 | COVID-19 inligting: Treine wat na China en Mongolië gaan, is tot verdere kennisgewing opgeskort. Binnelandse treine bly egter aan die gang, hoewel die diens verminder of gekanselleer kan word. Raadpleeg Russiese Spoorweë vir opdaterings. |
| (Inligting laas op 17 November 2020 opgedateer) |
Die Trans-Siberiese spoorweg (Russies: Транссиби́рская магистраль Transsibírskaya magistral ' of Трансси́б Transsíb) is die naam wat gegee word aan die spoorroetes wat deurkruis Siberië van Moskou. Roetes nie treine nie, let wel; daar is nie iets soos die "Trans-Siberian Express" nie. Daar is drie hoofroetes, met verskeie treindienste daarlangs:
- Die Trans-Siberies behoorlike kruise die enorme breedte van Rusland, van Moskou via Perm, Jekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Chita en Khabarovsk tot by die Stille Oseaan by Vladivostok.
- Die Trans-Mongools volg dieselfde roete vanaf Moskou tot by Ulan Ude en vertak dan suid via Ulaanbaatar in Mongolië tot Beijing in Sjina.
- Die Trans-Manchurian volg die roete verder, verby Ulan Ude na Chita, voordat ons Chinese Mantsjoerye na Beijing oorsteek.
Hierdie roetes word bedien deur direkte end-to-end treine, met dié na Vladivostok ten minste daagliks en een of twee keer per week na China. Verskeie treine maak van korter dele af, dus u hoef nie te oornag om in dieselfde rigting te gaan nie. Soos 'n kronkelende rivier het die Trans-sib sy loop met verloop van tyd verander, sodat daar verskillende parallelle roetes is. Oor die hele Europese Rusland is die klassieke roete via Nizhny-Novgorod, maar ander lyne loop noord via Yaroslavl of suid via Kazan. Die Trans-sib het vroeër via Petropavl gery, maar dit is nou in onafhanklike Kazakstan: die roete is dus noordwaarts herlei, maar treine na Astana loop steeds die ou pad. Die "BAM" of Hooflyn van Baikal-Amur is 'n noordelike parallelle lyn wat uiteindelik die Stille Oseaan by Vanino / Sovetskaya Gavan bereik; daar is sprake daarvan om dit na die Sakhalin-eiland of selfs Japan uit te brei. Dit is interessante newe-reise, maar word nie hier as deel van die Trans-Siberiese beskou nie.
Die Trans-Siberiese spoorweg, gebou 1891–1916, is die langste spoorweg ter wêreld. Die langste trein diens in die wêreld is van Moskou tot Pyongyang langs die Trans-Siberiese roete na Ussuriysk naby Wladiwostok, waar dit suid vertak na Noord-Korea. Dit loop twee keer per maand as 'n deurtrein.
Verstaan
'N Rit met die Trans-Siberiese spoorweg is een van die min ware avonture wat oorbly.
Die roete van Yaroslavsky-stasie in Moskou na Wladiwostok strek oor twee kontinente, 16 groot riviere, ses federale state en byna honderd stede. Vandag nog is die brûe oor die Amoer, Yenisei en Ob uniek - dit is die grootste rivierbruggies op die Asiatiese vasteland. In totaal is daar 485 brûe. Dit is die ruggraat van die Russiese spoorwegnetwerk en die verbinding tussen die Asiatiese en Europese spoorwegnetwerke. Dit is die mees gereiste spoorweg ter wêreld, en baie van die olie in Rusland word daarheen vervoer.
Terwyl die bevolking oor die hele roete grotendeels etnies Russies is, sal meer en meer van verskillende Asiatiese etniese groepe gesien word as u die Stille Oseaan kus nader.
Die mense wat u heel waarskynlik sal leer ken, is u medepassasiers. Veral diegene wat alleen reis, sal heel waarskynlik plaaslike inwoners in die kompartement ontmoet. Dit is 'n fantastiese geleentheid om Russe te leer ken, veral as u die taal 'n bietjie ken. Onthou dat die meeste mense nie 'n woord Engels praat nie, dus bring a Russiese frase-boek. 'N Outomatiese vertaler op 'n slimfoon of tablet kan 'n onontbeerlike hulpmiddel word om die inwoners te verstaan.
Geskiedenis
- Sien ook: Russiese Ryk, Soviet Unie
Om voor die spoorweg in Siberië te reis, was 'n desperate saak. Vroeë roetes, handel en nedersetting was noord-suid en gebruik die groot riviere om gedurende die kort somer vanuit die Noordpool in te vaar. Daar is gepoog om 'n oos-wes-snelweg vanaf die 16de en 17de eeu te bou, maar die vroeë bou van die pad kon nie ooreenstem met die harde klimaat en logistieke probleme nie. Intussen het die groot natuurlike hulpbronne van Siberië onbenut gebly, en ekonomies het die ooste na China en nie Rusland gekyk nie, en die tsare, toe die Sowjets, het aangehou. Maar eers in 2015 het Rusland 'n heeltemal geplaveide snelweg tot by kus gehad. En selfs nou dat die snelweg oop is, word vrag en mense baie meer via die spoorweg beweeg as per pad - veral oor die groot afstande wat dikwels nodig is om van enige plek na enige plek in Siberië te kom.
'N Spoorweg was 'n beter vooruitsig vir die verskuiwing van swaar vrag, en die konstruksie van die Trans-sib-spoorlyn het in Mei 1891 vanaf die weste en ooste begin. Die eerste dekade was 'n verhaal van modderige heldhaftigheid, met meer as 7000 km spoorlyn gebou - geen ander spoorlyn is so vinnig gebou nie. Dit ten spyte van al die heuwels, heide en moerasse, ten spyte van die ysterharde bevrore grond, ondeurdringbare taiga en groot riviere wat oorgesteek moet word, alles met 19de-eeuse toerusting en kundigheid - en in 'n land dikwels deur tydgenote as hopeloos agteruit beskou. Daar was tot 60 000 werkers wat die spoorweg gebou het, en baie lewens het verloor. Die hele spoorlyn van 9288 km is in 1916 voltooi, en die elektrifisering is in 2002 voltooi. Dit het die gesig van Rusland verander, wat nou net soveel 'n Asiër geword het as 'n Europese land. Siberië en die Verre Ooste van Rusland het 'n ekonomiese oplewing gesien en 'n massiewe migrasie na hierdie streke - nie altyd vrywillig nie. Dorpe langs die spoorlyn, soos Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnojarsk en Irkoetsk, het gegroei tot groot industriële stede. Net so het ander plekke verdor: Tomsk was van plan om op die Trans-sib te wees, maar die verbeterde ingenieurswese het 'n korter roete via Novosibirsk moontlik gemaak, en dit het 'n stortplek geword vir dissidente, 'n agterwater, en die ou stad word beter bewaar as 'n resultaat. Om net een voorbeeld te gee van die belangrikheid wat selfs tydgenote op die spoorweg plaas, skryf die Franse koerant "La France" na voltooiing: "Na die ontdekking van Amerika en die bou van die Suez-kanaal, ken die geskiedenis geen ander gebeurtenis wat so 'n groot direkte en indirekte gevolge as die konstruksie van die Trans-Siberiese spoorweg. '
Tipes treine
Daar is vier verskillende soorte langafstandtreine. Firmennye (Фирменный) en skory (Скорый) is sneltreine, die voormalige bied 'n hoër vlak van gemak. Passazhirskiy (Пассажирский) is stadiger en minder gemaklik, terwyl pochtovo-bagazhniy (Почтово-багажный) is super-stadig en hoofsaaklik ontwerp vir aflewering. 'N Hoër treinnommer beteken 'n laer treinkategorie en minder diens in die trein. Die treinkategorie word in die skedule neergeskryf. Daar is ook plaaslike treine (wat dikwels 'Elektrichka' genoem word, omdat dit die eerste elektriese treine in Rusland is wat algemeen gebruik word), maar dit dek nie die hele lyn nie (en verbind dikwels 'n stad met sy voorstede langs die lyn) en ry langs dit sou die hele saak nog meer van 'n avontuur maak - soortgelyk aan die poging om die hele Europa met pendelbane en plaaslike busse te dek.
Hoe langer die gedeelte is, hoe minder treinalternatiewe sal u kies. Direkte treine tussen Moskou en Beijing vertrek twee keer per week (een trein via Ulaanbataar en 'n ander via Harbin). Tussen Moskou en Sint-Petersburg is daar daagliks meer as 20 treine.
Op langafstandtreine is daar een of twee bywoners per motor. Hulle is verantwoordelik vir die skoonmaak van die samovars en die kontrolering van die kaartjies.
Berei voor
Onafhanklik of saam met 'n toergroep?
Reis onafhanklik is eenvoudig, mits u goed georganiseerd is, en u al u tussenstops, verblyf en reisbene vooraf kan beplan en bespreek. (En u sal dit moet doen om u Russiese visum te bekom as u reis meervoudig toegang tot Rusland behels.) Dan, soos 'n ruimtetuig wat tussen planete loop, sal u byna gewigloos van trein tot hotel vorder tot trein na hotel. Probeer dit improviseer terwyl u aangaan, en dit sal 'n avontuur op die moeras wees. U kan wegkom met die vlerk langs die Moskou - Sint Petersburg-as en in die GOS-lande. Trans-Siberiese afstande en reistye is egter groot, en om akkommodasie te vind en treinkaartjies plaaslik te bespreek, vereis ten minste basiese kennis van Russies.
As u op 'n georganiseerde reis reis toer, al hierdie probleme verdwyn. U moet net betaal en op die regte tyd opdaag. 'N Groepsreis op die Trans-Siberiese is ongeveer 30% duurder in vergelyking met 'n selfdoenreis. Dit beteken ook dat u gebonde is aan die skedule van die groep en dat u interaksie met plaaslike inwoners waarskynlik beperk sal wees tot die kelner in die eetwa.
