Tips

FAQ

What is the best time to start a Trans-Siberian Railway journey?

The journey around Russia is recommended in Spring, Summer and early Autumn. However, Winter in Russia may be fascinating, as well.

Luggage

There are the following luggage limits:

• 36 kg in plackarta and kupe classes
• 50 kg in sw-lux and VIP classes

Larger luggage must be reported to the train manager at the front of the train. Usually, an additional charge is involved. Sometimes a luggage carriage is provided to enable the transport of motorbikes and other things. You may transport a bicycle upon obtaining the consent of the train manager.

The transport of a dog

You should be able to show the dog vaccination certificate. Ordinary transport is possible and the charge is collected as for the excess luggage. In case of large dogs the whole compartment must be paid for.

Personal hygiene (shower)

Ticket inspectors may provide a shower (a rubber pipe attached under a washbasin in the toilet, the water flows under the train); usually there is a shower in company trains and higher class carriages.

The journey safety

The railway journey is a safe one as the passengers are constantly taken care of by:

• 2 ticket inspectors in each carriage
• train security

A restaurant carriage and catering available at stations

Prices offered by a restaurant carriage are twice or three times the prices of similar standard restaurants, however, they are not excessive. During the day, a waiter walks around the train with a basket of goods served in the restaurant carriage and sells sweets, beverages, nuts, beer, frankfurters in pastry and many others. The food quality differs; in general, the more expensive the train, the better the food. There are always old vodka and beer in the restaurant carriage.

Sample prices in a restaurant carriage:

• A glass of vodka: 1 - 2 Euro
• A bottle of vodka: 20 - 30 Euro
• Beer: 1 - 2 Euro
• Sandwich: 5 Euro
• Dinner: 10 - 20 Euro

So called babushkas are sold at stations which are, for instance, boiled potatoes with roast chicken, vegetables or fish. Many stations offer specific cuisine:

• Tayga - cedar nuts
• Balezino - ginger cakes
• Baikal lake areas - powans

During the day vendors get into trains to sell such goods as newspapers, souvenirs, toys, dinner dishes and many others.

Vaccine

Before the journey to Siberia it is essential to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis and vaccines against jaundice and typhoid are recommended.

How to collect tickets

All Russian tickets are of an e-ticket type. Nevertheless, before the departure an e-ticket shall be exchanged into a traditional ticket (a paper one):

• at any ticket office
• at a special e-ticket exchange stand
• at an electronic self-service kiosk

The service is free of charge. You shall arrive at the station at about 1.5 hour before the train is due.

International and Ukrainian tickets, e.g. from Moscow to Beijing are available only in paper form and sent to a Client via courier mail.

Links

Moscow - > Vladivostok virtual trip
Moscow railway stations
Virtual Transsiberian trip

Maps of Russian Railways

Map of East Siberian Railways
Map of Gorkovskaja Railways
Map of Far East Railways
Map of Baikal Railways
Map of West Siberian Railways
Map of Kliningrad Railways
Map of Krasnojarsk Railways
Map of Kujbischevskaja Railways
Map of Moscow Railways
Map of Oktjabrskaja Railways
Map of Volga River Railways
Map of Sahalin Railways
Map of Sverdlovskaja Railways
Map of North Railways
Map of North Kavkaz Railways
Map of South-East Railways
Map of South-Ural Railways