Russia - do not speak russian, need to purchase train tickets

my wife and I do not speak Russian but wish to purchase train tickets (round trip from Moscow to St Pete). I saw a few websites offering to sell tickets but they charge a hefty service fee and I am concerned about security with my credit info.

Is it difficult to purchase train tickets at the train station without knowing any russian? I had heard reports that many of the main staions have a servis tsentr where you pay a small fee (100 ruble) to book your ticket. Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

The official web site is http://www.ticket.rzd.ru/

You need to register here: http://www.ticket.rzd.ru/wps/portal/register and then log in here: http://www.ticket.rzd.ru/wps/portal/login

While everything is in Russian, you should be able to navigate it with the help of translate.google.com

I had heard reports that many of the main staions have a servis tsentr where you pay a small fee (100 ruble) to book your ticket. Does anyone have experience with this?

I absolutely recommend it. Seeing that you'll be staying at the new Hilton, just go to Leningradsky train station. Facing the ticketing windows in the main hall (on the right hand as you enter) you'll see a stairway going up one level to your left. That's where the service center is. The fee is something like R140 now, IIRC

I absolutely recommend it.
The only problem with this approach is that tickets for some dates are sold out well in advance, e.g. the Red Arrow on Fridays and Sundays.

The only problem with this approach is that tickets for some dates are sold out well in advance, e.g. the Red Arrow on Fridays and Sundays.

But they do release the last seats they had in reserve a couple of hours before departure now do they? My wife is from StPete so, between the train and the plane, we must be averaging quite a few return trips every year. I've been mostly flying lately - ever since SU joined Skyteam actually - but I don't recall there ever being a problem finding a bed on a night train. Not even in 2nd class

Or have things changed lately?

Try this

http://www.trainsrussia.com/en/travels/

I found same ticket for £295 and $59in here.