Klimaat en toerusting
Hou die bagasie so klein as moontlik en vermy waardevolle artikels. Wat u moet inpak, hang af van die tyd van die jaar; in die somer kan die temperatuur in Siberië en China tot meer as 30 ° C styg. In die winter sal dit in 'n groot deel van Rusland en Mongolië onder -30 ° C wees. In die lente of herfs moet net 'n paar T-hemde, 'n trui en 'n ligte baadjie voldoende wees. Indien nodig, kan klere goedkoop by markte langs die pad gekoop word. In die trein moet u klere gemaklik wees (bv. Sportklere) en slippers. Dit word ook aanbeveel om genoeg goed saam te neem om te lees.
Voorgestelde paklys
Die volgende artikels word aanbeveel vir lang reis met die Trans-Siberiese spoorweg:
- Knipmes Om brood en groente op te sny, kan u by die groot stopplekke by die verkopers koop
- Eetgerei Kitsnoedels, of die Russiese weergawe daarvan - kitspatats, word 'n belangrike versnapering vir die meeste reisigers, want elke wa is toegerus met kookwater uit die Samovar, maar hulle kom ongelukkig dikwels sonder die gewone plastiekvurk of -lepel.
- Morsblikke of groot beker van vlekvrye staal met bedekking. Nuttig om noedels of tee voor te berei en tande te borsel.
- Geparfumeerde natweefsels / babadoeke / nat doekies Hierdie klein dingetjies kan wondere verleen vir u persoonlike higiëne.
- Koplamp Op hierdie lang reise (deur 8 tydsones) blyk dit dikwels dat Einstein inderdaad gelyk het - tyd word relatief. Bring dus 'n koplamp om te lees as ander wil sluimer.
- Plakkies of ander aansteekskoene vir u dae in die trein
- Pak kaarte of ander speletjies wat maklik verklaar kan word, is ideaal om saam met u reisigers te kuier, en om die lang ure wat u aan die trein spandeer, baie aangenamer te maak. Bring 'n dek van 5 krone, want dit is 'n gunsteling in Rusland. As u 'n skaakspeler is, moet u in elk geval 'n klein skaakstel saambring - die spel is baie gewild in Rusland.
- Foto's van u huis, land en gesin en a frase-boek met 'n gespreksgedeelte kan verbasend goed werk, aangesien u niks anders as tyd het om die taalgaping te oorkom nie. Baie Russe is geneig om nuuskierig te wees oor buitelanders sodra die aanvanklike vermoede verdwyn, omdat hulle normaalweg nie baie ontmoet nie - selfs deesdae. Aanbevole: maak 'n lys van die woordeskat en bestudeer dit in die trein!
- Elektroniese laaier en eksterne battery - baie treine is nie met elektriese voetstukke nie.
Juweliersware kan die beste by die huis gelos word. As u 'n selfoon, tablet of skootrekenaar saambring, moet dit natuurlik soveel moontlik buite sig gehou word. Een ding wat u moet saambring, is 'n kamera met genoeg stoorplek. In alle groter stede is daar internetkafees waar u u foto's kan oplaai of op 'n skyf kan verbrand. Neem ook ekstra batterye of laaiers saam, aangesien u toestelle aan boord nie maklik sal wees nie (alhoewel dit moontlik is).
Gaan in
Die drie terminale van die Trans-Siberiese is Moskou, Beijing en Vladivostok. Daar is ook 'n tweemaandelikse verbinding vanaf Moskou aan Pyongyang.
Europese eindpunte
Moskou kan per trein vanaf baie Europese bestemmings bereik word. Tariewe van Londen (eenrigting) begin ongeveer GBP200 en Duitse spoorweë is 'n nuttige bron. U het waarskynlik 'n deurgangsvisum nodig vir Wit-Rusland Tensy u deur die Oekraïne reis, neem u op hierdie roete 'n draai vanaf Warschau tot by Riga (verskeie busse, benodig 'n paar dae) of vanaf Duitsland via Helsinki (per trein of veerboot, relatief duur). Deur op die noordelike manier te kom, kan u 'n besoek aan Saint Petersburg - bereikbaar per trein, bus of veerboot van Finland en Estland.
Eurolines is 'n Europese busonderneming met roetes vanaf baie stede. Tariewe vanaf Londen begin vanaf ongeveer GBP60.
Lugdiens is die vernaamste lugdiens wat Moskou in en uit bedryf, en byna alle Europese (en sommige Asiatiese en Noord-Amerikaanse) vlagvervoerders en sommige goedkoop lugdienste vlieg na Moskou.
Watter Moskou-stasie? In die eerste plek vertrek u trein vanaf die stasie wat op u kaartjie staan, so kyk! Maar normaalweg vertrek treine langs die klassieke Trans-Siberiese roete via Kirov vanaf die Yaroslavskaya-stasie in Moskou. Maar verskeie treine na die Oeral, Siberië en die Verre Ooste vertrek vanaf die Kazanskaya-stasie in Moskou; dit is aangrensend aan die Yaroslavskaya-stasie en die Leningradskaya-stasie in die NO van die stad, en die metrohalte vir al drie terminale is Komsomolskaya. Sommige ander treine ooswaarts (meestal na Nizhny Novgorod) vertrek vanaf Moskou Kurskaya, 1 km verder suid, en die metrohalte is Kurskaya.
Saint Petersburg, die Russiese hoofstad destyds toe Transsib gebou is, kan met die trein vanaf Finland en die Baltiese lande bereik word. Van daar af kan u óf na Moskou gaan, óf die noordelike Trans-Siberiese roete volg, deur Moskou te omseil via Vologda en Jekaterinburg, waar u waarskynlik die trein sal moet verander om verder te gaan Vladivostok of Beijing.
Daar is direkte vliegtuigverbindings na Moskou en Sint-Petersburg vanaf baie Europese lughawens.
Asiatiese terminale
DBS Ferry loop dwarsdeur die jaar tot Vladivostok van Sakaiminato, Japan via Donghae, Suid-Korea. Met die lug bedien Aeroflot onder andere Vladivostok.
Beijing kan met die trein van so ver as bereik word Lhasa (Tibet) daaglikse diens, of Ho Chi Minh-stad (Vietnam), twee keer per week diens, of Hongkong, alternatiewe datums. Buiten Vietnam breek die spoorverbinding en is daar geen treinroetes vanaf Thailand, Myanmar of Indië nie, hoewel bus dikwels 'n opsie is. Daar is baie internasionale vlugte na Beijing en redelik baie na ander oostelike terminale. Byvoorbeeld Air Asia bied begrotingsopsies in China aan, Siberian Airlines S7 vliegverbindings na Rusland aan te bied, terwyl MIAT Mongolian Airlines werk aan Ulaanbaatar vanaf Beijing, Moskou, Seoel en Hong Kong in die seisoen.
Visa-inligting
Meer gedetailleerde visuminligting in die Rusland, Mongolië en Sjina artikels
Die meeste reisigers het visums vir al drie lande nodig.
Sjina en Mongolië is redelik reguit. Die beste manier om 'n visum te bekom, is deur u eie ambassade of konsulaat of in Hongkong. Visums vir Britse burgers kos GBP30. Mongoolse visums kan egter maklik verkry word vanaf die Mongoolse konsulaat in Irkutsk (Rusland), en Chinese visums in Ulaanbaatar(Op die oomblik word dit nie aanbeveel om aansoek te doen vir Chinese visums in Mongolië nie, weens verskerpte regulasies.) Burgers van die Verenigde State (90 dae), Kanada, Israel (30 dae) en 'n paar Europese en Asiatiese lande kan visumvry in Mongolië ingaan. Om na China te reis, benodig byna almal 'n visum - die uitsonderings is burgers van Japan en 'n paar klein lande; sien China # Visums.
Rusland is meer problematies. Uitnodigings is gewoonlik nodig vir die uitreiking van 'n visum. Praktyk wys dat u dit kan kry by aanlyndienste soos Realrussia of VisaHQ. As u tuiskaartjies by 'n reisagentskap tuis koop, kan hulle u visumaansoek byna seker hanteer as hulle spesialiseer in reise na Rusland. 'N Toeristevisum gee u tot 30 dae in die land. 'N Besigheidsvisum is 'n keuse vir mense wat tot 90 dae wil spandeer, maar u moet dalk 'n reisagentskap in u land gebruik om dit te reël.
Elke buitelandse toeris moet registrasie kry vir verblyf op een plek van meer as 7 werksdae (9 dae indien die naweek ingesluit is). Hotelle bied dit meestal gratis, sommige koshuise doen dit teen ekstra koste. Blykbaar kan enige Rus u by sy / haar plek registreer deur na die poskantoor te gaan en 'n klein fooi te betaal. As u minder as 7 werksdae op een plek bly, hoef u nie te registreer nie. Treinkaartjies en hotelbewyse is 'n goeie bewys dat u nie te veel oorbly het nie. In elk geval, dit word sterk aangeraai om kaartjies en kwitansies te hou totdat u die land verlaat.
Russiese transito-visums wat egter in Beijing of Harbin laaste 10 dae en benodig geen uitnodiging nie. Dit sou genoeg tyd wees om die reis onderweg te maak en 'n paar dae in Moskou deur te bring. Die konsulaat van Beijing is oop van 09:00 tot 11:00, maar onthou dat baie Chinese burgers ook probeer om visums by u te bekom, dus daag vroeg op. Die koste wissel vir elke nasionaliteit, maar Amerikaners kan verwag om US $ 250 vir dieselfde dag of 150 dollar vir die diens van vyf dae te betaal. Met aankoms in Moskou jy het vier nagte geldig op u transito-visum, wat een of twee nagte in Moskou, 'n oornagtrein en een of twee nagte in Sint Petersburg toelaat, maar u moet voor middernag op die laaste dag van u visum oor die grens wees.
