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.

that depends
 

If your requirements are very specific, sa particular seat or a particular train (eg 2nd class ("coupe"), lower bunk on the Red Arrow) - book in advance. If you are just looking to get to Moscow from Spb, you'll get there.

The more expensive tickets (1st class - СВ) are very likely to be available.

while we are at it
 

Seasonal discounts ("coefficients") on RZD for the rest of 2008:

10/1 -11/10 - 0,86
11/11-12/20 - 0,88
12/21-12/24 - 0,98
12/25-12-26 - 1,04
12/27-12/28 - 1,15
12/29-12/30 - 1,45
12/31 - 0,96

During the applicable period the base fare is multiplied by the corresponding ratio.

And don't forget the multiplier for Jan, 1 - 0.45 ^ It's the cheapest day of the year for train travel

Have they published the rates for 2009 already? :)

This year it was .45, hopefully it will be at least that next year as well...I am sure they'll release the numbers soon, probably by Nov 15, their bookings open 45 days in advance I beleive?

Not yet, but it's always been like this ever since they started this system. Not a lot of people are sober enough to travel on Jan 1, it seems :D

I've heard of people continuing their afterparty on the train.

BTW. Where is the list of coefficients published?

Thanks!

I'm a female and will be traveling solo. I've read that 3rd class (platskartny) might be a better option for women. It certainly is the cheaper option, but is it better in my case?

Sorry, in Russian only

Isn't it something you read over at Lonely Planet fora as the backpackers try to rationalize their penny-pinching ways? :D Seriously though, 3rd class is open plan with no partitions so if would probably be a bit safer (but you're trading in a lot of privacy for that). 2nd class has 4-berth compartments and would potentially be more risky - but I haven't heard of anything untoward happening to anyone I know. IIRC, on most trains you now have a choice between male/female/mixed compartments at time of booking which makes it totally OK, I guess

Here, naturally.

You have several options.

1. Platskartny is one. The condition of RZD rolling stock varies enormously, so you may end up in a brand new car or one with holes in windows and a filthy bathroom. The quality of linen may also be not so good, I think platskart linens are hand-me downs from CB and coupe. Also keep in mind that platskart cars have 9 4-berth open compartments with berths positioned across (numbered 1-36, odd numbers for lower berths) and pairs of narrower berths running along the opposite side (No's 37-54) where the lower berth converts into 2 seats and a table (which means that you don't get to go to bed until your top-bunk compadre is ready to retire) Seats at both ends of the car are less desirable due to the proximity of toilets. There's very little privacy in these cars and you may get some riff-raff with questionable manners.
   
2. On most sleeper trains they also now designate a 2nd class (and a 1st class) car for separate M/F coupe compartments (and I suspect that would be the "chick" car of the train ;) )
   
3. There are also 3 high-speed trains with open coach-type seating. No's 159/160 The Avrora, 165/166 The Nevsky Express, and a weekly 167/168 ER-200, USSR's original high-speed train. These are slightly more expensive, running RUR 2500-3500 (for 3500 you can get a 1st class sleeper). There's also train 23/24 which offers coach seating for a price comparable to platskart. (around RUR 500)

I've traveled in 2nd class on the Nikolaevsky Express (No 5/6) and found the interiors a bit tired and dusty. On the way back it was 2nd class on a 'no-name' train, and the car was new, bright and airy.

So lots of choices and little consistency. Personally I think travelling on an overnight sleeper in 2nd or 1st class, drinking "chai" and making new friends is a more authentic experience and I would go for the tried and true Red Arrow. You can get a lower bunk in their M/F coupe car for RUR 2100+, but that would be a specific request that should be preferably booked in advance.

Works for me, thanks.

Doesn't it run 6 times a week (Mon-Sat)?

Plugging some dates into the RZD timetable for Moskva - Sankt-Peterburg I only see Friday 7 PM departures for No 168

PS Also see the schedule on the Oktyabrskaya Railway site dedicated to their "branded" trains

Not to be outdone, I have seen quite a number of folks drinking and travelling on Canadian and Australian trains - even taking sips from a can of cola laced with rum/rye..

