Although a summer trip offers endless daylight, we chose winter, when Siberia is at its most beautiful, snowy and photogenic. Amid soldiers dressed in blue berets and camouflage fatigues, and worn-out looking policemen in black fur hats, we found our train. Nowadays, twice a week, the Rossiya (Russia) departs Moscow’s Yaroslavsky station, and it was from here that my Russian-speaking husband and I set off. Before then, the eastern end of the journey involved cutting across China, into what is now the Trans-Manchurian route.

In 1916 as the first world war and civil war raged across Russia – causing the destruction of 60% of the country’s railway network – the Trans-Siberian was completed. This year marks the centenary of the Trans-Siberian Railway as we know it today. Like in Colin Thubron’s travel book, you are Among the Russians, especially in winter when few tourists use it. Your journey will be long so keep necessary stuffs with you so that your journey gets even more memorable.For many foreigners, though, it’s the epitome of romantic train journeys – the chance to travel across the largest country on Earth on an absorbing, perception-shifting adventure, one that shakes up preconceived ideas about Russia and offers an insight into the Russian psyche. Now you can plan your trip to Trans-Siberian Railway and enjoy various stops during your journey. The trains are good, coaches and births in sleeper and Ac classes are comfortable. Tickets are also easily available in winters. In winters also there is no problem as the trains are warmly heated and the Siberian landscapes just look mesmerising in the snow. Trans-Siberian Railway operates all round the year but the weather from May to September is best as it happens to be summer time here. Trans-Siberian is safe for everyone and you can go at any time of the year. It connects Europe at one end and China on the other. Well, Trans-Siberian Railway is still just one part of the massive Railway network of Russia. Plan your journey as per the schedule of trains on Trans- Siberian lines as some trains run daily while some run on even dates or odd dates. You can also turn up yourself and buy tickets and buying online tickets is also an option for every traveller. Purchase tickets from travel agency in your own country or from a travel agency in the country where from you will start your journey. There are multiple ways of buying tickets for the trip on Trans - Siberian lines. The train tickets are bought for fixed dates and all the stops must be planned in advance. Order your tickets as soon as possible especially from July to September and around New Year. The Russian train system is different from European systems. Most travellers will need visas for all three countries except if you are going to Vladivostok or Sakhalin by Trans Siberian route without visiting any other countries apart Russia. The three termini of the Trans-Siberian are Moscow, Beijing and Vladivostok. From forest to mountain, from dessert to steppe, it covers all, thrilling the travellers on the coaches. This longest uninterrupted train route in the world travels through different terrains. Third route, The Trans - Manchurian travels through Siberia and Manchuria to Beijing. Second, The Trans - Mongolian goes from Moscow to Beijing, China via Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. First, The Trans - Siberian Proper goes from Moscow to the Pacific terminus of Vladivostok. Trans - Siberian railway reaches 3 countries Mongolia, China and North Korea. This is only third longest single line service in the world after Moscow - Pyongyang line which runs for 10267 km and Kiev - Vladivostok line which runs for 11085 km. At 9259 km cover, it spans a record of seven time zones and takes 8 days to complete the journey. The Trans-Siberian Railway is often associated with the main transcontinental Russian line that connects hundreds of large and small cities of the European and Asian parts of Russia. Trans-Siberian is the longest railway line in the world. In this article we will explore the journey of Trans-Siberian Railway. In one of our previous article we looked at Moscow Metro. Railway has got huge utility but is beyond just the transportation part. You always carry a story to tell at the end of it. The path, the people, the motion everything is unique element of a Railway journey. You get lot of great unforgettable moments in your pocket forever. As you travel in a train often the journey is romantic, adventure and fun. Railways often are the crowning glory of the nations. Railways connect people, culture, trade, traditions and what not.

Trans siberian rail route