In Trans Siberian train, a photo from Novosibirsk, West Siberia

Photographer's Note

I continue with the presentation of Trans Siberian train.

The types of trains:
Fast train (skorry poezd) – Very comfortable and fast trains with minimum stops only in large cities. Convenient timetable (departure at night, arrival at the morning). Average speed – 70-90 km/h.
Fast train with special name (firmeny poezd) – All the same, only better service level (cleaner cars, politer attendants). Average speed – 60 km/h
Passenger train (passazhirskiy poezd) – Looks like an intercity train more stops. Average speed – 40-50 km/h.
Speed train (skorostnoj poezd) – Train number from 161 to 169. Very comfortable trains with average speed 100 km/h. All cars equipped with DVD player, comfortable seats. Only available on some specific routes.
Classes on the Trans-Siberian Railway

First Class has two berths in each cabin, 9 compartments per coach. All compartments are lockable.

Second Class has four comfortable beds per cabin, 9 compartments per coach. All compartments are lockable. Second classes on the trans-siberian train are also known as Kupe.
Third Class consists of an open-plan dormitory car with 54 bunks per coach, arranged in bays of 4 on one side of the aisle and bays of 2 along the coach wall. Third classes on the trans-siberian trains are also known as platskartny.

If you known me even a little bit, you guess I chose platskartny. I went only a part of the whole route, 3700 km from Perm to Irkutsk, 61 hours. There were three trains in a day. I chose three days and two nights, it was possible also to go three nights and two days.
Whichever class of travel you choose, each coach is looked after by attendants called a ‘provodnik’ (male) or ‘provodnitsa’ (female). The provodnik will check your ticket at the door to the sleeper when you board. Shortly after departure, the provodnik will give the bedding (two sheets, pillowcase and towel) out in sealed packs – blankets and mattresses will already be stacked in your compartment. A samovar with unlimited free hot water is available at the end of the corridor – pack some tea or coffee, sugar, soups or water-based drinking chocolate and bring your own mug. Most long distance trains have a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks, and inexpensive full meals – less than EUR 20 for two courses and a couple of bottles of beer.

I have went already by other famous train - The Ghan in Australia. There the route was shorter, 3000 km but in two "pieces". Less comfortable because there were sitting places, not so good to sleep. And only one train in a week. what was similar - the landscape doesn't change much during the trip. In Australia it was red desert, in Russia - green forests all the time. And almost no people.

Beta version.

Other views from the train
Here and
here

swapankumarroy, lousat, PaulVDV, rmajum, worldcitizen, rychem, ikeharel, PiotrF, ktanska, ourania, adramad, aliabazari, jjcordier, SnapRJW, macondo, mcmtanyel, CLODO ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

swapankumarroy (3769) 2014-11-04 3:34

Hello Malgo,

A beautiful interior view of Trans Siberian train, the window light illuminated the train compartment to make nice light and shadow condition, everybody was in relaxing mood, efficiently managed the strong window light, superb composition with well detailing and color. I like your description about the train and its journey.

my warm regards,

swapankumarroy

lousat (138599) 2014-11-04 3:47

Hi Malgo,a very interesting post,original capture of the interior of this famous train,a "must" for the traveller,all could to try it during the life...ehehe...useful post and interesting note as usual.Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

snunney (130967) 2014-11-04 3:47

Hello Malgo,
It seems a little cramped but if you get the right people, I guess the time passes pretty quickly. I like the lighting and the friendly expression on the lady's face.

The church in Liverpool was also locked when I was there; I get the impression it is hardly ever open if at all. You are perhaps right about the distortion in the tower; in the absence of a very wide angle lens I had to resort to a stitch; not always easy to get these right.

PaulVDV (62802) 2014-11-04 3:54

Hello Malgo,
It's always interesting to see something about the travel conditions, certainly because in Russia the distances are very large.
I see some people sitting with their legs in the aisle. May I conclude that the legroom is fairly small in the trains?
Best regards, Paul

erhan1958 (15961) 2014-11-04 4:09

selam MALGO
I have traveled from Krasnadar to Moscow this summer
We traveled 1200 km for 26 hours.
I just want to travel this train, but I seem to have traveled.
I hope would be one more trip to russia.
have anice week
ERHAN

serp2000 (47063) 2014-11-04 5:22

Hi, Malgo,
I really like this photo from train. First of all, this is very familiar place, it reminds me my 1990th, when I spent two weeks per year on the Transsiberian.
Excellent journalist photo work, simple but interesting daily life scene.
Best wishes,
Serghei

holmertz (101980) 2014-11-04 6:49

Hello Malgo,
This looks a bit like inside a Chinese train, a combination of sleeping and sitting class. My longest journeys in China were not more than maybe 30 hours. It's an informative and interesting photo, coupled with an interesting note, and so it's a good contribution to TE for those who value information as much as berautifui views.
Kind regards,
Gert

rmajum (1207) 2014-11-04 8:02

A nice view of the train interior and the relaxed passengers in conversation. good clarity & colours. Excellent note too about the train. Well taken. my regards...Ranjan

rychem (72187) 2014-11-04 8:50

Sam pociąg tej kolei jest ciekawym zjawiskiem, a jeszcze do tego dochodzi studium ludzi, to po prostu trzeba przeżyć
pozdrawiam Ryszard

ikeharel (112419) 2014-11-04 9:19

Nice tale about trains, Malgo, loks as a great way to travel - mine longest was from Chicago to San-francisco in summer of 1978.
What's more inteesting, is the people you meet on trains - and this picture show this beautifully.
Best regards,
Ike

wolf38 (30) 2014-11-04 9:29

Hello Malgorzata. A beautiful and successful snapshot. I like this photo because it looks very natural.
Best rgds, Wolfgang.

PiotrF (54246) 2014-11-04 10:15

Czesc Malgo,
Teraz to juz wiemy wszystko o transporcie kolejowym. Przy dluzszej podrozy mozna sie chyba zaprzyjaznic z wspolpasazerami. ja chyba wybieralbym wariant trzech nocy skoro krajobraz zza oknem podobny :)
Ciekawa i potrzebna notka dobrze uzupelniona zdjeciami w WS.
pozdrawiam
Piotr
ps. ostatnia prezentacja na fb jakby z uwzglednieniem moich uwag, a powaznie to calkiem dobrze sie oglada

macjake (98262) 2014-11-04 11:26

Hi Malgo
this photo is so much a MALGO photo :)
I can totally see you on this train talking to people and soaking in all the atmosphere and enjoying the experience.

i really like this side compo photo too, shows the people and the daily life in the train.

the smile on the lady is what warms up the scene the most though. great shot!
cheers
Craig

ktanska (44464) 2014-11-04 11:44

Hi Malgo,

Quite successful train interior shot. I think this clearly shows how a long journey make people live on their own pace. One sound asleep. Two women having conversation and a man lookinfg outside. Low angle is special and works well.
(I want to show you one oldie of mine.)
Kari

ourania (51103) 2014-11-04 12:09

Hello Malgo,
this picture is so natural, discreet and thorough at the same time. You are offering us such an interesting and comprehensive presentation of the train interior and the experience of the trip. The viewer doesn't feel like an outsider but like one of the passengers. This is a fine little series, all pictures are well lighted and have fine natural colours. It's interesting that there's an impression of stillness but the distance the train covers is really long. I like how you used the available space and perspectives. In this picture the lady's smile and interest in her conversation make the scene particularly attractive. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great evening,
Ourania

adramad (72558) 2014-11-04 13:00

Hello Malgo.
I think these trains have not changed much since I visited Russia many years ago and did the route Moscow-St.Petersburg train, this reminds me.
Very well captured the atmosphere in this scene so natural and sympathetic.
Well seen and well done.
Have a nice day.
Best wishes, my friend.
Luis.

