Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Adrian Prince · Just Starting Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

The Way to Russia train page shows first class sleeper from St Petersburg to Moscow for US$142 or $150 but a travel agent in Russia claims the true price is US$272. Are the Way to Russia prices really that wrong or is the agent trying to con me?

Also, any recommendations whether the Nikolaevsky or Red Arrow train is better?

camarks · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

There has been some discussion of the train prices being out-of-date and a slow update underway on WTR. Your travel agent prices seem a little high to me, but it has been a couple of years since I have made the St. Petersburg - Moscow run (and back to 2004 since I did it first-class). The low numbered and named trains are more-or-less equivalent and you should choose based on the departure and arrival times that work best for you. For the trains that you mention, the second class kupes are very nice and you are more likely to experience Russian train hospitality (and will save some money). I let my wife talk me into first-class on one trip and regretted spending the extra money (and, with apologies to my wife, the trip was boring).

BrianR · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

I did the first class sleeper from Moscow to SPb in April. (2 people in a compartment)

My ticket says 2569.9 roubles for some reason, but it was more than that.

Between US$200 and US$300 seems to ring a bell, it depended on whether you want food or not.

bunker6 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

The price varies greatly, it can be $100 (and not a bad train at all) and ten times more. Use e-tickets.

Adrian Prince · Just Starting Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for the replies. We probably will use second class, Camarks. I'm now wondering how to actually get hold of the tickets as we'll be travelling (round the world) by the time 45 days in advance comes around and we won't be in Russia until the day before we want to travel.

We definitely want to use the Nikolaevsky or Red Arrow train.

Bunker6 suggests using e-tickets. That sounds good but how do we do it? Can you provide a web address?

Thanks

Adrian Prince