Since 1 April, 2021 some railroad and intercity bus routes have resumed their operations. However, according to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, only those who provide travel justification are allowed to get on a train or an intercity bus.
The train Turkmenabat-Ashgabat, which goes through Mary, runs twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays.Only those passengers who have a negative COVID-19 certificate and a travel permit are allowed to board the train.
A business trip or the funeral of a close family member can be a legitimate reason.Travel permits were previously required to be able to buy an airplane ticket because air travel was the only opportunity to travel around the country.
People can get to Ashgabat illegally by taking a private taxi but in this case they will have to pay not only the taxi fare but give bribes at police checkpoints.
For instance, a ticket for Mary-Ashgabat train costs 400 per person, which is twice as much as before. In addition, it now takes 10 hours to get to the capital instead of 4,5 to 5 hours.
Unlike the provinces, the vaccination campaign in Ashgabat is going smoothly.Vaccines are irregularly supplied to the regions in small quantities.It appears that this might be one of the reasons used by the authorities to minimize the number of visitors to AshgabatThe post Only passengers with a travel permit are allowed to board Turkmenabat-Mary-Ashgabat train first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.