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Russian trains in questions and answers
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Is it safe to travel in Russian trains?
It has always been very safe but after September 11th the security measures
became even more strict. There is a conductor in each wagon and each train has
a police team.
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I am a woman traveling alone. Is it possible to get a place in the
compartment with other women or a family?
Sorry it is impossible to learn in advance the gender of your co-travellers.
The only way to insure yourself from the unpleasant neighbour is to travel in
2 berth compartment and to pay for both berths.
But certainly there is a much cheaper national solution to this problem (more
often actual for women): when she sees whom she travels with and is not happy
about it, she checks the other compartments and having found the one with
3 women + 1 man or family + 1 man asks him about the places exchange. Usually
it works. It does not require any extra payment.
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Will my luggage be safe?
No more and no less than in any European train. You can be sure in one thing -
there is no chance to meet armed to the teeth band of gangsters chasing after
your luggage. :-) Locals usually put their things in the cases under the berths
on which they sleep and do not leave the compartment empty - at least one
person always stays in to take care of things. That is all.
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How can I get a non-smoking berth in the train?
In Russian trains ALL compartments are non-smoking. The smokers are allowed to
have a cigarette at the platform.
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Are there toilets, showers in the trains?
There are 2 toilets in each wagon - before the first and after the last
compartment. The price of your ticket will determinate what they will be like.
Traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg in the first class wagon you will
have decent and clean WC with toilet paper and soap. The cheaper your ticket
is and longer the journey - less tidy the WC will be.
Showers are a kind of luxury in Russian trains. They are provided only in VERY
expensive wagons. I personally have never seen them with my own eyes. :-)
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Will be any bed linen in the overnight train?
It is always provided but usually at extra fee (about 5 USD per person) which
is collected by the wagon conductor. But if you go with the top price train,
it is already included in the price.
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Is it possible to do stop-overs while traveling on a Russian train?
In the European sense - no. Still no one can prohibit you instead of buying a
ticket from A to D to buy 3 tickets: from A to B, from B to C, and from C to D.
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Where can I buy train tickets on my own?
You will theoretically get the cheapest price if you go directly to the railway
station and suffer for about an hour (2,5 hours in the worst case) in the line.
But the practice shows that dealing with the ticket office girl who does not
speak any English ends up with not the best option.
Otherwise you can go to any of the agencies (they are numerous in the city center).
Often though not always you will find there both kind and English-speaking stuff,
but will pay up to 50% extra for each ticket.
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How to find the needed train?
If you want my honest opinion - the only good option is to ask for the assistance
of English-speaking local. Reading in Russian the timetables and trying to figure
out everything on your own will be both difficult and low-efficient.
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Is the low price really a bad way to travel (dangerous or bad smelling)?
No, it is not. Danger or bad smelling - you need not worry about it when you travel
between Moscow and St. Petersburg. But for the rest of the country you must be very
careful with your choice.
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Do you know if the train station has a safe luggage storage place?
And if so, where?
Yes, there is one in ANY Russian railway station building. They work 24 hours
(no breaks) and are both cheap and reliable. In big cities like Moscow and
St. Petersburg usually there are 2 sections in the luggage office: one with the
metal cells with the automatic code and other operated by the alive man for the
cases which do not fit into the metal cell. Just look for the sign with the
suitcase in the central hall of the station and you will find the place.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg railway stations luggage offices are situated in
the basement.
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Your opinion regarding this article will be much appreciated at the
forum.
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