Here are some observations about train travel, gained from our journey from Ulan-Ude to Moscow in a number of hops and steps and jumps.
- 7527 km
- 111 hours
- 3 overnight sleeper trains (2 in First Class)
- 2 day trains
- 1 commuter train
- 1 high speed ‘Sapsan’ train
- 2 high speed ‘Strizh’ trains
- the lower the train number, the better the train
- there are no private sellers of food on the platforms any more. This is probably because of security concerns
- you can buy food at kiosks on most stations (or in larger stations, on indvidual platforms)
- Many stops are quite long, so a chance to stretch legs is easy
- even on the 2 minute stops, the smokers will dash out for another coffin nail
- the scenery is pretty dull. Endless pine and birch forests for thousands of kilometres
- stations are built to impress, grand and imposing
- young russian male passengers are inclimed to remove their shirts at short notice
- everyone else changes into their pyjamas as soon as the train starts to roll
- the provenitza is probably blond, buxom, and heritage listed
- we heard little evidence of drunken vodka parties
- there is ample opportunity to drink tea!