The Trans-siberian (in Russian: Транссибирская магистраль, Транссиб) comprises one of the most extensive railway routes on the planet, together with the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian lines and the more recent Baikal-Amur Railway, with whom it shares a large part of its route. The line began to be built in 1891 and concluded in 1916, connecting the Russian capital, Moscow with the city of Vladivostok, in the extreme east of the country.
Context
There are four rail lines that traverse the continent from end to end. The Trans-Siberian is the oldest and most well-known of these lines, however, it is the Trans-Mongolian route that is the most popular with tourists. All routes share a common section between Moscow and the Lake Baikal region.
Trans-siberian
It is the historical line, it was built in several sections. From Moscow it connects Vladivostok by crossing the Urals, Western Siberia, the Baikal region and Ussuri. The main cities crossed from Moscow are Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Khabarovsk and ending in Vladivostok.
Transmongolian
From Moscow to Ulan-Oude, east of Lake Baikal, the line takes the same line as the Trans-Siberian and then forks to Beijing as it crosses Mongolia and its capital, Ulan-Bator.
Transmanchurian
The Trans-Siberian line is largely borrowed and then forks at the height of Tchita in the direction of Harbin and Beijing through Manchuria.
The BAM (Baïkal-Amour-Magistral)
It is the most recent section, inaugurated by Gorbachev in 1991 after 60 years of work, it is also the section that crosses the most isolated regions. The line leaves the Trans-Siberian Railway at Taïchet 670 km west of Irkutsk, passes the northern end of Lake Baikal and joins the port of Sovetskaya Gavane on the Pacific coast off Sakhalin Island.
Banknotes
It is possible to book Trans-Siberian tickets through a travel agency on site or in your country. This option is generally much more expensive, agencies make spectacular margins.
- First class: СВ, SV. The first-class compartments are made up of two beds that transform into sofas during the day.
- Second class: купе, kupe (pronounced cut). The second class is in the form of compartments with four beds, two beds on each side. If you are not traveling in a group of 4, you will share your compartment with other passengers. Some solo travelers prefer to go third class to avoid being "stuck" with three Russians in a compartment ...
- Third class: плацкарт, platskart, (pronounce as is). The third class consists of wagons with open compartments, these compartments with four beds (2 x 2 berths) are therefore open and face two other berths in the direction of the train. These latter beds are smaller and will make you endure the incessant back and forth down the hall. Since it is possible to choose your bunk when buying tickets at the counter, these aisle side beds should be avoided! The third class is safe, not too awkward, and very easy to use, making it the preferred class for backpackers.
In St. Petersburg, it also sells tickets on commission and has staff who speak English, French and German.
To eat
Instant noodle jars or instant mashed potatoes are the foods most consumed by passengers, but there is also a restaurant on most trains. The food isn't cheap or great, but the restaurant is a good place to relax and get out of your wagon on long trips.
To drink
Alcohol is now banned on trains. However, sometimes it is still possible to buy beers on the train, but you must be discreet.