Communication between Novgorod and Moscow is fulfilled by plane, train and bus.
1. Plane
Type of plane is YAK-40. This type has been used on internal Russian airlines for about 20 years. Many characteristics of the plane, such as level of noise inside the saloon, speed, service of passenger, do not correspond to international standards. The non-stop flight lasts about 1,5 hours. The plane departs from Novgorod airport "Yurievo" at 8 a.m. (passage N1932) and arrives to Moscow airport "Bykovo" at 9.35 a.m. Than a plane departs from Moscow at 8 p.m. (passage N1931) and arrives to Novgorod at 9.30 p.m. Direct and return flights are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday every week. A one- way ticket costs 90000 roubles (~18$). From Moscow airport "Bykovo" to downtown passenger can get by bus or by train. It takes about 1 hour more. From Novgorod airport "Yurievo" to the centre of Novgorod a passenger can get by bus N7. It takes about 20 minutes. Of course, taxis are always available. This kind of transportation is very advantageous for businesspersons, who have little spare time and money. Actually, the cost of the flight is comparable with the cost of train or bus ticket. The problem of the flight is a low level of comfort and relatively long distance between Moscow and airport "Bykovo". Attraction of the flight could be increased by changing YAK-40 with a more modern and comfortable plane. The Novgorod airport is not capable to adopt modern international planes. It is planed to build new international airport near Novgorod. Now it seems to be ready by 2000 year. In addition, the flight could take place every day of week. This flight should be advertised on local TV and by other means of advertising. At present the flight is not well known to ordinary people, who still continue to think that a plane is very expensive mode of transportation.
2. Train
Trains using electrical power. The train consists of carriages with 4- place and 2-places coupes. The carriages with 4-place coupes were made in Yugoslavia about 12 years ago. The carriages with 2-place compartments were made in Russia about 15 years ago. The route between Moscow and Novgorod is the main railway rout for our city, the technical state of carriages and services are quite good. The time it takes to go from Novgorod to Moscow is about 8,5 hours. The train stops at the towns: Chudovo, Bologoye, Ostashkov, Tver. The cost of one ticket at a 4-place compartment is 54 000 roubles (10$), the cost of one ticket at a 2- place compartment is 105 000 roubles (20$). This daily train, as a rule, is never be late. The train N42 departs from Novgorod at 9.40 p.m. and arrives to Moscow at 6 a.m. on Leningradsky train station (Komsomolskaya metro/subway station). The train departs from Leningradsky train station at 10.10 p.m., and arrives to Novgorod at 7.15 a.m. In Moscow Leningradsky train station it always hard to put your luggage into luggage room. This is a typical problem for some of Moscow train stations. In this case the passenger should go to another train station (Yaroslavsky or Kazansky) which is situated right near Leningradsky train station. The passenger while being in the train station should be aware of thieves and swindlers. Difficulties with buying tickets may appear during July- August and During Friday-Saturday. Now railway transport is losing itūs attraction because of increasing of prices on tickets and the low level of comfort. The main problem of all types of carriages is a bad ventilation system. So, the passengers feel heat in all seasons. The advantage of using train is convenient time and place of arrival/departure. The railway station in Novgorod is situated right in the centre of the city, and Leningradsky train station is situated not far from centre of Moscow. Morning arrival and evening departure make one-day trip be very popular. The railway between Novgorod and Moscow goes through beautiful forests, lakes, rivers and picturesque old Russian towns, so a passenger may enjoy the view from window.
3. Bus
The main vehicle that is used on a passage Novgorod-Moscow is Ikarus 256 (42 seats) of Novgorod or Tver transport organisations. Technical state of most of buses is quite god, but the level of comfort does not seem to be high. The arm-chairs are not very convenient, the level of noise and vibration is high inside the saloon. The bus station in Moscow is located near the underground station "Scholkovskaya". In Novgorod bus station is situated right near the train station. This daily bus No.923 departs from Novgorod at 7 a.m. and arrives to Moscow at 4 p.m. It has one stop in Tver. One-way ticket costs 55 000 rub. (10$). Departure from Moscow is at 11 a.m., arrival to Novgorod is at 8.10 p.m. There are not many people using this passage because of inconvenient time of departure/arrival and low level of comfort. Actually, after 8-9 hours of sitting in bus arm-chairs any passenger stops understand humour. Evidently, the time of departure/arrival should be changed. The same about the bus that now is used on this passage. Now this passage is used only by little number of passengers who are not satisfied with railway or air transportation by different reasons.
