Russia Begins Biometric Train Boarding Trials as Government Sets 2030 Metro Goal

Field trials on three Moscow-linked routes precede a planned roll-out to RZD customers in early 2026.

Overview

Testing is underway with a limited group of passengers on the Moscow–Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow–Ivanovo, and Moscow–Kostroma routes.
The solution is built by the Center for Biometric Technologies and RZD on the Unified Biometric System, with conductors verifying passengers on portable devices.
Enrollment requires confirmed biometrics registered via authorized banks or at-home visits, and use is optional with passports remaining valid for identification.
Russian law prohibits discrimination against people who choose not to provide biometrics, and data use requires the passenger’s consent.
An updated national transport digitization strategy targets 70 biometric-enabled sites by 2026 and 700 by 2030, and envisions biometric access across all metro systems by 2030; seven metro systems operate in Russia today.