Things You Need to Know Before Taking a Trans-Siberian Train

The world-famous Trans-Siberian Railway links Europe with Asia. It includes three main routes:

1. Moscow – Vladivostok (the Longest Railway in the World)

Being in operation since 2009, the Sapsan high-speed train was the first high-speed train in Russia, running between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

• Length: 9,289 kilometers (5,772 miles)
• Duration: 7 days and 6 nights
• Main stops along the way: Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok

2. Moscow – Ulaanbaatar – Beijing (Trans-Mongolian Railway)

• Length: 8,981 kilometers (5,581 miles)
• Duration: 6 days and 5 nights
• Main stops along the way: Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Suhe-Bator, Ulaanbaatar, Dzamyn Ude, Erlian, Jinning, Beijing

3. Moscow – Harbin – Beijing (Trans-Manchurian Railway)

• Length: 8,986 kilometers (5,584 miles)
• Duration: 7 days and 6 nights
• Main stops along the way: Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Zabaikalsk, Manzhouli, Harbin, Shenyang, Tianjin, Beijing

Facilities on Board

There are sleeper cars, which include first class 2-berth cars and second class 4-berth cars. Each car is equipped with overhead luggage racks, power sockets, a washbasin, and a toilet.

There is a restaurant car, which provides freshly-cooked meals. Different restaurant cars are added to the train while it travels through different countries. For example, when a train is operating in China, a Chinese restaurant car is added.

Food and Drink

Water is readily available as boiling water is provided at the end of each car. As for food, it is convenient to eat in the restaurant car. However, the choice of food on the train is limited, and is usually more expensive than buying food in a supermarket. Both US dollars and domestic currency can be used in the restaurant car.

If you don’t want to eat in the restaurant car, it is a good idea to buy some food when the train arrives at a station. There are always vendors selling local food and snacks on the platforms. Most of the food and snacks are specialties from each region. It is also advisable to take some instant food and drinks with you on board, such as instant coffee and tea.

Wi-Fi and Internet

There is no Wi-Fi on the train. However, a SIM card with 3G or 4G Internet connectivity should be sufficient for you to check your emails and social media during the journey. These SIM cards are available in almost every city along the way.

Luggage Allowance

Each passenger with a second class ticket can take luggage weighing less than 36 kilograms for free. Each passenger with a first class ticket can take luggage weighing less than 50 kilograms for free. The total dimensions (length + width + height) of each item must not exceed 180 centimeters (71 inches).

Children’s Tickets

• Child fares apply for children aged between ,4 and 11 years old. If children don’t take up a berth, they are charged less than those who do.
• Children who are younger than 4 years old and don’t take up a berth can travel for free provided they are accompanied by an adult.
• Children over 11 years old require tickets at the full price.

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