Connection between Novgorod and St.Petersburg is fulfilled by train and by bus.
1. Train
a) Train on electrical power No.665/666. This daily train goes without long stops. Departure from Novgorod is at 7.20 a.m., arrival to Moscowsky train station - at 11.05 a.m. One-way ticket costs 10 100 rub. (2$). Departure from St.Petersburg is at 5.55 p.m., arrival - at 21.10 p.m. Now this railway passage remains most popular because of low prices compare to bus. Carriages of the train are equipped with seats that are not comfortable for tall or thick persons. Old carriages should be changed with modern units, and system of ventilation also must be modified. Usually, buying tickets is not a problem, except July- August and holidays.
b) Train on electrical power No.685/686. This train is completely the same as the one mentioned above.It departs from Novgorod at 5.40 p.m., arrives to Vitebsky train station in St.Petersburg at 11.10 p.m. Departure from St.Petersburg is at 7.25 a.m., arrival to Novgorod- at 12.30 p.m. In 2005 they plan to put into operation a High Speed Railway which will connect Moscowand St.Petersburg and will go through Novgorod region. Modern and comfortable trains will ply along it. This project will add tourists to Novgorod and the Novgorod region. From another point of view, it is ecologically bad for our region. Now there is a quarrel between opponents.
2. Bus
Ikarus 256 (42 seats) is used on the passage Novgorod- St.Petersburg. This direct passage has No.948. In additional, transit buses may be used, such as Staraya Russa -St.Petersburg (No.949), Holm - St.Petersburg (No.240), Parfino - St.Petersburg (No.941). Interval between arriving or departure buses is about 1,5 hours. As a rule, there is no problem with buying tickets because of theirs high price. One-way ticket costs 29 000 rub. (6$). It takes about 3,5 hours to get to St.Petersburg from N. The bus stops in Chudovo. The first passage from Novgorod to St.Petersburg is at 6.25 a.m., the last one - at 7.25 p.m. The first passage from St.Petersburg to Novgorod is at 7.20 a.m., the last one - at 9.15 p.m. It is important that while taking the last passage from St.Petersburg (9.15 p.m.) the passenger comes to Novgorod at 0.30 a.m. In case of it, the traveller may not to catch a city bus because of late time. The advantage of using buses is in the variety of time schedules, so the passenger can choose between different routs which suit in the best way. The quality and technical state of Ikarus buses seem to be good for this passage. The state of roads within Novgorod region is worse than within St.Petersburg region.
1. Road transport
The internal city movement of passengers is fulfilled by city buses Ikarus 260 and 280. The average age of the buses is about 8 years. That is why their technical state is not good. Intervals between buses on the main city routs are about 15 minutes. The fare is 400 rub.(0,1$). More respectable people may take a taxi. Cars Volga GAZ-24 and GAZ-31029 are used as a taxi in N.. Passenger may order a taxi by phone 7- 52-90. The cost is 1000 rub.(0,5$) per km. Taxi main stops are situated right in front of train station and in the beginning of Saint-Peterburgskaya St. (centre of city). Also people may order 8-seats car RAF "Latvia" as a taxi. Technical state of cars GAZ-31029 is better than state of other cars used as a taxi. A taxi ride from the railway station to the centre is approximately 2 USD.
2. River transport
The river transportation is not used for movement people. Only sight- seeing passages exist. Main kinds of river transport are small ships "Moscow 101" and "Zarya" on diesel fuel power. These ships have been used about 15 years. River transportation between Novgorod and St.Petersburg does not exist because of two dominant reasons: - the small depth of the Volkhov river; - high price of ships. For organising movement on this passage, the Volkhov river should be deeper and new modern ships should be bought.
3. Air transport
Nowadays Novgorod has sightseeing flights. Regional local air lines are closed due to unprofitability of flights.
TAXI - tel. 7-52-90; 9-30-38