German Rail also sells a full European Rail schedule on CD for €5,00(http://www.cedion.de/produkte/online_bestellung/). It runs an a full laptop, but the CD also includes software with a simpler format for palms and handhelds. It doesn't include fares, but then I don't think the printed books do, either.

I bought one, and by the time I paid international shipping and currency conversion, it cost about $20.

I found that just inputting a start and end point, instead of leafing through hundreds of pages, to be more convenient.

Re: Thomas Cook Timetable - though mine is more and more gathering dust because of www.bahn.de's excellent and user-friendly schedule site - i still love looking thru Cook's - for those interested in only a few schedules many libraries have some fairly current copies of Cooks to peruse. I, like Hopscotch, order mine direct online from Peterborough, UK though you can also buy them in the U.S. thru RailEurope, i believe, after they bought the U.S. distribution rights a few years ago from Forsythe Travel - haven't heard about it recently on their site so don't know.

In some way the Cooks gives info at a quick glance that you have to ferret off the German rail site - especially train make up - showing what type of cars are on trains, such as overnight trains whether there are sleeping cars, couchette cars or regular seats.

But overall nothing is as sweet at the www.bahn.de site.

This is all very interesting and detailed ... but can anyone answer this one question for me: how do I purchase a one-way ticket from Moscow to St. Petersburg on a FAST, daytime train. No overnights are possible within our itinerary. Can I do it online, or do I need to call a Russina specialist in the travel industry. I neeed to go on April 11, 2007. Two people. I do not need a return ticket. Thank you.

I believe you must do it thru a Russia specialist agent. RailEurope did sell these tickets briefly a few years ago but there must have been snafus and they currently don't.

Russian National Tourist Office:
130 w 42nd st Suite 412 NY,NY 10036; 877-221-7120; 212-575-3431; 222.russia-travel.com should answer your question. You of course will also need a visa for Russia.

For Russian tickets in U.S. try Ascutney Travel in Claremont NH: 800-TRAINS-4; 603-542-8782; www.raillynx.com

They specialize in worldwide rail travel.

There appears to be 2 daily high-speed Moscow-St Petersburg trains - one leaving a few days of the week from Moscow at 7:25am, ar St Pete 12:07 and one around 6:30pm, arriving 23:12. There appear to be a whole raft of night trains. (Info from Thomas Cook European timetable.)

Thanks very much. Yes, working on the visa right now. Will contact the NH and NY, NY organizations Monday.

I also recommend BudgetEuropeTravel.com. They are very helpful via the phone, know the rail system in Europe inside out, and are very patient answering your questions regarding passes vs. tickets. To purchase tickets from them is reasonably priced, too, with a small S&H fee tacked on.
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Thanks, Maureen - will contact them Monday. Ciao, L

Called BETS today - they don't handle Russian train tix. But they did give me some helpful leads ... very nice, informative people. Thanks, Maureen.

If all else fails try Ffestiniog Travel, in U.K., another worldwide rail specialist: www.festtravel.co.uk; ph 01766 512400.

Thanks, will do.

CiaoLeone: please report back on how you went about obtaining these type of tickets please - i may be doing similar in the next year. Thanks in advance.

Festtravel sent me an email today, saying they believe they can obtain the tix for me, but that they do not go on sale until about 45 days before travel. So, in February I will contact them again and place our order. Thanks for your help. Turned out to be the best approach for us.

Thanks for relaying that - i'll have to research Ffestiniog Travel's Russian fares - they've been advertising in Thomas Cook Timetable and British Rail Mags i get for years so seem an established, probably rail expert U.K. company.