We're planning a trip to Russia and are looking for advice on how to buy advance train tickets for within the country. e.g. Moscow to Irkutsk Travel agency? On-line?

Try this: http://seat61.com/Russia.htm#Buy%20R...ckets%20online

Book online direct on site http://pass.rzd.ru/main-pass/public/en It's convinient - there is refund online options on the site. Booking starts on 04:00 AM GMT (08:00 AM Moscow local time) in 45 days in advance.

Thank you Thursdaysd - just gave it a try and it looks convenient but the message on the site is - "The Russian Railways database is currently unavailable". No other explanation. Guess I'll check back later.

You're welcome. I bought my tickets, back in 2004, from these people: http://www.travelcentre.com.au/ but I bought a package including homestays and some transport.

rzd's new english language site is invitingly convenient, but for those with credit cards based in the US or Canada, it's false hope. Very few are able to get them to work, and I was not. And believe me, I tried many ways. Ditto for the intourist and tutu sites, where the markup would be smaller. The resellers linked by Seat 61 all charge a hefty markup,and provide no real convenience value, except for the fact that they will take payment from US/Canada credit cards and get you tickets, and the others won't.

Qiwi wallet may eventually provide a workable solution, but I couldn't get them to accept payments or provide usefel answers to queries either.

"provide no real convenience value, except for the fact that they will take payment from US/Canada credit cards and get you tickets, and the others won't."

You don't think that is real convenience value???

Sarcasm is wasted on the internet.

I bought my rail tickets thru local travel agents in Moscow eg Amex.

I just bought my Sapsan ticket Moscow - St P through trainsrussia.com. It was really easy to use, I got a response within a couple days (tickets can only be purchased up to 45 days from your ticket date and I was right on the edge of that). It was more expensive than going through the official rzd site, but not horribly so. Since I can't use the rzd site (US credit card) their prices are a moot point anyway.

I have a pdf with the ticket voucher but everyone on another forum has said that you basically just show up and they scan your passport. I like it when I'm not SOL if I lose my ticket voucher.