Daar is baie maniere om via Sint Petersburg uit Rusland te vertrek, insluitend busse en treine na Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Kiev en verskillende ander plekke in Europa, maar wees versigtig dat byna alle nasionaliteite 'n reisvisum (of toeristevisum) benodig Wit-Rusland (sien hier indien onseker) wees seker om met 'n visum voorbereid te wees as u planne deur Belo-Rusland voer.
| Nota:Het u 'n Wit-Rusland-visum nodig? Tot Julie 2020 het Westerse paspoorthouers 'n Wit-Russiese transito-visum nodig om daardie land oor te steek om Rusland te bereik. Daar is aangekondig dat dit nie meer van toepassing is nie: u Russiese visum is voldoende om u deur Belo-Rusland te kry. Maar tot op hede word dit nie op ambassade-webwerwe bevestig nie, so belangrike inligting ontbreek. Is dit in die eerste plek waar? - en amptelik sodat u dit kan uitdruk om te waai as bewys? Watter deurgangstydperk word toegelaat? Watter toegangs- en uitgangspunte word toegelaat? Is dit dieselfde reëls by terugkeer uit Rusland? Tel alle klasse Russiese visums? - en so aan. As dit nie bevestig word nie, moet u die ambassade skakel of met u visumondersteuningsagentskap praat. Sterkte daarmee, want hulle is waarskynlik almal in die donker soos jy. |
'N Russiese transito-visum kan onder geen omstandighede verleng word nie. As u aankom vanaf Beijing, kan u u visum registreer nadat u in Moskou aangekom het. As u 'n 10-daagse vervoervisum het en moenie op een plek bly nie (gaan na Sint Petersburg) u hoef nie u visum te registreer nie.
Burgers van Israel, Suid-Korea, sekere Latyns-Amerikaanse lande, die GOS-lidlande en 'n handjievol ander lande het nie Russiese visums nodig nie.
Kaartjies
Sien ook Rusland # Kom rond
Die Russiese treinstelsel verskil van Europese stelsels. Die treinkaartjies word gekoop vir vaste datums en alle stopplekke moet vooraf beplan word. As u byvoorbeeld 'n kaartjie van Moskou na Vladivostok het en van die trein in Irkutsk afstap sonder dat u kaartjie sê dat u van daar af 'n ander trein sal neem en die trein sonder u vertrek, sal u in Irkutsk vassteek, aangesien kaartjies nie sal wees nie geldig op enige latere trein. Dit is ietwat soortgelyk aan 'n vliegtuig wat van New York na Moskou gaan met 'n verbinding in Amsterdam - as u besluit om in Amsterdam uit te gaan en u vlug mis, kan u nie u kaartjie gebruik vir 'n volgende vlug na Moskou nie. Oor die algemeen stop treine etlike ure aan internasionale grense, tientalle minute in groot stede (vir stadiger treine, in sommige gevalle meer as 'n uur) en 'n paar minute op klein haltes. Daarom sal u op die perron kan inkopies doen en soms selfs die stasiegebou kan bekyk, maar om werklik in die stad te gaan toer, moet u met 'n latere trein voortgaan.
Die reëls bepaal dat 'n passasier toegelaat word om 'n stop te maak (sonder ekstra koste), maar dit vereis 'n bietjie papierwerk terwyl hy in die trein is en dit sal moeilik wees om met die assistent te reël sonder goeie Russiese kennis.
Daar is vier maniere om kaartjies vir die reis te koop. U kan dit koop by 'n reisagent (of aanlyn) in u eie land, 'n reisagent in die land waarvandaan u die reis sal begin, u kan opdaag en self kaartjies koop op 'n stasie in Rusland, of kaartjies aanlyn koop deur die Russiese spoorwegwebwerf (sien hieronder). Die eerste twee opsies is die veiligste, maar die duurste, die laaste twee is goedkoopste, maar dit verg tyd en moeite van u kant af. Gewilde treine kan vroegtydig uitverkoop word, veral in die hoogseisoen, dus probeer vroegtydig om te bespreek. Vroeë beteken 45 dae voor die vertrek van die trein. Dit is die vroegste datum waarop kaartjies aan individue verkoop word. Reisagentskappe kan u kaartjies op 'n baie vroeër datum beloof.
Dit is moontlik om die kaartjies by enige Russiese stasie te koop, nie noodwendig op die treinroete nie. Wees gereed om 'n paar uur in die tou te staan en verwag geen taal behalwe Russies aan die toonbank nie. Rusland, Oekraïne, Wit-Rusland, en selfs die Baltiese state van Estland, Letland, Litaue het 'n gemeenskaplike kaartjie-netwerk, dus is dit moontlik om 'n kaartjie vir 'n Russiese trein in al die lande te koop (bv. Brest). Die prys sal ongeveer dieselfde wees, tensy u na 'n reisagentskap gaan. Klein verskille hang daarvan af of beddegoed (~100 руб) en versekering (150–200 руб) is ingesluit. As die beddegoed nie by u kaartjie ingesluit is nie, moet u dieselfde prys aan die treinwagter betaal (maar natuurlik is dit nie nodig vir kort reise gedurende die dag nie). Die versekering is iets wat u nie regtig nodig het nie, so sê dit net bez strakhovkee (без стра )овки, sonder die versekering). As u aanlyn koop, is versekering gewoonlik nie ingesluit nie.
Op sommige stasies is daar nog spesiale vensters vir die verkoop van kaartjies slegs vir buitelanders, maar die prys van kaartjies moet nou vir buitelanders en plaaslike inwoners dieselfde wees.
Kaartjies is altyd individu, met die naam en paspoortnommer daarop, sodat u paspoorte vir alle reisigers moet toon as u betaal ('n fotokopie van die paspoort is gewoonlik genoeg) en wanneer u die trein instap (die oorspronklike dokument moet aangebied word). Gaan dit noukeurig na. Een verkeerde syfer in u paspoortnommer wat op die kaartjie gedruk is, sal u waarskynlik verhinder om op die trein te klim. As u van plan is om kaartjies by meer as een geleentheid te koop, kan dit nuttig wees om 'n stuk papier by te hou met die reisnaam wat in die Cyrilliese alfabet in plaas daarvan om dit elke keer te transkribeer. Let ook op die trein nommer - op groot besige stasies sal dit u help om op die regte perron en trein te ry, want daar kan ongeveer dieselfde tyd vertrek, sonder enige aanduiding van die tussenstasies wat bedien word.
In Beijing kan internasionale treinkaartjies gekoop word by China International Travel Service (CITS), wat twee kantore het; een in die International Hotel op Jianguomen en een in die voorportaal van die Beijing Toerisme-gebou, agter die New Otani Hotel. Dit moet persoonlik gekoop word.
Kaartjies aanlyn
Kaartjies kan aanlyn gekoop word. Die meeste roetes ondersteun 'elektroniese registrasie' - 'n afdruk van u besprekingsbevestiging is voldoende, maar dit is veiliger en raadsaam om u kaartjies amptelik te laat druk. U kan dit in enige kassie of in een van die spesiale kaartjiemasjiene doen, wat nou op groter treinstasies geïnstalleer is. Druk u kaartjie altyd minstens 'n uur voor vertrek uit, want kaartjie-masjiene is dikwels vasgekeer of pap, terwyl kontantbanke berug is vir baie lang toue. Handig u paspoort en bestelbevestiging (of net die bestelnommer) in. Die kassier sal vir u 'n papieren kaartjie uitreik sonder enige ekstra fooi. Hulle kan al u kaartjies gelyktydig druk.
Koop kaartjies by die amptenaar Russiese Spoorweë webwerf is redelik moeilik, maar 'n bietjie goedkoper as by die stasies, want daar sal geen verwerkingsfooi gehef word nie. U kan ook die motor en u sitplek / plek kies en alle opsies ondersoek. Nie alle buitelandse kredietkaarte word egter aanvaar nie. U kan binnelandse kaartjies tot 45 dae voor vertrek koop, en internasionale kaartjies 60 dae voor vertrek. Internasionale kaartjies is gewoonlik duurder as binnelandse kaartjies, daarom is dit raadsaam om kort voor grensoorgang te stop en so ver moontlik met binnelandse kaartjies te reis.
Kaartjiekantore in Rusland
- Russiese spoorweë, ☏ 7 495 266-8300 (Internasionale kaartjiekantoor slegs in Russies). Webwerf verkoop kaartjies aanlyn (in Engels)
- Transsib Reisen, ☏ 7 90959 1010-1. verkoop kaartjies teen kosprys. Hulle is sedert 1991 in Sint Petersburg geleë en praat ook Engels, Duits en Frans. Hul webwerf is egter slegs in Duits geskryf, maar bevat 'n geïntegreerde Google-vertaler.
- RusTrains.com, ☏ 7-812-645-08-98, ✉[email protected]. Gerieflike aanlyn kaartjiekantoor. Werk sedert 2014 in Moskou en het ook 'n webwerf in Engels, Spaans en ander Europese tale. Voorsien doeltreffende kliëntediens
Stasie nommers
Stasie-nommers word intern in die Russiese spoorwegrekenaarstelsel gebruik, maar dit word gewoonlik ook op die kaartjies gedruk. As u dit ken, kan dit help as u op kleiner stasies bespreek (u kan hierdie bladsy saambring en gebruik om te wys), of as u kaartjies in die buiteland koop.
