Rail travel in Russia
Photo: Daemon2010, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rail travel in Russia is, due to the long distances involved, a comparatively quick and affordable way for getting around. The information in the article is largely also valid for long-distance trains in the rest of the former Soviet Union such as Belarus and the Central Asian countries. Most long-distance trains in Russia are sleeper trains.
The truly long journeys through Siberia, such as the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Moscow to Urumqi itinerary have their own articles.
UnderstandThe Russian Railways (Российские железные дороги, Rossiyskye zheleznye dorogi, abbreviated RZD) is the Russian government railway company and the operator of most train services in the country, though there are some…
Tickets, fares and classesReservations are compulsory on long-distance trains, so you need to plan specifically for each leg of your journey, you can't hop on and off.
On the trainEspecially when there is no dining car, the cars may be locked so that it's not possible to walk between different train cars or classes.
International connectionsRussia uses broad-gauge railways, not compatible with the standard gauge networks of Central Europe and most other countries.
Tourist trainsThere's much to see in Russia for railway enthusiasts. Many railway stations have old steam locomotives on display, and there are pioneer railways and railway museums.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rail travel in Russia" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Daemon2010, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons