Way to Russia Talk Lounge

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

Dear friends,

I am currently in St.P and will be doing the Trans Sib in Aug. My friend is going to join me but currently he is England and getting his passport re-newed. Is it possible for me to buy tickets for both of us, either at a ticket office here in St.P or using this website?
Also If I use this website to buy my tickets, will the tickets be sent to my UK address or here? Appreciate your advice.

Thanks

danbrew · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject:

It will be a lot less expensive for you to purchase tickets yourself at the train station - but know that many of the summer trains fill quickly. You can only purchase a ticket 45 days in advance, but many of the larger travel agents have reservations and/or connections that make getting a ticket for spalny vagon (1st class) almost impossible. Kupe (2nd) also fills up quickly.

Along with the forum at WTR, consider eyeballing this one at LP: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messagepost.cfm?postaction=reply&catid=15&threadid=1187743&messid=10260608&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=0.

ConnectRussia.net offers great service - I've used them twice and have been very happy.

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

Dan,

Thank you for the info, it's much appreciated. I shall check the rest of the site again and browse the other one you recommended.
Just out of general interest from everyone else who has already done the transiberian trip (Moscow - Vladivostok), has anyone had problems buying 2nd or 3rd classs tickets for a trip in August because of being sold out?

John

nikir · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:15 pm Post subject:

I did that trip last August and didn't have any problems getting 2nd class (kupe) tickets. There are several trains each day.
There seemed to be just as many people getting off as on in the popular stops such as Irkutsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Ekatirinburg, which were my stops. So while the train was fairly full, it was a fairly transient population. a couple of times there were spare berths in my compartment for a while.
I wouldn't leave it till the day of travel though, booking a ticket one or two days prior was no problem.

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

That's a bit of a relief. Did you book all your tickets at the same stop or as you were going along? I'd like to get mine all in one go at the ticket office but not sure if I'll also be able to get them for my friend also who unfortunately isn't coming over here until 2 days before we go.

ru-sextravel · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject:

Hi, johnboyinsole!

Did you solve problem with tickets?
Do you know the date when your friend will get his new passport?

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

Hi,
He should have his passport within the next 2 weeks.

nikir · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

ru-sextravel · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject:

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to buy all my train tickets at a train station in St Petersburg or just the first part of my journey?

Route; Moscow - Irk - Vlad and then back

Thanks

danbrew · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject:

Holy cow! You're riding from Moscow to Vladivostok AND BACK???

Man, my hat is off to you. And I thought I was train crazy.

Perhaps someone who has done this will chime it, but from what I've read on the forums over the years, yes, it is possible. It is also possible for you to buy your tickets now and buy two in your name and then change one to your pals name once he gets his passport #.

Smile

johnboyinsole · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 28

Hi everyone,

Just read the guides on this site and simply wondered, are there any windows in 3rd class as this is going to be my choice of class for most of the journey although if there aren't any, I may consider paying more for kupe if i can see the scenery outside!