carlo62 (81265) 2014-11-04 15:02

Ciao Malgo
mi piace questa sequenza di foto, sono molto particolari e ci raccontano di un viaggio che la maggior parte di noi non riuscirà mai a fare. E' interessante vedere come si viaggia e non solo la meta finale.
Saluti
Carlo

aliabazari (21245) 2014-11-04 17:20

Hi dear Malgorzata
A good shot of the ladies in conversation and everyday life. Excellent composition. Clarity and lighting are well done. Thank you for signing this image

mesutilgim (0) 2014-11-05 0:25

Hello Malgo,
Trans Siberian Train is most probably one of the most interesting train routes worldwide.
In the eighties I was working for an electronics company here in Turkey and we were getting our CRT's (tubes of TV's) from Japan. The cheapest way to bring them was the Transsiberian Train which took at those days more than 3 weeks untill the tubes reached İstanbul. The major problem than was that the width of the rails in Russia was different than those in Europe; hence we had to unload the tubes in Bulgaria and reload then to other trains!

This nice capture with wonderfull sidelight reminded me to those turmoiled times !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

pajaran (114891) 2014-11-05 0:40

Dobar dan.
Interesantan tekst o Trans Siberian train.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici, lepo pokazana unutrasnjost vagona i putnici.
Lepo izgleda unutrasnjost vagona uredjenog za duga putovanja.
Imajte lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good day.
An interesting article about the Trans Siberian train.
Good work with beautiful photographs in the workshop, beautifully demonstrated the inside of cars and passengers.
It looks nice interior is orderly for long trips.
Have a nice and successful day, all the best.
Paja.

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-11-05 8:25

Hello Malgo - This is super; I will probably never see the inside of a Trans Siberian train so from an instructive point of view it is original and interesting. Not only that though you have captured a very good DL scene. Here we see two women enjoying one another's company on a long journey, the blond lady listening intently to her traveling companion... for them time will pass quickly! The man, already looking less enamored with the trip gazes out of the window while another sleeps the journey away.

All three shots tell a story.

I like these a lot.

Warm regards

Rosemary

mkamionka (73344) 2014-11-05 9:04

Czesc Malgorzata,
bardzo fajna fotografia plena atmosfery. Ludzie tacy naturalni, zobilas to raczej na pewno z zaskoczenia.
Ja jak juz wspominalem troche boje sie fotografowac ludzi zeby nie dostac po zebach...
Pelno swiatla tutaj i usmiechu.
Musiala to byc wspaniala przygoda!
M

macondo (20449) 2014-11-06 0:23

Hi Malgo
Good to see you're still going everywhere and producing lots of photos. I immediately liked to see this one, as it reminded me of my trip on the Trans-Siberian in 1975! I went by train from London to Nahodka, and then took a ferry to Yokohama. I'm sure the trains have improved a lot - I think in those days there was only one type of passenger train - and especially the food, which was absolutely terrible. I remember vividly the many small towns and villages we passed through, and day after day of the same scenery. Of course, in that distant time the cold war was at its height, and no one new that communism and the USSR would come to an end. Thanks for this fascinating photo and note.
Regards,
Andrew

mcmtanyel (67635) 2014-11-16 21:09

Hello Malgo,
It looks like there is not much privacy on these trains. I like candid photos and this is a good example, no one seems to be looking at you.
Regards,
MT

kasianowak (17672) 2018-06-16 1:32

Super uchwycona scenka z pociagu, bardzo naturalna, swietnie wybrany moment i dobre swiatlo.
Ciekawa notka, bardzo sie przyda jak sie tam kiedys wybiore. Ja tez najczesciej wybieran platskartny (w Uzbekistanie i na Ukrainie). :-)
Milego weekendu
Kasia

CLODO (45116) 2018-06-16 3:43

Hi

Nice to go outside your conmfort zone to show us the life in the train when you want to travel and discover the world at low price.
Cheers
CLODO

jmdias (114262) 2020-07-18 13:25

malgo

I used many trains in russia, only one was a nocturne. nice flagrant of the passengers chatting while the landscape is running outside. I had a project to use this famous railway, but I had no time to everything.

take care

jorge