train travel
 

can anybody advise if there is a train that goes from st petersburg to crakow or warsaw

has any one taken the overnight train from moscow to st petersburg first class sleeper car on the red arrow?

In many circumstances, the message header "train travel" would be specific enough, and not raise any concerns about being too vague.

But for your own benefit, it's probably worthwhile to mention St. Petersburg (and/or Moscow) or Russia... to Poland, as only a small minority of visitors are likely to direct you to an answer, knowledgeably.

There are a limited number of Fodorites with expertise for Russia or Poland, and I am not one of them. Marc David Miller and Ben Haines come to mind.

Best wishes,

Rex

You can go by train from St. Petersburg to Warsaw - train #19 has several coaches, which go to Warsaw. This train departs from Vitebsky train station every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
The first class (two-berth sleeper) on the Red Arrow is quite good, however, there is now an even more comfortable train - the Grand Express. The regular first-class compartment costs the same as on the Red Arrow, but there are also several types of de-luxe compartments, which are very good.

TTT

The direct trains from Russia to Poland go through Belarus. There is an 18 hour overnight from Moscow to Warsaw, and others. You will probably need a transit visa for Belarus.

A Belarus by-pass alternate is to go from Moscow to Vilnius and catch another train to Warsaw, if you can find such a train. I couldn't find one so I took an overnight bus from Vilniuis to Warsaw, and would NEVER do that again.

You might want to go to Tallinn or Helsinki and look at Baltic ship services to get down to Gdansk. Those Baltic Sea ferries are a great way to travel around up there.

Thanks, Rex!

I've taken the overnight sleeper train between Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as between many other Russian cities.

As for trains between St. Petersburg and Warsaw (nothing direct to Krakow), I don't recommend it; every client whom we worked with has, in the end, flown this route (and the same can be said about almost any Eastern, Central or Western Europe-Russia trip). It is a long trip (18-23 hours), may require train changes (which can be challenging if the train is late and you don't have local language skills), and the Belorussian transit visa is at least $100 (and must be obtained in advance).

To CiaoLeone:
the fastest daytime trains Between Moscow and St. Petersburg are the trains R-200, Nevsky Express and Aurora. The first two trains take a little over 4 hrs., Aurora takes about 6 hrs.

It is true that St P to Krakow is a long trip, but it is cheaper than air. You can phone the reference library of a city near you to ask whether they have the Thomas Cook European Timetable, which shows the trains. I have chosen the shortest trip, despite the two hour night wait in Orscha: please sit in the sight of patrolling police. I am afraid train times do not let you connect via Vilnius and avoid Belarus. St P Vitebska, 1617, 2 and 4 berth sleepers and restaurant car, needs a visa for Belarus, Orscha Central 0243 to 0416, 4 berth sleeper and restaurant car, Warsaw Wschodnia 1635 to 1648, restaurant car, Krakow 1950. Please beware pickpockets at Krakow main station.

Ben Haines, London
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