Riding the Russian Rails

Russian literature is filled with romantic passages about train travel, and visitors to this vast country often look forward to experiencing for themselves the romance and relaxation of watching the Russian countryside glide by through the window of a gently rocking overnight train. Those traveling between St. Petersburg and Moscow, or to any city within a half-days train ride, will often make it a point to take the train for the cultural experience.

Indeed, train travel has long been by far the most popular form of intercity travel in Russia. There are a number of reasons for this: tradition, it’s easier to get tickets, it’s cheaper than flying, and it’s generally seen as safer than air travel. For short day trips it is often the only alternative.