Trains and compartments

There are the following 4 main classes in the Trans-Siberian Railway trains and in Russia in general:

• Plackarta
• Kupe
• Lux (CB)
• VIP

In all the foregoing classes there are only couchettes.

There are also special business classes on routes between large cities, such as Moscow – St Petersburg. There are usually no compartments in such trains, only seats similar to those in a coach. The seats are often arranged opposite each other with a table in between.

Moreover, the classes differ in quality depending on the type of a train. There are three such classes:

• passenger (pasażerskij) – the cheapest and the slowest, it stops often
• fast (skoryj) - faster, not much more expensive but more comfortable than the passenger one
• company (firmiennyj) – the fastest, with usually new or renovated carriages, offers the highest standard of journey

The journey in plackarta class in a passenger train will certainly be less comfortable than in the company one, and the restaurant carriage will serve worse quality food than in a company train.

Plackarta

Number of seats: 54

An open carriage – without locked compartments. The journey in the carriage is the most comfortable on lower places vertical to the direction of the drive. We advise tall persons against side seats. Lower seats are at the same time a cage with enough room for two rucksacks and there it is impossible to reach their inside with the passengers sleeping on them. Air-conditioning is usually provided by company trains but in no other type train. We recommend taking a small lamp for reading, as the light is turned off by the ticket inspector around 8 p.m. A bedlinen set is included in the price of the ticket.

A carriage plan and photographs

Kupe

Number of seats: 36

A carriage with locked 4-person compartments. Beds in compartments are longer and wider than in a plackarta carriage, therefore even tall people will have no problems with falling asleep. The compartments in company trains are air-conditioned; however, the carriages in other class trains are not equipped with air-conditioning and each bed has its small lamp. A bedlinen set is included in the price of the ticket. Moreover, in some trains even five meals a day are included in price.

A carriage plan and photographs

Lux

Number of seats: 16

A carriage with locked 2-person compartments offering a high standard of travel. Comfortable wide sofas allow comfortable journey. Beds may be pushed together. Compartments are air-conditioned and a bedlinen set is included in price and changed throughout the journey. Moreover, in some trains even five meals a day are included in price.

A carriage plan and photographs

VIP

Number of seats: 8

The highest class 2- or 3 –person compartments with a private bathroom, television and other facilities, such as air-conditioning or fresh flowers. In VIP class carriages there is a small separate restaurant and pub only for the guests of these carriages. Moreover, in some trains even five meals a day are included in price.

A carriage plan and photographs