On August 25, 2012, double-decker buses (double-decker) began to run in Moscow: 3 have already been launched, and 2 more will soon appear. Unique city tours for Muscovites and guests of the capital became possible thanks to the project of the Russian partner City Sightseeing (Spain and Great Britain). The Committee for Tourism and Hotel Management supported the initiative of the tour operator, and by the end of 2012 a test period has been assigned to the new transport.
Doubledeckers are usually considered a kind of symbol of London - they have been walking along the streets of the English capital for more than half a century. More and more double-decker buses appear in other European countries. The original transport was seen in Moscow streets back in the 60s: 2 models from Germany (Do56 and DoS6) ply the usual city route number 111, from Sverdlov Square to Moscow State University.
They drove along wide, presentable streets, linking iconic objects of the main Russian city (the famous Lomonosov University and the Moscow Kremlin). Later the doubledeckers were sent on another flight to the Vnukovo airport. The unusual transport was worn out and scrapped in 1964.
Tourist doubledeckers have reappeared in the capital, but now they are technically improved and specially re-equipped in Berlin. The first batch of sightseeing buses for Moscow has the MAN Wagon Union brand, which is extremely popular in most of the Nordic countries and Germany.
At the grand opening of a new tourism project, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism and Hotel Management Sergei Shpilko noted: "Moscow is the last capital of Europe, where a modern service of excursions on transport by City Sightseen has appeared."
The MAN Wagon Union doubledeckers feature a sliding roof and windows on the second floor. The double-decker buses are equipped with an audio system that allows city tours to be accompanied in eight languages. In a press release from the Moscow Committee for Tourism and Hotel Management, it is reported that MAN Wagon Union will be adapted to the climatic conditions of the middle zone: in winter, the administration plans to launch closed vehicles with double glazing on flights.
The new Moscow route "City Tour" with a length of ten kilometers opens every weekday at 10:00 and runs until 18:00; on weekends extended until 19:00. The excursion starts from Bolotnaya Square and takes place within the Garden Ring for an hour. There are also evening sightseeing tours from 19:30 to 22:00.
The Moscow City Tour program operates according to the so-called Hop on-Hop off system: passengers have the right to get off at any stop, then board the next doubledecker without a ticket. The buses run one after the other every 20 minutes.
The cost of an adult ticket for a flight is 600 rubles, a child ticket - 400 rubles. Schoolchildren and students are invited to get acquainted with the sights of the Russian capital for only 300 rubles. The ticket is valid for 24 hours, regardless of the number of times the passenger enters and exits the double-decker bus. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War, as well as disabled people and toddlers under three years old will be able to ride in bright two-story vehicles absolutely free of charge.
