Increase in Fares for Saint Petersburg's Public Transportation System
In a recent report by RIA Novosti, updates to the tariffs and fares for public transport in St. Petersburg have been announced. The changes, effective from August 8, do not significantly alter the cost structure for most commuters.
The unified fare of 60 rubles for metro and surface transport remains unchanged, as does the discount system for subsequent trips within an hour on surface transport. The cost of the monthly unified named discounted ticket for all transport types remains at 797 rubles.
However, there is no clarity on whether these changes apply to long-distance or intercity public transport. Additionally, no specific information about changes to single-use tickets or other forms of payment was provided. Similarly, no new information about changes to nighttime or weekend fares was disclosed.
The public transport policy in St. Petersburg continues to prioritise affordability, ensuring that the city's residents have access to reliable and affordable public transport options. This socially-oriented approach is reflected in the minimal changes to the fares.
Looking back at the recent trend of fare hikes, the last significant increase took place on January 1, 2025, with a 16.7% surge in metro fares. Prior to this, increases in 2021, 2022, and 2023 saw smaller percentage rises of 9.5%, 8.7%, and 8% respectively.
In the past, efforts to address fare evasion have been prioritised over fare increases. The number of fare evasion cases has risen sharply from about 3,800 cases in 2021–2022 to nearly 15,000 cases in 2024. To combat this, new bills propose raising fines rather than increasing ticket prices.
The unified fare applies to travel using the 'Poddorozhnik' or 'Eдиная карта петербуржца' (EKT) electronic card. As always, commuters are advised to stay informed about any future changes to public transport fares in St. Petersburg.
- The society in St. Petersburg, with a focus on affordability, is closely monitoring the industry's efforts to maintain a reliable and cost-effective public-transit system, as the minimal changes to fares show a socially-oriented approach.
- The city's finance department, considering the increase in fare evasion cases, is prioritizing new bills that aim to raise fines for evasion, rather than implementing further fare increases in the transportation sector.
