Kazan Railway Station

• The station is on Komsomolskaya Square in Moscow.
• Architect Alexey Shchusev was commissioned to develop the design in 1911.
• The foundation stone for the new building was laid in 1914; construction and furnishing phases were completed in 1926 and 1940.
• The 87-meter-high main entrance tower is named “Suyumbike,” after the tower of the same name in Kazan.
• Yaroslavsky and Leningradsky stations are also on the Square of Three Stations.
• Komsomolskaya metro station is right by the station forecourt.

Alexey Shchusev was commissioned to design the new station building in 1911. The official foundation-stone ceremony followed in June 1914, although construction had already begun. The first major phase of construction and furnishing was completed in 1926, and a second in 1940. The present-day building reflects later extensions, some of which were added according to Shchusev’s plans.

Shchusev designed the main entrance as a “gateway to the East.” The 87-meter-high Suyumbike Tower recalls the tower in Kazan, the former terminus of this rail route. Interior spaces with large halls, arches and murals combine the station’s practical function with grand architecture. Artists engaged by Shchusev included Alexandre Benois, Boris Kustodiev, Mikhail Dobuzhinsky, Nicholas Roerich and Yevgeny Lansere.

The station facade opens onto Komsomolskaya Square and the surrounding streets. Kazan Station, together with Yaroslavsky and Leningradsky stations, forms the architectural ensemble known as the Square of Three Stations. The three buildings can be compared on a walk around the outside; platforms, station entrances and transfer routes, by contrast, are part of the practical journey.

The square has a long-distance station, metro entrances and several separate station buildings. For a transfer, the exact station matters—not just the name “Moscow.” Transfers and local transport connect your arrival point with the next leg of your journey; allow extra time for walking between buildings and platforms, in addition to the journey itself.

For train travel, the destination, departure time, station, platform and ticket are the key details. Train travel and railway stations vary depending on the route and station. Allowing extra time to cross the square, handle luggage and make your transfer helps reduce time pressure. You can adjust the travel schedule with buffer time to suit your own connection.

When transferring between Moscow’s long-distance stations, check the station named on your ticket against the departure station for your connecting journey, and allow time to walk between the separate buildings; train travel through Moscow starts with choosing the right station.

You can save your ticket, departure time and onward address for offline use. Offline maps and addresses make it easier to find your way between the station, metro and next leg of your journey. Include an available payment method with a backup option in your travel preparations for buying tickets. When crossing an international border, also bring the required travel documents.

For an early departure or late arrival, metro operating hours and the location of your accommodation affect the final leg of the journey. For an overnight stay, choose accommodation based on your destination and location, taking its proximity to the station and your planned connection time into account. If you have extra time, you can combine a stay in Moscow with other holiday destinations in Russia.

Before leaving the station, keep your ticket, luggage and onward address organized so you can find the right station building again. For a longer onward journey, check the specific departure station and platform once more against the train timetables and station transfers.

Direct air traffic between Russia and the EU, as well as other European countries, has been suspended; connections via international hubs may be suspended or reduced at short notice. This can also affect your journey to the long-distance station and any transfers.

How reliable is mobile internet after entering Russia?

Foreign SIM cards are usually blocked from mobile internet and SMS for 24 hours after entering Russia; their use may remain restricted afterwards. Offline maps, the station address and connection details can help you find your way and continue your journey.