I suppose this just indicates that train systems in different countries have different standards for passenger blood alcohol levels ;-)

Oh, I see. My bad. A lot of people in Moscow refer to the Nevsky Express as ER-200 - it's now become sort of shorthand for the fast afternoon train. Hence the confusion

Ask and ye shall receive


For those that don't read Russian:

Jan, 1 - x0.45,
Dec 31 - x1,

- and the rest of the dates is in the numerical format (02.01.09-05.01.09 and so on). DD.MM.YY, of course

trains...
 

www.seat61.com is an excellent source of info regarding train travel. The LH side toolbar has "Russia" listed as one of the sources. It is excellent.

No one in their right mind takes a train to "save" money. Usually, airfare is cheaper. We take trains for an unforgettable experience. Such experiences cost both time and money - kinda like making/buying/drinking a nice wine versus some cheap "plonk".

I got my tix through waytorussia.com, and one of the firms that sell tix. Now to wait for the trip from Vladivostok to Moscow ;-)

Thanks for your help. Last Friday, I ended up traveling 2nd class to Moscow from STP on the #037 train. Everything was fine and I slept easy. :)

Although this is a little late, I'll respond anyway. I've taken Grand Express (third class, which they call first class, but it was still rather nice and I got a much better night's sleep than I did on my transatlantic flight on BA in WT+), but I can't help too much with the booking, unfortunately. My ticket was booked by my university. I'm not sure if it was done by the US institution or the Russian institution (which was a division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or even the program director. You may have to book through a travel agency because their Website says they don't sell tickets outside Russia. However, if you go to the Russian side of their Website, they'll let you buy a ticket online. They ask for a passport number and accept a "zagranichniy passport" which is one good for exiting Russia, but they don't seem particular on the country. You can tell them you're going to pick up your ticket it seems ("purchase ticket without delivery"). I'm not sure I trust this, though, because it's insecure and there's no actual method of payment, so it seems you still have to find some way to pay for it. I can't figure out how that works. Maybe you pay the messenger that delivers it...
Otherwise, like so many things in Russia, you'll have to go through an extra layer of bureaucracy, and in this case, it's the travel agent.

Thanks very much for the response. We took our Russia trip in July and ended up booking our train ticket two days before through our hotel (the Sheraton). We took one of the standard overnight trains, and it was very comfortable.

OT: required viewing
 

Fellow Russian train buffs, your ship (or train?) has come in:

Transsiberian (The Movie)

Trailers on the Apple Website and lots of other info on the official site

Cinematic qualities aside, this will definitely give you a pretty good impression of what Russian train travel is like.

Great info, guys. I will be traveling solo to Moscow next Oct. (if all goes as planned. Long story)

Have looked into the train, yes- for the experience. My dad did the trans-sib back in the 80's, and Mos-SPB about 10 years ago. Loved it.

Having watched this earlier this year, I can highly recommend it - both as a thriller and as an insight to long distance train travel! I was bracing myself for it to be an eye-rolling catalogue of clichéd Russian stereotypes, but it rose above that.

Thank you. I will watch it next Nov. :~)

Just don't watch it on a plane.... I don't know why, but it gave me the creeps by end of the movle. Very good movie, though.

Train tix
 

As luck would have it I smashed my right kneecap and left outer ankle while walking down the street in Calcutta. After surgery in Calcutta I decided to cancel the Vladivostok-Moskow trip (as well as Beijing/Harbin). Plus I got a serious infection and will be finally be released from a hospital here in the UAE this Saturday.

The sources mentioned (WayToRussia ans Seat61) have always been my main sources of info. WTR has provided quick invitations/confirmations on the 2 occasions I have used them. OTOH, The Russian Cousulate staff here are surely and a bit slack in terms of providing info for visa applications (and espcially prices) - trying to refer me to a "selected travel agent" to get the visa for me. So, I have on 2 occasions had my Russia Visas "created" in Ottawa, Canada where my son did the personal delivery/pick-up for me. They are pleasent, polite, super friendly, and work as fast as their regulations allowed. Last year I got a visa in 5 days by paying extra. This year it took 15 days exactly and got a nice hologrammed visa. This year there is no fast-track and no extra fee payment available. PLUS, the application form is different so make sure you download the latest version if you are doing so.

I still hear that train whistle. Perhaps next year..