By die kaartjietoonbank
|
Internasionaal
Stasies word in volgorde gelys van wes na oos
- 5100136 Warskou/Pole - Sentrale stasie (Warszawa Centralna)
- 2100035 Brest/Wit-Rusland (Брест)
- 1000001 Helsinki/Finland (Хельсинки)
- 3100022 Ulaanbaatar/Mongolië (Улан-Батор)
- 3300100 Beijing/Sjina (Пекин, 北京)
- 3300200 Harbin/Sjina (Харбин, 哈尔滨)
Rusland
Lys van die belangrikste stasies in volgorde gelys van wes na oos
- 2058000 Kaliningrad (Калининград)
- 2004000 St Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург)
- 2004001 St Petersburg - Glavnyi-stasie (Санкт-Петербург (Главный вокзал))
- 2004004 St Petersburg - Finliandskii-stasie (Санкт-Петербург (Финляндский вокзал))
- 2000000 Moskou (Москва)
- 2000002 Moskou - Yaroslavskij-stasie (Москва (Ярославский Вокзал))
- 2000003 Moskou - Kazanskij-stasie (Москва (Казанский Вокзал))
- 2000006 Moskou - Bieloruskij-stasie (Москва (Белорусский Вокзал))
- 2060001 Nizhny Novgorod (Нижний Новгород) - dikwels gelys met die voormalige naam van die stad, Gorki (Горький)
- 2060500 Kazan (Казань)
- 2030000 Ekaterinburg (Екатеринбу́рг) - dikwels gelys met die voormalige naam van die stad, Sverdlovsk (Свердловск)
- 2044001 Novosibirsk (Новосибирск)
- 2028170 Tomsk (Томск)
- 2038001 Krasnojarsk (Красноярск)
- 2054052 Severobaikalsk (Северобайкальск)
- 2054001 Irkutsk (Иркутск)
- 2054785 Ulan Ude (Улан-Удэ)
- 2034001 Khabarovsk (Хабаровск)
- 2034130 Vladivostok (Владивосток)
Tariewe
Sedert Januarie 2016 is 'n nuwe 'dinamiese prys'-stelsel in Rusland van krag. U kan maklik betaal 70000 руб of meer om van Moskou na Wladiwostok te kom. Tariewe wissel baie. Die pryse verander met die kwaliteit van die treine. Treine met lae nommer (001, 008, ens.) Is duurder en gemakliker. U is meer geneig om u in 'n motor met lugversorging en skoon toilet te bevind ('biotoilet' wat beteken dat dit nie krap op die spore spat nie en daarom gedurende die hele reis oop bly). Treine met groot getalle (133, 139, ens.) Is goedkoper en minder gemaklik. Verwag ouer motors sonder lugversorging en met ou toilette, wat gesluit is as die trein op die stasie is en soms selfs 15-20 minute voor dit. Russiese spoorweë waarborg egter geen spesifieke tipe treinwa vir u reis nie. Selfs duur treine kan ouer, minder gemaklike motors word.
Rowwe idees sou wees:
- St Petersburg – Moskou oornagdiens ongeveer €80 (2de klas, eenrigting), afhangend van dinamiese pryse, treinkwaliteit en datum, en €85 vir uitdruklike Sapsan-diens, (standaardklas sitplek).
- Moskou – Ekaterinburg oor €120 (2de klas, eenrigting), vir gewone passasiersdiens, standaardseisoen, of €180 vir vinniger diens as handelsmerk.
- Ekaterinburg – Krasnoyarsk oor €160-220 (2de klas, eenrigting).
- Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk ongeveer €95-125 (2de klas, eenrigting).
- Irkutsk – Vladivostok oor €225-275 (2de klas, eenrigting).
In 2019 was die prys vir 'n gereserveerde sitplek (3de klas, "platzkart") ongeveer 14000 руб, 'n kompartement (2de klas, "kupe") 28000 руб en 'n luukse bed (1ste klas, "SV") 49000 руб volgens die Russiese Spoorweg se webblad vir 'n eenmalige kaartjie van Moskou na Wladiwostok (of andersom).
Russiese spoorweë aanbod seisoenale pryse vir binnelandse treinkaartjies (wat wissel van -20% tot 35% van die "basisprys"). Kaartjies is gewoonlik duurder in die somer en goedkoper in die winter. Daarbenewens het 'n sg dinamiese stelsel word op sekere roetes bekendgestel. Dit is soortgelyk aan lugdienste. U kry 'n laer prys as u vroegtydig u kaartjie koop (40–45 dae voor vertrek) en a baie hoër prys wanneer u die kaartjie op die dag van vertrek koop. Kort ritte kan belaglik duur wees (€ 2030 vir 1-2 uur), terwyl 'n reis van 'n paar duisend kilometer verrassend bekostigbaar blyk te wees.
Roosters
| Nota:Russiese spoorweë werk nie meer almal op Moskou-tyd nie. Tot Augustus 2018 het alle roosters, stasiehorlosies en veral die treine self Moskou-tyd gebruik, wat in die Asiatiese Rusland enkele ure van plaaslike tyd af is. Dit kan surrealisties wees, om uit 'n trein-, perron- en stasiesaal te struikel wat alles 10:00 wys, om in die somberheid van 'n Siberiese aand te verskyn; maar dit was konsekwent en 'n hulp vir langafstandbeplanning. Deesdae gebruik hulle egter plaaslike tyd, wat inderdaad Moskou-tyd is vir 'n groot deel van die Europese Rusland, insluitende Sint-Petersburg, maar dit verander altyd soos u oos reis. Rusland het tien tydsones en die Trans-Siberiese roete kruis agt daarvan, so maak roosters en kaartjies baie noukeurig. Daar is geen verandering vir treine in Mongolië, China en die "Stans", wat al lank hul nasionale tydsone gebruik nie. |
Die Trans-Siberiese treine het verskillende skedules: sommige treine wel daagliks terwyl sommige aangaan selfs datums, sommige op vreemd datums en sommige treine vertrek slegs 'n paar dae gedurende 'n week.
Russiese spoorweë beskik oor alle Russiese treinskedules, asook van die internasionale treine wat vertrek vanaf Russiese bestemmings, soos Moskou – Beijing. Slegs werklike beskikbaarheid word getoon, wat 60 of 45 dae voor vertrek vrygestel word vir alle Russiese treine en 60 dae vir die meeste internasionale treine. Russiese spellings word natuurlik gebruik: Beijing is Pekin, Moskou is Moskva,Saint Petersburg is Sankt-Peterburg,Jekaterinburg is Ekaterinburg of Sverdlovsk (ou naam van die stad), Ulan Ude is Ulan-ude,Ulaanbaatar is Ulan-Bator, en Khabarovsk is Habarovsk.
Unless you travel all way from Moscow to Beijing or Vladivostok on the same train, especially if you embark outside a major city, you may have to take so-called "passing-by" (проходящие) trains that begin their journey very far, perhaps thousands kilometres away from your departure station. The distribution of tickets is a bit tricky. It is not "first-come first-serve" basis that would fill up the train in a random manner. Some seat ranges are reserved for departures from certain stations, so you can, at least in theory, buy tickets for any route well in advance. Once the seat range assigned to your station is sold out, you won't find tickets from this station any longer, until 72 hours before departure, when all remaining seats become available. If you are really keen on that, you can try to cheat the system by playing around with departure and arrival stations and finding the ticket you really want. But most likely you can get what you need without going too deep into how the system works.
Other good options for doing your own planning includes the Deutsche Bahn travelplanner. It's available in many languages including English, French, and Spanish. It has fewer transliteration issues that the Russian websites, but it includes only the limited firmenny "fast" trains. Another good option is the Poezda railway table (search Google) one of the few online scheduling tools in English that doesn't try to sell you tickets, and it has a nice simple interface to boot. If you understand Russian, the Russian Internet portal Yandex has a handy real time information service including schedules for trains and stations and current locations of trains are shown on a map.
Gaan
It's not worth getting off at every stop. The places listed below (except the junctions and border crossings) are the most interesting ones.
The Trans-Siberian proper
The Trans-Siberian proper connects Moscow with Vladivostok.
Generally there is one train a day in each direction, either a slower or a faster one. From Moscow train 100 leaves Jaroslavl station at 00:35 in the night and arrives in Vladivostok almost 6 days and 19 hours later (19:35, however 02:13 local time). The slightly faster train, number 002 departs Moscow 13:50 and arrives in Vladivostok almost exactly six days later, at 13:10 (20:10 local time).
In the other direction train 099 leaves Vladivostok at 18:42 (Moscow time, in local time that means 01:42) and is in Moscow 6 days and 19 hours later at 11:03. The slightly faster 001 leaves Vladivostok at 04:25 Moscow time (which is 11:25 local time) and is in Moscow at 05:52, which means it takes 6 days, a hour and a half.
