Russian Overnight Train Options
 

For many visitors to Russia, an overnight train ride is an unforgettable highlight. The following descriptions of service should give you an idea of what to expect. In general, the less you spend on your train ticket, the more stories you'll have to tell about the experience.

The 3 most common overnight options are:
*Sheets/belyO (Russian: бельё) are often sold separately for about 50-100RUR ($2-$4) if not pre-paid at time of booking or included in ticket price.

Might be possible that the train has regular seats as well (сидячее место) - but I'd suggest walking as more fun than spending all night sitting on a hard seat.

Most trains have restaurant cars serving typical Russian food, though many of the locals will have brought a picnic style meal consisting of bread, cheese, kolbasa/meat, pickles/cucumbers, tomatoes, and of course, vodka. Don't forget to stock up on a few liters of water per person - though they'll likely have someone selling drinks and snacks onboard for a premium.

Additional resources:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Russia#Get_around
http://www.waytorussia.net/Transport...tic/Train.html
http://www.seat61.com/Russia.htm

Very helpful, thank you. (Normally I wouldn't post something like this, but it just seemed sad that no one else had done so yet.)

Great info, driftings!

regarding airplane tickets, for SPB-Moscow flight, you can get them for as low as $30 on promo fares, or about $80-$100 standard fare (Oneway). Train prices have gone up a lot to a point where cost-wise is about equal with plane. of course, you are saving the trip to/from airport, but in return it takes longer. more difficult decision than it used to be.

Make it $30 return. Or even (slightly) less now

As of Apr 29, 2008 Aeroflot's best price is $45 one way not including taxes and fees. Adding taxes and fees it comes to $81.60.

You can buy a 2nd class train ticket at the train station for $35 cash according to www.waytorussia.net.

If you take the night train, you can save yourself the cost of a hotel room which could easily be $135 - $200. Though, a plane might be safer since people have been known to be robbed on trains.

getting ready to book SPB to MOW for early June travel
 

I'll be needing to travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow either by overnight train on June 2 or by air on June 3. poking around on waytorussia sight it appears that the train 1 Red Arrow is $150 one way in the 2 person cabin. They mention this is the 'station price' and that using an agency will result in a higher price. I submitted a qoute request and it will be interesting to see what comes back as some other booking sites are listing the same train at EUR172 (which is beyond my budget). I was seeing that Aeroflot was offering one way fares of about $100. Of course flying means getting to and from the airport and an additional hotel night.

Then I saw this older thread during a search of the Russia forum. I am not finding any super low fares as mentioned here when looking on an aggregator like Kayak. Are there specific airlines where I can go to their site and look for fares as mentioned in this thread?

Also, if the quote I get back from the waytorussia vendor is very high, what are the odds I could arrive in SPB on May31 (weekend) and manage a booking on a train to Moscow for Monday June 2, and as fallback book a reasonable flight for June 3? I'm happy to pay some commission but not anything like what looks like $100 difference between the 'station price' and what some agencies are getting.

thanks for any suggestions.

From my experience, $150 isn't bad at all for the Red Arrow.

no reply from ticket sales agent
 

used one of the links from waytorussia for a qoute from a vendor (they don't do ticketing directly) they promise a 24 reply with actual quote (which will be higher as 150 is the station price). No word back.

anyone with experience buying at the station, buying close to travel date, etc.

any hints on the cheapo air between LED and either SVO or DME?

no reply from ticket sales agent
 

used one of the links from waytorussia for a qoute from a vendor (they don't do ticketing directly) they promise a 24 reply with actual quote (which will be higher as 150 is the station price). No word back.

anyone with experience buying at the station, buying close to travel date, etc.

any hints on the cheapo air between LED and either SVO or DME?

It's LED-MOW, June 3, right?

Aeroflot into SVO starts at R1988 all-in (ca. $84)

Sky Express into VKO starts at R1800 but you don't get the same protection in case of flight cancellations/delays unless you shell out some more dough and then SU will come out cheaper.

rzd.ru
 

All travel can be booked via the Russian Railways website for approx. RUR 140 surcharge, tickets collected at the train station prior to departure.

For June 2nd, the Red Arrow shows 1st class sleeper for RUR 4,534...2nd class (lower bunks still available) for 2,276 and 2,663 (the difference is that the more expensive ticket includes a meal/snack, linen is included in all ticket prices for 1st and 2nd class)

would love to book via rail website
 

but I don't speak Russian! any volunteers to walk me through? perhaps via remote desktop or perhaps by phone (I would like to wind up with a printout to bring to the station that they will easily be able to use to get the the tickets

Not sure if this is relevant to you, but I just learned that the AMEX PLAT desk will book many Russian rail tickets. Not sure how big the markup is. I'm looking into the Grand Express train though, which unfortunately AMEX doesn't sell. Has anyone taken that? If so, how did you buy the tickets? Thanks.

I will be taking a train from STP to Moscow in about 3 weeks, leaving on a Friday. Should I bother with booking online through Way To Russia or buy my ticket at the train station (I will be in STP for 5 days prior to leaving)?? My thinking is that it's not a busy tourist season, so I would be okay with train availability, but I don't want to assume anything.