“Pardon me, boy – is
that the Trans-Siberian choo-choo?”
Well, we’ll give you the
twist… it probably doesn’t exist…
Oh yes, there’s a Trans-Siberian
Railway alright – just no train called “The Trans-Siberian
Express” There are three main routings: (i) Moscow-Beijing
via Manchuria (ii) Moscow-Beijing via Mongolia
and (iii) Moscow-Vladivostok (largely “for railway
fans only”).
How come they can all call
themselves “Trans-Siberian” then? Because… the
authentic part of the track called Trans-Siberian
is from the Urals Mts (near Ekaterinburg) to Buryatia
only – the part which crosses Siberia, and is
therefore “Trans-Siberian”. And all three routes
use that part of the route. There’s something
you won’t find in every guidebook!
THE LONGEST MEAL
IN THE WORLD (9001 km)
There are restaurant-car
services on all international trains – provided
by whichever country you’re in at the moment.
We also use some local trains which do not have
a restaurant car, but you can stock up with goodies
before you board. Don’t expect haute cuisine!
But you can get smoked salmon, and sometimes caviar
too, at bargain prices. The champagne ($3 a bottle)
makes the perfect accompaniment. Mix-and-match
the restaurant car with snacks sold on the platform,
and you’re there!
A PLACE TO HANG
YOUR HAT – ALTHOUGH NOT TO SWING A CAT.
Compartments come in two
flavours – 2nd-Class/4-berth, or 1st-Class/2-berth.
They’re exactly the same, except that in 1st-Class,
the two upper berths are removed to give more
space and privacy. |