The time and route below are for the faster trains (002 and 001). Trains 099/100 take a different route from Moscow and pass via Jaroslavl in plaas van Nizhny Novgorod but joins the former before Kirov.
| Stad | km from Moscow | Time from Moscow | Tydsone | Beskrywing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Moskou (Москва) | 0 km | 0 hr | Moskou | The Russian capital has some world-famous landmarks, including the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil. Moscow is obviously a superb destination for anyone interested in Russian history with museums, old churches and buildings both from the Soviet Era and earlier times. |
| 2 Vladimir (Владимир) | 210 km | 3h | Moskou | Founded in the 12th century, Vladimir is known for its white medieval stone architecture which is one of Russia's UNESCO Wêrelderfenisgebiede and a part of the Goue ring. If you travel on the slower train which goes via Jaroslavl, the historic center of that city also on UNESCO's list and on the Golden Ring itinerary, although from a later time period. |
| 3 Nizhniy Novgorod (Ни́жний Но́вгород) | 442 km | 6 uur | Moskou | During Soviet times, this 13th century city was called Gorki, and among the city's museums there is one dedicated to the writer. Like Moscow and some other Russian cities, Nizhniy Novgorod also has a Kremlin. Additionally, it boasts the Volga river and a great selection of traditional Russian architecture. |
| 1 Volga river crossing | 447 km | 6 uur | Moskou | The first major Russian river you will cross is the Volga, just moments after leaving Nizhniy Novgorod's railway station. |
| 4 Perm (Пермь) | 1,436 km | 20 hr | Moscow 2 | Perm is known for its cultural events and institutions like PERMM, the only contemporary art gallery in Russia. Side trips include a cave in Kungur and a former Gulag camp turned into a museum. |
| 5 Europe-Asia border | 1,777 km | 1 day, 1 hr | Moscow 2 | The border between Europe and Asia is marked by a white obelisk in the forest. You are now a little over a day from Moscow. |
| 6 Jekaterinburg (Екатеринбу́рг) | 1,816 km | 1 day, 1 hr | Moscow 2 | The capital of the Urals region has an impressive collection of Soviet-period buildings and interesting museums showcasing local crafts, arts, and nature. |
| 7 Tyumen (Тюме́нь) | 2,144 km | 1 day, 6 hr | Moscow 2 | Tyumen was one of the early Russian forts in Siberia. It is a good starting point for expeditions into the Tyumen region, including the ancient city of Tobolsk, the first Russian settlement in Siberia and the place to see old Russian architecture, including abundant wooden houses. |
| 2 Irtysh river crossing | 2,706 km | 1 day, 13 hr | Moscow 3 | Before arriving in Omsk, you will cross the Irtysh river. |
| 8 Omsk (Омск) | 2,712 km | 1 day, 13 hr | Moscow 3 | Omsk was for a brief period after the revolution the capital of White Russia. Among the sights are a military museum, the Cossacks' Cathedral with a Cossack banner and Siberian carved-wood houses. |
| 3 Ob river crossing | 3,332 km | 1 day, 22 hr | Moscow 3 | Ob, yet another prominent Siberian river is crossed before you arrive in Novosibirsk. |
| 9 Novosibirsk (Новосиби́рск) | 3,335 km | 1 day, 22 hr | Moscow 3 | Russia's third largest city is not the most interesting stop on the track. Sights include historic areas of the city, a zoo and Lenin square with the nearby geographical centre of the Soviet Union. It is a starting point for journeys into the Altai Mountains and Kazakstan. |
| 10 Tayga (Тайга́) | 3,565 km | 2 days, 1 hr | Moscow 4 | The village of Tayga isn't important on its own merits, but from here you can relatively easily get to Tomsk, a student city with wooden architecture. |
| 11 Krasnojarsk (Красноярск) | 4,095 km | 2 days, 9 hr | Moscow 4 | The scenic city of Krasnoyarsk was established by the Cossacks. The city has several museums, monuments and trade-and-entertainment centres. Further away there's a huge hydroelectric dam and the Stolby Nature Reserve with granite pillars. If you're going to Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian, you've already come half the distance from Moscow. |
| 4 Yenisey river crossing | 4,101 km | 2 days, 9 hr | Moscow 4 | And also Krasnoyarsk sits by a large river, which you will cross on your journey eastwards. |
| 1 BAM junction | 4,515 km | 2 days 15 hr | Moscow 5 | After the village of Tayshet, the Baikal-Amur Mainline forks off to the north. |
| 12 Irkutsk (Иркутск) | 5,185 km | 3 days, 2 hr | Moscow 5 | Over halfway from Moscow to Vladivostok, three days into your journey, Irkutsk is located on the shore of a UNESCO Wêrelderfenisgebied, namely Lake Baikal. The city itself offers traditional Siberian ornamented wooden houses, an icebreaker, a dam and, of course, several churches and museums dedicated to the culture and history of the region. One special souvenir to buy are kamusi – traditional fur boots. From Irkutsk you can also take a trip on the Circum-Baikal Railway. |
| 13 Ulan-Ude (Улан-Удэ) | 5,642 km | 3 days, 11 hr | Moscow 5 | The gate to the Ethnographic museum shows that you've come to the East and not just that – Ulan-Ude has a distinct Mongolian air with Buddhist sites and old mansions from the time when the city was a major trading point in the region. |
| 2 Trans-Mongolian junction | 5,655 km | 3 days, 11 hr | Moscow 5 | Not long after Ulan-Ude there's an important junction; the Trans-Siberian proper continues straight east to Vladivostok, while the Trans-Mongolian goes south to Mongolia and China. |
| 14 Chita (Чита) | 6,199 km | 3 days, 18 hr | Moscow 6 | The formerly closed city Chita offers a couple of religious sights. As the city sees few visitors, especially Westerners are seen as a curiosity. |
| 3 Trans-Manchurian junction | 6,312 km | 4 days, 0 hr | Moscow 6 | About exactly four days from Moscow the Trans-Manchurian tracks veer down towards Harbin and Beijing. |
| 5 Amur river crossing | 8,515 km | 5 days, 11 hr | Moscow 7 | After a very long stretch without any major cities you will cross the Amur, the last of the major rivers on this itinerary. The river bridge is depicted on the 5000 руб banknote. |
| 15 Khabarovsk (Хабаровск) | 8,521 km | 5 days, 11 hr | Moscow 7 | After the river you will arrive in Khabarovsk. If museums are your thing, there are several museums with the "Far Eastern" prefix where you can familiarize yourself with the region's military history, art, general history and... the Far Eastern Railway – which includes the easternmost part of the Trans-Siberian! |
| 16 Vladivostok (Владивосток) | 9,288 km | 6 days, 0 hr | Moscow 7 | Six days after you've started, or a few hours longer if you've taken the slower train, you arrive in Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean. The railway station is built in the same style as Moscow's Yaroslavl Station, on the other end of the track. The Russian Pacific fleet is based here – the city was built for that purpose – so there are an abundance of naval sites and memorials to visit, as well as scenic nature of the Pacific coast. |
Trans-Mongolian
The Trans-Mongolian connects Moscow and Beijing. If follows the same tracks as the Trans-Siberian for a little more than half the way, then forks off south through Mongolia and into China. All stations in this section are five hours ahead of Moscow time.
The Trans-Mongolian, train 43 (identified as train K4 in China), leaves Moscow each Tuesday at 23:45 and arrives in Beijing on Monday afternoon at 11:40. Westwards, train number 33 (identified as train K3 in China) leaves Beijing at 11:22 each Wednesday and is in Moscow the following Monday at 13:58. In addition, there are two weekly trains between Moscow and Ulaanbataar. Train 6 goes from Moscow each Wednesday and Thursday at 23:45 and arrive in Ulaanbaatar on Monday and Tuesday morning at 06:45. In the other direction, train 5 leaves Ulaanbataar every Tuesday and Friday at 15:25, arriving in Moscow at 13:58 five days later, on Saturday or Tuesday.
Lake Baikal to Beijing
To continue after a break at the Baikal might be difficult, especially in peak seasons – so plan your itinerary and buy your tickets beforehand.
If you are in Ulaanbataar, need to get to Beijing and don't have a ticket, you're better off not taking the direct train as prices are steep and trains are often sold out at the ticket booth. There are, however, unofficial ticket touts around that are happy to sell you a ticket at three to five times the official price – obviously a bad deal. Instead, take a local train to the border at Zamiin Uud (USD15), cross into China by minibus and take a bus to Beijing (USD40).
| Stad | km from Moscow | Time from Moscow | Tydsone | Beskrywing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Trans-Mongolian junction | 5,655 km | 3 days, 11 hr | Moscow 5 | Just after Ulan-Ude, the Trans-Mongolian leaves the Trans-Siberian. |
| 1 Naushki (Наушки) | 5,902 km | 3 days, 17 hr | Moscow 5 | Naushki is the Russian border station and obviously the last Russian station on the line; or the first if you're coming from the other direction. Hopefully you haven't forgotten your visa. After this point the times in the train schedule will be stated in to local time, which is five hours ahead of Moscow time for both Mongolia and China. |
| 2 Sühbaatar (Сүхбаатар) | 5,925 km | 3 days, 19 hr | UTC 9 | Sühbaatar is the Mongolian border railway station. Like Naushki, the train is going to stand here for quite a bit longer than at earlier stations. |
| 3 Ulaanbataar (Улаанбаатар) | 6,304 km | 4 days, 4 hr | UTC 9 | Mongolia's capital is one of the highlights of the route. Sites dedicated to the history from the great Mongolian Empire to the present day and Buddhist monasteries. It is also possible to go hiking in the mountains near the city. The city is the best possible starting point for trips to anywhere in Mongolia; the nearby Gorkhi-Terelj National Park gives a taste of Mongolian nature and offers the possibility to sleep in a traditional ger. |
| 4 Zamyn-Üüd (Замын-Үүд) | 7,013 km | 4 days, 17 hr | UTC 9 | After a journey through the Gobi desert, the train arrives in the border station of Zamyn-Üüd. |
| 5 Erenhot (二连浩特) | 7,023 km | 4 days, 19 hr | UTC 8 | Also known as Erlian, Erenhot is the Chinese border station. Here the bogies are changed, to fit the Chinese gauge; yet another interesting thing about the trains between Russia and China. |
| 6 Zhurihe (朱日和) | 7,182 km | 5 days, 1 hr | UTC 8 | A town governed by Sonid Right Banner, Xilin Gol, near a major training center of Chinese army. |
| 7 Jining (集宁) | 7,356 km | 5 days, 3 hr | UTC 8 | Also known as Ulanqab, an important railway junction and a mining city, from where travellers can get to the nearby city Datong in 2 hours by train, which has quite a few things worth visiting, even an UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Yungang Grottoes with 51,000 Buddha statues. Several monasteries, an 11th century pagoda, Heng Mountain which is one of the sacred mountains of Taoism and straatkos stalls add to the experience – you've arrived in China. |
| 8 Zhangjiakou (张家口) | 7,534 km | 5 days, 5 hr | UTC 8 | Zhangjiakou is a city northwest of Beijing. Deel van Groot muur and a gate in the Wall, Dajing Gate, is in Zhangjiakou, which used to be an important part in the transportation and trade between Han and Mongolia people. Most skiing events of the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Taizicheng Area in Chongli District of Zhangjiakou. |
| 9 Beijing (北京) | 7,854 km | 5 days, 9 hr | UTC 8 | Few cities have are so packed with historical sights as Beijing. The most important ones are Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Temple of Heaven and the Groot muur a one hour bus ride away, but you could easily spend a week exploring the city. From Beijing you can get to pretty much everywhere else in China – why not continue your train journey when you've come this far? |
Trans-Manchurian
The Trans-Manchurian is also known as Vostok (east) and like the former it goes to Beijing. It follows the Trans-Siberian tracks for a little longer (about two thirds of its length) after which it turns south and continues into China without going through Mongolia.
