Early in the morning, a fellow descended from a high shelf and stirred me to vacate the spot, in order to claim it for herself.
In an attempt to reduce the number of disputes on Russian trains, the state-owned railway company RZD has introduced new rules that allow passengers in upper bunks to use the table at lower seats in compartments during specific time intervals. However, the effectiveness of these new measures is yet to be seen, as the cultural level of passengers and their mutual respect play a significant role in ensuring a comfortable journey, according to Professor Andrei Sidorov, an expert in transport law.
The new RZD rule, which is part of the RZD Transport Statute, number 93, is set to take effect in September. Yet, a conflict occurred on a St. Petersburg to Kursk train in August due to a passenger misusing the new rule before its official implementation. A passenger from an upper bunk faced refusal from a mother with a baby who occupied the entire eating space with food and a stroller. The passenger's upper-bunk companion cited the "new law" to demand a place to breakfast.
Such disputes between fellow travelers were often resolved directly by the conductor or the train chief before these rules, sometimes delaying conflict resolution. A three-year veteran conductor has not encountered complaints about being denied a table seat before the introduction of the new RZD rules.
The specific train involved in the conflict was a St. Petersburg to Kursk train. The passenger in the conflict was unaware that the changes wouldn't take effect until September. The conductor suggested using the free spaces at the end of the carriage to resolve the conflict amicably.
Despite the new rules, the new RZD rule has sparked disagreements among passengers. A young man from an upper bunk approached a conductor, embarrassed to ask about his right to use the table after the new rules were introduced. The passenger stressed that personal qualities and mutual respect are more important than any rules for ensuring a comfortable journey.
The logic behind the time frames of the new RZD rule eludes the conductor. The time intervals for table use are: 7:00 to 10:00 - no more than 30 minutes, 12:00 to 15:00 - no more than 1 hour, and 19:00 to 21:00 - no more than 30 minutes.
The new RZD rules give the impression that the lower-bunk passenger owes something to the one above, according to the conductor. However, passengers ended up bonding after the conductor explained the new RZD norms to a passenger from an upper bunk.
Recent developments in RZD focus largely on freight tariff changes, with proposals to adjust rates for raw materials and finished products to improve logistics efficiency and competitiveness in rail freight transport. These tariff adjustments do not explicitly address passenger services or conflict resolution between passengers and the railway operator. There are ongoing rail travel disruptions reportedly affecting passenger train punctuality, which could generate or exacerbate passenger conflicts.
In conclusion, while the new RZD rules aim to reduce the number of disputes, their effectiveness remains unclear. The cultural level of passengers and their mutual respect play a significant role in ensuring a comfortable journey. More specialized sources such as official RZD announcements, governmental transport regulations, or passenger rights protections in Russia may be necessary to consult for detailed insight.
The new RZD rule, as part of the RZD Transport Statute, number 93, has sparked disagreements among passengers, challenging the cultural level of mutual respect on trains. A passenger's right to use the table during specific time intervals, according to the new rule, seems to induce arguments about personal rights and freedoms in travel. However, these rules are yet to significantly improve the overall lifestyle of travelers on Russian trains, as the effectiveness of these new measures is still uncertain.
