Ali

Hello All, <BR>I will be doing a lot of traveling in Russia during the month of September. Does the country offer train passes (like a Brit-rail pass?)which could be used so many days in a given amount of time (a month long pass)? Or does one need to by individual tickets as they go? Is it worth it to ride first class or second class? Has anyone ever had any saftey problems with the over night trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg? Thanks for your help!

Peter

I'm don't think there is any think like Rus-Rail pass for foraigners, but not sure. Also note that in many instances (since you are paying train ticket rate for foreigners), train tickets (ie first class LUX - 2 people sleeper compartment) maybe the same price as Airplane tickets (so check both before traveling), only advantage with same price tickets would be the overnight trains - where you can go to sleep in one city and wake up in new). As for first class vs second class - it depands on how far you are traveling, and how many people are in your group. Sleeper's are 2,4,6 people. On overnight train if you are sharing, you may have to put up with someones bad smell, smoking or sticky fingers, or it maybe a wonderful experiance. Lux 1st class has a common shower toilet, compartments are lockable, with additional pulls to block the doors from opening. Inside LUX 1st class sleepers have a little TV radio snacks drink fresh sheets and hot water for tea or coffee. <BR>there was an additional charge for sheets a snacks (about $1-$2). Search this forum for Russia to get more info.

D.B.

You will need to buy a ticket each time you take the train and, unlike plane tickets, they tend to be the same price for nationals or foreigners. Train tickets are relatively inexpensive, so buying a first-class compartment is your best bet for comfort and privacy (probably about $40 Moscow to St. Pete). <BR>

vee

the separate pricing system for foreigners still exists. from moscow to st pete it will cost you about $70us, for russians it is much cheaper. a friend of ours got his russian wife to ring up and order the tickets so that they would both get the russian prices. but when they went to pick up the tickets they had to show their passports so he had to pay foreigners rates. also if you are planning to come back to moscow from st pete make sure you get your tickets for the st pete-moscow leg before you leave mos cause they are much cheaper at the mos end.

Charlotte

There is no rail pass for Russia - just individual tickets. They claim to have ended the dual pricing for the trains last summer (I haven't been there since then to be able to say for certain.) - so tickets should be fairly cheap. <BR>If you want to meet Russians, go 3rd class. For 2 people travelling together, 1st class gives you privacy. (It also has the cleanest bathrooms...)