The Trans-Manchurian, train 20 (identified as train K20 in China), leaves Moscow at 23:45 each Saturday and is in Beijing at 05:46 the following Saturday. Train 19 (identified as train K19 in China) departs Beijing at 23:00 at Saturday night and is in Moscow at 17:58 on Friday.
| Stad | Kms from Moscow | Time from Moscow | Tydsone | Beskrywing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Trans-Manchurian junction | 6,312 km | 4 days, 0 hr | Moscow 6 | After about two thirds of the length of the Trans-Siberian proper, the Trans-Manchurian tracks veer off south. |
| 1 Zabaykalsk (Забайка́льск) | 6,666 km | 4 days, 7 hr | Moscow 6 | Zabaykalsk is the Russian border station.The cars will get different bogies that fit the Chinese gauge, which will make for a longer wait. When entering China, times in the train schedule will not be stated according to Moscow time but local time, so if you have your watch set on Moscow time, turn it five hours ahead. On the other hand, if it's on local Russian (i.e. Yakutsk) time, you need to turn it one hour back instead. |
| 2 Manzhouli (满洲里) | 6,678 km | 4 days, 13 hr | UTC 8 | Across the border there's Manzhouli, the Chinese border station. |
| 3 Hailar (海拉尔) | 6,824 km | 4 days, 19 hr | UTC 8 | Downtown district of Hulunbuir, famous for its grasslands. |
| 4 Bugt (博克图) | 7,034 km | 5 days, 0 hr | UTC 8 | A town governed by Yakeshi (牙克石), a railway junction. |
| 5 Ang'angxi (昂昂溪) | 7,303 km | 5 days, 4 hr | UTC 8 | Ang'angxi is a district of the city Qiqihar. Zhalong Nature Reserve is southeast of the city, which is home to lots of birds including cranes. |
| 6 Harbin (哈尔滨) | 7,613 km | 5 days, 8 hr | UTC 8 | Harbin is a Chinese city with Russian influences, many buildings were constructed by the Russians a century ago, there's a sizeable Russian minority and you can even find matryoshka dolls for sale. Major points of interest include the Tiger Park, a couple of parks and a few museums. If you are here in the winter, don't miss the Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. |
| 7 Changchun (长春) | 7,819 km | 5 days, 11 hr | UTC 8 | Changchun was the capital of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. There are palaces and government departments of Manchukuo, and other buildings of Japanese style in Changchun. |
| 8 Teug (四平) | 7,934 km | 5 days, 12 hr | UTC 8 | An important railway junction. |
| 9 Shenyang (沈阳) | 8,122 km | 5 days, 14 hr | UTC 8 | Shenyang is the largest city in the northeast of China. Nuhaci's imperial palace, Mukden Palace, and the first two imperial tombs of the Qing Dynasty – Zhaoling within Beiling Park (literally Northern Tomb Park) and Fuling within Dongling Park (literally Eastern Tomb Park) are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. |
| 10 Jinzhou (锦州) | 8,364 km | 5 days, 17 hr | UTC 8 | An important railway junction and a mining city. |
| 11 Shanhaiguan (山海关) | 8,585 km | 5 days, 19 hr | UTC 8 | Shanhaiguan is where one part of the Great Wall ends into the ocean. The city also boasts other Great Wall related sights. A few minutes away by train there's the larger city of Qinhuangdao, best known as a beach resort, to which Shanhaiguan belongs as a district. |
| 12 Tangshan (唐山) | 8,721 km | 5 days, 19 hr | UTC 8 | Tangshan is an important industrial city near Beijing and Tianjin. There is Earthquake Museum in Tangshan, memorial of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death toll. |
| 13 Tianjin (天津) | 8,844 km | 5 days, 21 hr | UTC 8 | Tianjin is one of the five national central cities of China. Tianjin's urban area is located along the Hai River, and was once home to foreign concessions in the late Qing Dynasty and early Kuomintang era. |
| 14 Beijing (北京) | 9,001 km | 5 days, 23 hr | UTC 8 | Few cities are so packed with historical sights as Beijing. The most important ones are the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Temple of Heaven and the Groot muur, a one-hour bus ride away, but you could easily spend a week exploring the city. From Beijing you can get to pretty much everywhere else in China – why not continue your train journey when you've come this far? |
Sidetrips
There are some interesting destinations "off the track". Saint Petersburg is often visited before or after a Trans-Siberian journey. The capital of the Tatars, Kazan, is on the alternative track between Moscow and Yekaterinburg. Tobolsk, the old Siberian capital is a little over 200 km away from Tyumen. Tomsk, the most beautiful city of Siberia can be visited as a sidetrip from Novosibirsk or Krasnoyarsk. One highlight on the trip is Lake Baikal that can be visited from Irkutsk and Severobaikalsk; you will see the lake from the train but why not explore the region further? Those staying for a few days in the region often take a trip to the scenic island of Olkhon.
In Mongolia, the area around Ulan-Bator is worth visiting; for example the Terelj National Park of die Gobi desert further away. One of the main attractions of China, the Great Wall is not far from the railway.
One of the parallel tracks, used by the Trans-Siberian in Soviet times, dips into the north of Kazakstan through the mining city of Petropavl before re-entering Russia and rejoining the standard route at Omsk. Western passport holders don't need a visa to visit Kazakhstan, the problem is that you exit Russia and can only re-enter with a double- or multi-entry Russian visa. It's not worth the extra trouble of arranging this just for a quick look at Petropavl, the point would be to go further south to the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) and to Almaty. These both have trains to Urumqi in northwest China, which has super-fast trains to Xian and Beijing. But this isn't a Trans-sib sidetrip but a whole separate itinerary, described in the Moskou na Urumqi artikel.
Koop
Kostes depend mainly on the level of quality you want. A trip in second class and staying at mid-range hotels together with a simpler meal and sightseeing or a show will cost you €100–120 per day. If you want your train trip and hotels to be first class and take guided trips it's easy to raise the daily costs up to €500. Self-catering, travel in third class and staying at hostels you can get the daily expenses down to as little as €20–30. China and Mongolia are somehow cheaper and more accessible for tourism than Russia. There aren't really any discounts. An international (or local) student card can get you a few discounts, but senior discounts are unheard of.
Many world currencies can be exchanged at good rates in any city. Bringing local currency isn't necessary, as the rates in local banks are much better. Save for China, don't exchange moneys at airports (or just as much you need to get into town). In Russia, rates at exchange booths are usually similar to those in the banks. Money exchange is not possible on the train. In China the exchange rates are fixed by the government and private banks often refuse to change Swiss francs so you need to go to the governmental bank to exchange them.
Credit cards can be used in hotels, better restaurants, travel agencies and major grocery stores. In Moscow and Beijing they are widely accepted. Visa cards are the ones most frequently accepted in ATMs.
Travellers cheques can be cashed only at a few places, but the rates are acceptable.
'N Tipiese tip in Russia is 5–10%. You are not required to pay the tip when you are not satisfied with the service. In Mongolia the bill is usually rounded up. Neither of these practices is common in China.
Eet
You will learn to know many different cuisines on a journey like this. For a more elaborate list of local specialities, please refer to particular cities' and regions' articles. Below are just a couple of general train-related things listed.
Many of the trains have dining cars. Prices are high for the quality you get. A main dish will cost €5–8. You may get freshly cooked food during lunch and dinner time, but on other occasions expect frozen food, which is warmed up in a microwave and becomes less than palatable. Drinks and alcohol are about 2–3 times more expensive than in the stores. On the other hand, you are not allowed to consume alcohol (save for beer) on board, and you are not allowed to bring your own alcohol to the dining cars, so if you want to drink, pay the price or do it quietly in your compartment, as most locals do. First-class tickets and even some of the 2nd-class tickets may include food (snacks for breakfast, warm food for lunch and dinner). A lady will come to your compartment and bring a couple of plastic bowls with warm food. It is usually freshly cooked and quite edible.
Op die Moskou–Vladivostok route the train stops for 20–30 minutes every 3–4 hours. Everybody can get out of the train, and there are often people on the platform that offer a variety of fresh local food (eggs, fish, cheese, bread, fruits, meat or cheese in a cake) and often some drinks for passengers. Many railway stations nowadays require them to purchase a license to keep their stand at the platform. Between Beijing and Novosibirsk, platform vendors were observed only in Choir, Mongolia, and Mariinsky, Russia. Prices are low; only Russian rubles are accepted. A highlight is the smoked fish (Omul) being sold on the shore of Lake Baikal (Station: Slyudyanka, a quick stop, so be fast). Some of the larger stations will have food marts with snacks and alcohol.
Food and drinks are also sold in kiosks at the platforms, but normally twice as expensive. To get a reasonable price, wait for a station with a longer stop, and just exit the train station, usually there are plenty of kiosks or small shops just outside, offering a wider choice. Supermarkets (not necessarily of the western kind), affordable food stands and simpler restaurants can be found at most stops. More lavish restaurants and fast food chains can be found in major cities. However familiar western chains are to be found only in Moscow and Beijing.
