I've never had the chance to ride a Russian train, but I plan to (the
Trans Siberian is on my lifetime list of gotta-do's) -- from what I've heard, a (for example) $50 one-week ticket from Moscow to Vladivostok sounds good on the surface, but some folks say platzcart (Russian third class sleeper cars) is not a
terrific travel experience you'll want to cherish... in fact, some view platzkart as being among the circles of travel h*ll. Sounds like flexibility is the word of the day when riding Russian trains in economy and, like any travel experience, it will be what you make of it. Be prepared with a little more information on Russian trains and Russian train travel:
- Russian Train Travel Overview from About.com's Guide to Eastern Europe, Kerry Kubilius
- Way to Russia Train Guide -- Excellent Russian trains reference guide which includes info about what Russian train classes are like, whose palm you may have to grease to get a ticket on a sold out Russian train, and where you'll wait in line to get Russian train tickets. Links to buying Russian train tickets online, too.
- Man in Seat 61 -- The always reliable guide to trains around the world includes some easy info on the Trans Siberian railroad route, which crosses eight time zones from European Russia to Siberia and the far eastern side of Russia.
Russian Trains Trying Women-Only Cars
Beginning in February 2007, Russian Railways will be offering tickets for same sex compartments in a trial program on eight trains, thanks to popular demand (by women. This means women can buy tickets in women-only ecomony cars -- platzkart -- rather than having to pay for a second class compartment in order to get away from -- whomever. What's
platzkart like in a normal compartment? Well, reports vary depending, apparently, on whether you are one of those partying the miles away.
