Facilities on the Trans-Siberian
Provodnitsas, Cabin Mates and Samovars on the Railway Across Russia
Many people dream of traveling from Vladivostok to Moscow on the Trans-Siberian railway, but what is it really like to spend a whole week on a train?
Riding the Trans-Siberian railway across Russia is a dream trip for many people. But it’s hard to imagine what really goes on during the seven days spent on the train. Here’s an overview of the facilities on a typical Trans-Siberian crossing.
Facilities on a Standard Trans-Siberian Train
If you book tickets yourself or even if you travel as part of a group, unless you sign up for one of those super-luxury trains you’ll be traveling on a train that’s traveled backwards and forwards across Russia many, many times. That’s not to say that every train is old, but the facilities are not always top-class.
A typical cabin looks something like this: there are two bunks at the bottom, doubling as seats during the day, and two bunks on the top. At the window (which may or may not be openable) a small table juts out into the space between the bunks. It’s just big enough for two to eat at comfortably, or for a game of cards. Usually your bunk bed comes with sheets and blankets, but sometimes you’ll need to pay an extra charge for them.
The bathroom facilities are sometimes not really something to write home about. On the least modernized trains, there are toilets at each end of each carriage. These are locked during stops at stations, so get your timing right. In the toilet there is a small basin to wash your hands, or you can use this water to try to give yourself a bit of a wash.
In the corridors of the train, apart from being a great number of windows that are great for sightseeing, you’ll also find a samovar at one end. This is like an urn of constantly boiling water, and you can use it to make coffee and tea or, if you’re well prepared, a meal of noodles. If you bring some kind of thermos you can also fill it with water from the samovar and use it as safe drinking water after it has cooled.
People on a Trans-Siberian Train
The first person you’ll meet as you board the train is the provodnitsa for your carriage. More often than not, this person is a woman who is “in charge” of keeping the carriage clean and responding to requests from passengers. She usually vacuums each cabin once a day and is also responsible for locking the toilets as a station approaches.
Your cabin mates will also be important. Many different kinds of people use the Trans-Siberian train – families going on holidays, businessmen traveling to another city, elderly people visiting family. Try to strike up a conversation even with just pointing or the use of a phrasebook and you’ll often be rewarded with some interesting experiences.
