I recently took the train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod, and let me tell you, it's a long ride – we're talking hours and hours. But if you're in a hurry, you can get to your destination in just four hours on the 'Burevestnik' express train, which is a two-story, high-speed train.
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High-speed two-story train 'Burevestnik' Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod .High-speed two-story train "Burevestnik" runs on the Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod route (starting from December 3, 2025). The train consists of coaches with standard and improved seating arrangements, a sleeping car, a VIP car, and a buffet car.
(quotes from the official RZD-Passenger website, section High-speed trains - Burevestnik)
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High-speed two-story train 'Burevestnik' Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod . "Coach with seats".xa0
We took the 'Burevestnik' from Moscow's Yaroslavsky station to Nizhny Novgorod's Moscow station on New Year's Eve.
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High-speed two-story train 'Burevestnik' Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod . Yaroslavsky station in Moscow
The Aeroflot Express 'Buran' train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. I was impressed by the speed of this train, departing from Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow. Be careful, as there are three 'Burans' running on this route, departing from different stations in Moscow.
The train makes only four stops in major cities, which are also part of the 'Golden Ring of Russia' route, including Nizhny Novgorod and some of its surrounding cities.
The Aeroflot Express 'Buran' train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod - route and schedule. We traveled in a standard 'Sitting' carriage, not business class, with two seats on one side of the aisle and three on the other. I'm not a fan of this layout, as it makes the seats feel cramped and uncomfortable.
The Aeroflot Express 'Buran' train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod - standard 'Sitting' carriage. When booking tickets online, the website doesn't indicate which carriage you'll be in, unlike the 'Lastochka' trains. It's possible that the ticket agents at the train station may know, but I wouldn't count on it.
Speed Train "Burevestnik" from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. "Seated Carriage". Buy ticket. Carriage layout. How to choose a seat. In the seated cars, you'll find comfortable chairs with flip-down tables and footrests. Each seat comes with individual power outlets, as well as USB and Type-C ports for charging your devices.
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In the "Business" seated cars, passengers can adjust the angle of the chair's backrest to their liking. The seats are spaced further apart, and there are additional headrests. You can also rotate the chairs 180 degrees, which is super convenient. Plus, these cars have a single compartment (SV) with a monitor.
We rode on the second floor by the window - the view was great; for the compartment cars in the Burevestnik, it's best to check the photos for details. As for the double-decker trains, passengers say that the upper shelves on the second floor are higher than the window, so you can't really see anything from up there.
The view from the first floor of the Seated Carriage in the Burevestnik was just as good, by the way.
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Fast Double-Decker Train 'Buran' Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod. "Seated Carriage".I was pleasantly surprised to find that the seats in the Buran train recline, and you can adjust them even in the regular seated carriage, not just in the "Business" one, as it's mentioned on the website. However, in the regular seated carriage, the seats don't swivel, of course, like they do in business class.
The armrests on the seats are really comfortable, and the shelf above the armrest is even more convenient - it's perfect for holding your phone. Kudos to the designers of these train carriages!
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Fast Double-Decker Train 'Burun' Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod. "Seated Carriage". Armrests. Phone shelves.For your luggage, there's a separate compartment on the first floor, and on the second floor, there are luggage racks;
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Fast Double-Decker Train 'Burun' Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod. "Seated Carriage". Passenger Luggage Compartment
The Buran Express train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. I was impressed by the spacious 'seating car' with luggage racks on the second level. One of the highlights was the cold and hot water dispensers in the car, which even came with disposable cups – a nice touch!
The Buran Express train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. 'Seating car' with water dispensers. As for food, the train staff offered the usual selection of snacks and drinks, including tea and coffee – a convenient option for those on the go.
The toilets were conveniently located on the first level, making it easy to access.
The Buran Express train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. 'Seating car' with toilets. One thing to note is the staircase to the second level, which is quite steep – something to consider when booking your ticket, especially if you plan on using it frequently.
The Buran Express - a high-speed double-decker train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. "Sitting car". Staircase to the second floor.The onboard amenities are top-notch - slippers and a sleep mask for each passenger. You can even walk around the train in your socks, the floor is clean and dry. On the initial station, they lay down a mat, and once it's removed, the floor remains spotless and dry.
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The Buran Express - a high-speed double-decker train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. "Sitting car". Luggage compartment.To pass the time (and for some advertising), the trains come equipped with colorful and interesting magazines from Russian Railways. I enjoy reading them, and you can even take one with you to share with a friend.
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The Buran Express - a high-speed double-decker train from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. Russian Railways magazines.Internet access is only available in areas with nearby cell towers, so it's best to have cash on hand for purchases in the train.
"Попутчик" is a service by RZhD-Media, and you can connect to RZhD Wi-Fi at any railway station. For a while, your connections even stay active in the network, even when you're on a train or another station - you just need to log in, and full registration isn't required anymore. It's like Wi-Fi in Moscow metro, I guess.
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High-speed double-decker train "Burevestnik" - Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod. RZhD-Media, "Попутчик" serviceConnecting and registering to RZhD-Media's network ("Попутчик") is pretty straightforward, but if you need help, you can ask the conductors - they'll guide you through it.
"Internet remembers everything!" but now you'll need to check the latest reviews for the train "Burevestnik" Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod - the old train is only left in online reviews.
Tickets are available on RZD's website, their mobile app, and at railway ticket offices - there's no shortage of options; and prices, as usual, go up the closer you get to your travel date (meaning, the shorter the period, the more expensive the tickets get).
RZD Tickets app - Both the computer version and the mobile one... - (reviews)
rzd-bonus.ru - What can I say, it's a great program,... - for those who travel by train at least once every two years, it's a nice, non-intrusive program that lets you earn bonus points for a free ticket.
My reviews on various topics (link to Profile) - feel free to check them out!