“We are working with departments to launch seven more additional (railway. - RT ) directions from various cities of Russia to the Crimea,” said the head of the department, Zarina Doguzova.

Recall that the automobile part of the Crimean bridge has been open for traffic since May 2018.