Kom van Beijing deur Harbin, the last stop in Sjina is Manzhouli. The food being sold there is quite expensive, but many Russians stock up on provisions (i.e. spirits and beer). You can take a maximum of 2 litres of alcohol (either beer or vodka or any combination of those) per person into Russia or you will have to pay a "penalty" (bribe) to the customs. Get rid of all your Chinese Yuan here unless you want to take them as a souvenir as they become virtually worthless once abroad. There are a couple of black market money changers in front of the station that change renminbi to rubles at ripoff rates. To get rubles, you have plenty of time on the Russian side of the border (Zhabaikalsk). Walk to the ATM located at the bank in town. Allow 30 minutes to go and come back. The train stops for several hours while the carriages are being changed, so you can do some shopping at the local food markets (bread, cheese, etc.).
Kom van Beijing via Mongolia into Russia there are still the same rip-off exchange touts. There is a very reasonable foreign exchange office at Ulan Baator station, in the waiting area. Most if not all platform vendors in Mongolia and Russia take U.S. dollars or euros. However, they take only notes, so know the exchange rate and buy a lot if you are using a €5 note. Always ask the attendant how much time is available before you rush off into a station to find a Bankomat (ATM) because the train will not wait for you. If you are not spending time in Mongolia, avoid acquiring Mongolian tögrög. They are worthless virtually everywhere else, and the export of tögrög is illegal. Therefore, spend dollars or euro, but get rubles immediately because Russian vendors are more likely to fabricate exchange rates than Mongolian or Chinese platform vendors.
Food is traditionally placed on the table in the compartment. It is not uncommon to share food. This makes for a nice picnic where you learn to know your fellow passengers. It is polite to let them invite you and that you also have something to bring along. Why not bring something from your home country?
Every carriage has a samovar (hot water dispenser, lit. "self cooker") that is kept hot throughout the whole journey. Have a stack of dried soups, teabags and Nescafe ready. Just bring your own cup, or ask one from the train attendant. Train attendants also sell tea, coffee, snacks and even freeze-dried meals at slightly inflated prices.
Drink
Alkohol is an important part of Russian culture and thus it's not unusual to have some vodka at your compartment picnic. At this stage, you have to be careful and you need to know when to stop. First, drinking strong alcohol is not allowed in Russian trains, but, as always in Russia, "not allowed" does not mean "forbidden". Carriage attendants will pretend not to see you unless you are making a noise or other drama. Police may go through the train and harass people who are drinking, so stay quiet and keep bottles under the table. Never drink more than you can. A drinking competition will for sure land you in a hospital or worse. Use your common sense when fellow travellers offer you something. You are much more likely to taste a good drink than to get into trouble, but troubles are not unheard of and range from bad alcohol to alcohol intentionally mixed with drugs that will make you an easy victim.
Other than that, tea is also an important drink; in Russia this will mean black tea with lemon, in China green tea. It's drunk at breaks, after meals and sometimes as an aperitif.
The samovar also comes in handy when you'd like some hot drinks (the water is free but bring your own tea or buy some from the carriage attendant). It's usually possible to buy soft drinks and beer in the restaurant carriage to bring back to your carriage.
It's worth having a basic frase-boek as attendants are unlikely to speak English and the drinks provided won't come with milk or sugar unless you specifically ask for them.
Slaap
All tickets for long journey trains are for sleeping places. In the 1st and 2nd classes, they are about 1.9 m long and about half a metre wide. 3rd-class carriages have shorter berths. Some trains between Moscow and Saint Petersburg have seating places. Few trains in Russia have all 4 types of cabins to choose from:
- First class (SV) is, except the three 'M'-classes, the most comfortable and quite expensive. The price is at least twice as much as in 2nd class. Each cabin consists of two sofas flanking each side of the compartment, which convert into beds for sleeping. On some trains such as the Trans-Mongolian, the first-class compartments have private bathrooms. Service in first class actually somewhat resembles the service you would expect in Europe and North America, which is worth considering since Russian railways are notoriously bureaucratic and not very service-minded, to say the least. The compartment doors can be locked from within, but these locks can be opened from the outside with a key. If the security chain is used, the door can only be opened 5 cm.
- Second class (Kupe) somewhat compares to the standard on Western European sleeper trains. These carriages are compartmentalized, with each compartment holding 4 beds. You will share the two lower bunks during the day, and there is no other place to sit except for the dining car. Most trains will have male-only, female-only, and mixed compartments. You can choose any of the two depending on your preference. Kupe is a good compromise between relative comfort, and the ability to meet and mingle with the Russians. Prices are comparable to the cheapest economy-class plane ticket. 2nd-class tickets may be combined with food and "service". Food means hot food served twice a day. "Service" implies small things like toothbrush, sleepers, tea, coffee, and snacks included in the price of your ticket.
- Third class (Platzkart) bears some resemblance to the hard sleeper class on Chinese trains: many find this class to be much better than its reputation. These carriages are in an open layout with two lower and two upper berths (seat numbers 1–36), a narrow corridor, and another two berths that are stretched along the side of the carriage (seat numbers 37–52), the latter are not recommended.
There is little in the way of privacy here, but many do prefer this option, at least for a short overnight trip, because you do not find yourself locked in a compartment with three strangers. It also gives a more uniquely Russian experience, and you will see a larger – and different – demographic than in second class. The price is usually 40–50 % lower than in the 2nd class. Lots of middle-class people travel this way, but you may also meet young men returning from the military service and other noisy or drunk companions, so it is a bit more adventurous than hiding oneself in a closed compartment. On the downside, 3rd class carriages have shorter berths that will be uncomfortable for anyone taller than 1.75 m. Lights are dimmed, but not completely switched off during the night. - Fourth class (Obshchy) is the cheapest way of travel. It can be found on slower trains. Most people will only use it for short trips not exceeding 10–12 hr. 4th-class carriages may have individual seats, as in European trains, but you are more likely to find yourself in a 3rd-class carriage, where each lower berth accommodates three people, and additionally one person is supposed to lie on the upper berth. In fact, upper berths are most popular here. They are filled first, regardless of seat numbers written on the tickets. Then other people will sit or lie on the lower berths.
If the train arrives at your destination before 08:00 local time, the carriage attendant will wake you up half an hour before arrival. Otherwise you will be notified 15 minutes before arrival.
Praat
While Russia is a huge country and some provinces have their own local language, Russies is taught in each school. If you know some Russian, you can use it throughout the trip. For most foreigners the Cyrillic alphabet might be a barrier. It is recommended to learn it, as many signs do not have a transcription in Latin script.
Mongolian, the language of Mongolia also uses the Cyrillic alphabet with two additional letters. However, Russian is the most widely studied foreign language in Mongolia, so you would generally be able to get by if you speak Russian.
In northeastern China Mandarin Chinese is spoken. It's a tonal language and someone unfamiliar with Chinese reading Latin transcriptions that don't show tones is unlikely to be understood by locals. Likewise, most locals are also unable to understand Latin transcriptions of Chinese. In other words, if you cannot speak Chinese (well), have somebody, for example at your hotel, write down addresses to show to taxi drivers, etc. Russian is generally not widely spoken beyond the border towns.
English is spoken mostly by youth and educated people. Outside Saint Petersburg and Moscow, the locals' English knowledge is not very good, and they usually speak with a strong accent. A few older Russians can speak German and some younger people can speak French.
Bly veilig
Transsiberian (film) Some say that the Trans-Siberian has a reputation of being a major route for illegal drug trafficking. This has influenced at least one film Transsiberian, which is set on the railway and follows a thrilling tale of drug smuggling and criminal activity along the route. |
The journey on the Trans-Siberian route is quite safe, especially if you travel in groups of four and have your own compartment. Compartments can be locked from the inside with two locks. One can be opened from outside with a special key, the other cannot be opened from outside, and when locked allows the door to open a bit. It is advisable to use both locks during the night. The Trans-Mongolian and Manchurian train services once were hot spots of theft and gang robbery after the dissolution of Soviet Union, but as of Jan 2021 the routes are safe thanks to better law enforcement on board. You can't lock your compartment from outside when you go out. But the train attendant can do it for you.
3rd-class carriages provide less personal space and less protection. If you sleep on the lower berth, use the space under the berth to store your belongings. When on the upper berth, use the shelf above you. Take all valuable things with you when going out on to the station. Things are rarely stolen, but reasonable caution should be used.
Police in Russia can be your good friend or a bad enemy depending on the situation. Each train has at least one policeman who may shuffle around looking for drunks, drugs, beggars, and criminals. If you are harassed or threatened, contact the train attendant who will call the police. On the other hand, avoid doing something that can draw the attention of the police to you. After terrorist attacks in the early 2010s, each train station was assigned lots of police who tend to sporadically check documents and ask questions about your luggage. Never leave the train without your ticket and passport. Russiese polisie is ook baie sensitief vir mense wat spoorweë, stasies en treine neem. Dit is 'n ander aspek van anti-terroriste paranoia. Buitelanders en veral Westerse toeriste is minder geneig om hierdie probleem te ondervind. As u egter deur die polisie genader word en gevra word om 'n paar foto's uit te vee, moet u dit net doen en vergeet (of later u foto's herstel). Moet nooit die polisie probeer neem nie.
As 'n reël is kleiner dorpe minder veilig as groter stede. As u alleen reis, vermy gebiede wat nie mense is nie, en die enigste ding waarna u moet let, is naby mense sakkies. As u korter hop ry, is dit moontlik dat u trein in die middel van die nag sal arriveer. Bly tot die oggend binne die treinstasie (tensy u goed weet waarheen u moet gaan), of kies 'n trein wat bedags aankom.
