Moscow to Kazan Railway History

The Moscow - Kazan Railway was established in 1860 to connect the capital of Russia, Moscow, with the city of Saratov, an important river port on the Volga River. Despite being owned by future Tsar Alexander III and his brothers, the railway's investors went bankrupt.

The railway was completed in 1862 as far as Kolomna and then Ryazan a decade later. In 1894, the company became the Moscow - Kazan railway, reaching Kazan three decades later. These new railroads helped supply vital materials such as bread from the south and timber from the east to Moscow.

During the Civil War, half of Moscow's trains were out of action. This caused significant delays for passengers and freight, so on Saturday night of April 12th, 1919, fifteen workers from the Moscow - Kazan railway met to repair three engines starting the tradition of the “subbotnik”.

In May 1920, the Bolsheviks organized the first communist subbotnik (voluntary work done on Saturday). These workers inspired hundreds of their coworkers to join in the first large cleanup of the railway a month later. They influenced Vladimir Lenin himself, prompting him to write an essay extolling the subbotnik. To repair Russia devastated by revolution and war.

Moscow to Kazan Sights

Depending on which Moscow to Kazan train you board, you will arrive at distinct stations along the route. Murom and Kazan are the two principal stops.

Murom

This little town is one of Russia's oldest settlements. For the first time in the middle-ninth century, it was mentioned as the easternmost settlement of the East Slavs and a part of Finnic Muromians' territory (the city gets its name from this ethnicity). Although nothing from those ancient times remains, Murom still has many medieval monuments, including Annunciation Monastery, Transfiguration Monastery, Holy Trinity Convent, and Temple of Kosmas and Damian (the city's oldest structure dating from 1565).

Kazan

Tatarstan's capital, Kazan, was founded in 1005 as the country's seat of government. It is home to one of Russia's most distinct and fascinating cities. The UNESCO-protected Kazan Kremlin is the main tourist draw, symbolizing the city's mixing of Tatar and Russian cultures: the sky-blue and white Kul-Sharif Mosque and Annunciation Cathedral are within its walls. Other attractions include the Museum of 1000 Years of Kazan, the colorful Temple of All Religions, Old Tatar Settlement, and Bauman Street with its lively shops.