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Moscow has eight major train stations and all have a local metro connection from the circle line. Remember, if you are arriving at or leaving Russia on an international train then you will go through passport control and customs when you cross the border, not at the train station. The stations are:

There are five major train stations in St. Petersburg and all of them are easily accessible by the metro. International trains will have customs and passport control checks at the border, and not at the station, please ensure that your visa matches your travel dates.

Below you find information on reading a Russian rail ticket, though when we provide your ticket we also give you a detailed itinerary in English to assist you. Please note that we will need your passport number and name to book the ticket as these are printed on the ticket in a similar way to airline tickets.

The main types of carriages on Russian trains are configured as follows.

First-class Sleeping Carriage

First class sleeping carriages, also known as "delux", comprises nine compartments for two people sharing and one compartment for one person. Each compartment has two berths to sit and sleep on with a table in between and the door can be locked. At each end of the carriage is a bathroom with toilet and wash basin. In first class compartments a passenger has the right to buy both tickets if they wish to have the compartment to themselves.

First class in a seating car (usually in express trains) has a table and extended room for legs.

Second Class Sleeping Carriage

In a second class sleeper carriage, also known as "Coupe", there are four berths in each compartment; two lower and two upper ones. The door can be locked and by the window, there is a table. At each end of the carriage is a bathroom with toilet and wash basin. In second class compartments a passenger has the right to buy a maximum of two tickets, so two people travelling together could, if they wish, have the compartment to themselves.

The second class in a seating car does not have tables though does have soft seats, an advantage on a six hour journey!

Third Class Sleeping Carriage

Third class sleepers, also often known as "Plazcart", are open compartments with no doors. Each compartment has four berths plus two berths over the corridor. At each end of the carriage is a bathroom with toilet and wash basin.

Although third class is not as private as first or second class it may be considered to be a safer option for women travelling alone as they do not risk sharing a closed compartment with a stranger, however, for may the Platzcart feels like it was made to transport troops and puts the sights, sounds, and smells of Russia right in your face!

Russian trains generally fall into one of three groups: firmeny, skorry or elektrichki.

Firmeny trains are long distance trains run by a private company. They usually have a name and on the whole they are faster, cleaner, more comfortable (as well as more expensive) than other trains. The Rossia (Russia) which connects Moscow and Vladivostok and the Krasnaya Strella (Red Arrow) which connects Moscow and Petersburg are two of the more famous firmeny trains.

All other long distance trains are the not-so-aptly named skorry poyezdy (fast trains). These are generally not as comfortable and make more stops.

For shorter trips most sizable Russian cities are surrounded by a network of elektrichki, or suburban trains. An elektrichka has no cabins or bunks and will usually stop everywhere (there are some faster ones on Moscow's surburban network), including places where the cows won't get off the tracks.

Millions of people travel safely every year on Russian railways and in many ways it can be claimed they are the safest trains in the world. Every carriage has one or two conductors, who look after it 24 hours a day. Every passenger gets his ticket checked upon entry and must present a passport to get on the train. Most trains have a police team on board. At every stop the train gets thoroughly checked to make sure there is no minor damage.

Information from United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

If you are travelling by overnight train and have the use of a sleeping compartment, store valuables in the container under the bed/seat. Do not leave the compartment empty. Compartments have a simple lock on the sliding door. On some trains there may be an additional lock to be attached to the fitted handle/lock unit, which holds this securely locked. There may also be a steel switch at head-height on the door panel which, when pulled down, prevents the closed door from being slid open. Plug the cavity in the switch to prevent it being flipped back. As in most countries, cities in Russia have their fair share of petty crime. You should be alert at all times to the possibility of mugging, pick-pocketing and theft from vehicles or hotel rooms. Be particularly alert to groups of women and children who beg, and pickpockets around the main railway concourses. Take care when drinking with or meeting casual or new acquaintances in bars, restaurants or night-clubs, as there have been incidents of robbery and violence involving foreigners, amongst them British nationals. Do not leave your drinks unattended as they may then be drugged.

Are the trains punctual and what time can I get on my train before it leaves the station?

Yes, Russian trains are very punctual, it is quite amazing to see a train that has crossed several contents arriving to the minute. However, occasionally they can be late and in these circumstances you are eligible for a refund based on a percentage of the ticket cost for every hour it is late, in practice it is not worth the hassle of claiming this.

If you are unlucky enough to miss your train, and you arrive at the station within three hours of its departure, then you are entitled to a replacement ticket on a later train for the price of a third class ticket.

If you are left behind by your train then you should inform the station master immediately - remember if you need assistance with this and you have a mobile phone, you can always call our Moscow office for help. The station master should then arrange for your luggage which is still on the train to be put off at the next station and provide a free ticket for you to this station.

If you have lost your ticket or it is badly damaged, it is unlikely that you will be issued with a replacement.

There is food, soft and hard drink, cigarettes, newspapers and magazines available from kiosks and small shops (magazini) in or around the departure hall, as you may expect, the prices are much higher than what you would expect to pay generally in Russia.

On the train itself, you will often find someone wheeling a small trolley with bottled water, soft drinks, beer, vodka and snacks such as crisps, nuts and the like, again at fairly high prices.

On many long distance and Firmeny trains there is a restaurant car serving freshly cooked meals, salads as well as drinks and cigarettes etc. They are not open 24 hours, so do check out the opening times which will be posted somewhere in the carriage. The food on each trains varies, from very good to ordinary and as with most Russian meals it is generally healthy, you wont get chips with everything!

You will find at the end of each carriage that there is a Samovar providing hot water for coffee, tea and hot drinks. You can also buy such drinks from the carriage attendant for 20 to 50 roubles.

On long journeys it is also possible to buy provisions, such as bottled water, sausage, cheese, bread etc. from vendors at stations along the way who either come onto the train or hover on the platform.

They are basic containing a toilet and a sink for washing. At the start of a journey are clean, however, even on an overnight train they can get pretty ripe by the time you pull into the station and on a very long journey can become absolutely "evil". About an hour before you pull in on an overnight train there can be large queues for the bathroom, so do get up early if you need to "go". Also, it is recommend you use bottled water for brushing your teeth and washing rather than the water from the tap and that you take your own hand towel.

Yes, but not in your cabin or corridor areas, only in a special area between the carriages with the connecting doors shut. There is an ashtray there for your butts, do not throw them on the floor or out of the window, this is considered very bad taste. You may find these areas very cold during winter as they are not heated. On some trains the restaurant car will also allow you to smoke, though on some smoking is forbidden and you can only smoke after paying the waitress a "fine".

What sort of things should I take with me on an overnight or long distance train?

Yes you can, and children get cheaper tickets as well. One adult can take one child who is up to five years old free of charge, though they do not get their own berth. For children between 5 and 12 years old the tickets are 50% of the adult cost and they get their own berth.

Remember, that for children, it can be hot on an overnight train, so don't forget their pyjamas or sleeping clothes.

On some selected trains leaving from Moscow and St. Petersburg there are special carriages for wheelchair users with wide corridors, toilet facilities and larger cabin space, though in the main, there are no special provisions available.

If you arrive in Russia and then continue to transit to your final destination, for example arrive in Moscow on a Saturday and taking the Sunday train from Moscow through to Vladivostok which takes over 3 days, then you should keep copies of your rail or other travel tickets and show these to any official who asks.

When you arrive at your final destination, please ensure that you register your visa as soon as possible.

Yes, while we try to make the information and services on our site as clear, complete and honest as possible, if you have further questions please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help, or browse through our forums and ask others who may have the answers you are looking for.