As u 'n duidelike toeris is, sal u waarskynlik op markte en veral deur taxibestuurders verneuk word. Die oplossing hiervoor is kennis van Russies en goed bedinging vaardighede. Onderhandel altyd oor die prys in roebels, selfs as die verkoper die prys in dollars begin aangehaal en selfs as u van plan is om met dollars te betaal. Dollarpryse word bereken volgens die huidige bankwisselkoerse. Die meeste plekke aanvaar egter geen ander geldeenheid as roebels nie.
Verkopers en taxibestuurders gryp gereeld na u arm om u na hul staanplek of motor te sleep. In hierdie geval is dit voldoende om net los te ruk. Hulle is daar om u hoë pryse vir hul handelsware en dienste te laat betaal, om u nie skade te berokken nie.
Daar is prostitusie in sommige hotelle en selfs langs die treinstasies. Bly weg om te voorkom dat u geld en gesondheid moontlik verloor. Dieselfde geld vir dwelms van enige aard.
Ulanbataar is waarskynlik die gevaarlikste stad in die nag. Hotelle en koshuise hou hul deure dikwels tussen middernag en 06:00 toe omdat dit te onveilig op straat is.
Bly gesond
U moet in 'n goeie liggaamlike toestand wees terwyl u met so 'n reis begin, sonder om te glo dat u toestand tydens die reis sal vererger. Goeie mediese sorg volgens Westerse standaarde is eintlik net in Moskou en by private klinieke in Beijing beskikbaar. In Mongolië moet u regtig 'n noodhulpkissie. Vir kleiner beserings is privaat klinieke in Ulaanbaatar goed genoeg, maar as daar iets ernstigs gebeur, moet u na Beijing, Europa of die Verenigde State gaan, ongeag die koste.
Gesondheidsrisiko's sluit voëlgriep en hondsdolheid in. Hou afstand van wilde diere.
Kraanwater is miskien nie veilig om te drink nie. Russe beskou dit as veilig na kook, en dit is wat u van die samovar kry. As u versigtig is, bring gebottelde water mee, maar onthou dat u geen kans het om dit op te warm nie.
Respek
Veral as u alleen reis, sal u 'n bietjie tyd saam met plaaslike inwoners in die trein spandeer, daarom is dit handig om voor die reis basiese moets en moenies te leer. Verwys asseblief na die respekafdelings van die Rusland, Mongolië en Sjina artikels om te leer oor die kultuur in die lande waardeur u gaan reis.
Ondanks die opening van die lande vir toerisme, fotografie is steeds nie oral toegelaat nie. Moenie foto's van militêre en regeringsgeboue neem nie, want dit kan u in die ergste geval in die tronk laat beland. U moet ook twee keer dink voordat u foto's van ander regeringsgeboue soos treinstasies neem. Museums het dikwels hul eie reëls rakende fotografie, soos elders in die wêreld.
Hanteer
Die gemak en die aantal geriewe hang af van die tipe trein wat u neem. Nuwer waens het lugversorging en 'n oorvloed kragprop, en het 'n algehele voorkoms, terwyl ouer waens nie een daarvan het nie en gedurende die somer en tydens die harde Siberiese winter ongemaklik warm kan word. As u tussen verskillende treine op u roete kan kies, is dit waarskynlik dat die trein met duurder kaartjies nuwer, gemakliker waens het.
Standaard geriewe sluit 'n slaapplek, matras, kussing, kombers en beddegoed in. Matras, kussing en komberse word op die rak bo jou lêplek geberg. Soms sal treinwagters die bed vir u voorberei, maar waarskynlik sal u dit alleen moet doen, veral in die 3de klas. Dinge is redelik swaar, dus dit is nie die onbelangrikste om dit af te neem en in die smal ruimte te manipuleer nie. Mense wat hulp benodig, moet gerus die hulp van medereisigers vra. Op 'n lang reis is dit algemeen om beddegoed en matras bedags uit die onderste slaapplek te haal, sodat almal kan sit. Aan die ander kant kan mense in die onderste slaapplek verkies om te slaap. Dan het u absoluut geen plek om te sit nie en sal u gedwing word om op u boonste lêplek te lê, selfs as u nie wil nie. Mense wat alleen in die 3de klas reis, word aangeraai om die onderste slaapplek aan die kant van die koets te bespreek. Dit gee u die geleentheid om die tafel te eniger tyd te sit en selfs te gebruik, ongesteurd deur ander passasiers.
Slaap op die trein is dalk nie so eenvoudig as wat u dink nie. Russiese treine is nie baie glad nie, dus verwag konstante stoot, geluide en onvermydelike versteurings van medereisigers. 2de klas kompartemente bied baie beter toestande as 3de klas, maar dit is steeds dieselfde as om in 'n koshuis te slaap en veel slegter as om in u eie kamer te slaap. Die slaapplekke in die 2de klas is lank genoeg vir die meeste mense, maar die slaapplekke in die 3de klas is effens onder 1,80 m. Buig jou bene as jy langer as dit is. Om hulle in die paadjie te laat uitsteek, is 'n ander opsie, maar dit sal ander mense jou laat slaan elke keer as hulle verbygaan. Russe slaap altyd met hul kop na die venster en hul voete na die gang. Die teenoorgestelde manier van slaap (voete na die venster) sal nie afgekeur word nie, maar dit word nooit deur inwoners gebruik nie.
Gebruik altyd die donker venstergordyn wat teen die venster getrek kan word. Dit sal u red van helder ligte wat buite skyn. Neem oorproppe saam en kyk wat u kan help om aan die slaap te raak in 'n lawaaierige omgewing. 'N Skoot sterk drank, 'n gunsteling boek of net goeie musiek kan nuttig wees. As u nog nooit nagtreine gebruik het nie, probeer dan 'n kort reis van een nag voordat u die hele land oorsteek.
.jpg/220px-Provodnitsa's_(11151166654).jpg)
Kragverbindings kan moeilik wees om te vind. Nuwer waens het kragaansluitings by elke slaapplek (of minstens 2 voetstukke per kompartement). Ouer waens het net een 'openbare' sok langs die toilet en 'n ander naby die samovar. Treinwagte het 'n paar ekstra voetjies in hul kompartement weggesteek. Alle voetstukke is ontwerp vir skeerders: u kan spesiale tekens sien wat daarop dui dat skootrekenaars en toestelle nie daar gelaai moet word nie. U kan wel aansluit wat u wil (ketels word nie aanbeveel nie), maar niemand neem verantwoordelikheid vir u toestelle nie. Alhoewel spanning berug onstabiel is, oorleef die meeste toestelle hierdie soort skokbehandeling (sien Elektriese stelsels vir advies).
Treinbediendes is jou beste vriende in 'n lang reis. Hulle kan nuttige fasiliteite hê, soos 'n yskas, mikrogolfoond en ekstra kragpunte. Treinbediendes is gewoonlik voorbehou by buitelanders en ken selde 'n woord Engels, maar die meeste van hulle word vriendeliker op die oomblik dat u 'n bietjie gesels of 'n geskenk wil gee. Dit kan u ook help om met die polisie, grensbeheer en medereisigers te onderhandel.
Toilette word gewoonlik aan beide kante van die wa aangetref. Nuwer waens het toilette met geslote siklusse (sogenaamde "biotoilette") wat te eniger tyd werk. Ouer waens bevat iets soortgelyk aan 'n latrine (gat-in-die-vloer) en bly toe wanneer die trein op die stasie is of dit nader. Daar is 'n formele skedule op die deur van elke toilet, alhoewel treinwagters geneig is om vriendelik te wees en die toilette reg voor aankoms te sluit eerder as 15-20 minute voor die tyd. Die meeste toilette is deesdae skoon en is toegerus met toiletpapier en seep. Papierhanddoeke kom nie algemeen voor nie, maar u kry altyd 'n klein handdoek saam met u beddegoed. Wasbakke is egter baie klein en moeilik om te gebruik, so nat servette bly u beste keuse. Papierhanddoeke of toiletpapier is 'n goeie idee.
Storte is beskikbaar op die meeste langafstandtreine, insluitend trans-Siberiese roetes. Een of twee stortkajuite is in een wa êrens in die middel van die trein geleë. 'N Klein fooi word gehef.
Internet is nooit aan boord beskikbaar nie, behalwe op enkele van die nuutste treine wat nie op die trans-Siberiese roetes ry nie. U kan egter redelik goed vaar met 'n mobiele verbinding (koop 'n plaaslike SIM-kaart), alhoewel die sein swak of ontbreek in die middel van Siberiese woude. Deesdae het die meeste Russe slimfone, en dit is nie ongewoon om skootrekenaars of tablette selfs in die derde klas te sien nie. Sorg natuurlik vir u besittings.
Gaan volgende
As u aangekom het Vladivostok na 'n week met die trein, sal u voel dat u na die einde van die wêreld gereis het, maar soos ons weet, is die wêreld nie plat nie. Daarom het u die opsie om die veerboot te neem Japan of Suid-Korea of die trein na Harbin en van daar na ander bestemmings in China. Dit is teoreties moontlik, maar prakties baie moeilik om u reis voort te sit Noord-Korea.
As u reis eindig in Beijing, is dit 'n wonderlike geleentheid om ander dele van Sjina of selfs ander dele van Asië. Hoë-spoed spoor is die beste manier om deur die land te kom en Beijing is 'n betreklik beter vertrekpunt vir reise na Noord-Korea. As u tyd het, is dit eintlik moontlik om die hele pad te bereik Papoea-Nieu-Guinea deur 'n kombinasie van treine, busse en veerbote.
As u Trans-Siberiese reis eindig in Moskou, kan u die Goue ring, voortgaan om St Petersburg en tot by die Nordiese lande of neem een van die verskeie direkte treine na Europese bestemmings. Let op dat direkte treine na Sentraal-Europa deurgaan Wit-Rusland en feitlik sal almal 'n visum benodig (moet vooraf verkry word) om in te gaan.