48 AUSTRALIA – Russian Travel Centre/Eastern Europe Travel: www.eetbtravel.com • 1300 66 88 44 • NZ – Innovative Travel: 0508 100 111

Travelling by rail independently through Russia, Central Asia, Mongolia and China is a rewarding experience for travellers with an open mind and

adventurous spirit. You will need to have a sense of humour, patience and a degree of tenacity. Rail schedules are constantly subject to change and

you will need to reconfirm all your onward timings when collecting your tickets from local operators. Many seasoned travellers opt for the flexibility

of independent travel. You may take one of our suggested itineraries, or tailor-make your own. Travelling independently offers a unique opportunity

to meet the locals and experience their culture. Foreign tourists on these trains are usually in the minority, and are guaranteed to attract the

curiosity and hospitality of the locals.

R U S S I A

A U S T R I A

BLACK SEA

CASPIAN

SEA

ARAL

SEA

G E R M A N Y

H U N G A R Y

R O M A N I A

B U L G A R I A

T U R K E Y

D E N M A R K

P O L A N D B E L A R U S

U K R A I N EC Z E C H R .

S L O V A K I A

M O L D O V A

L I T H U A N I A

L A T V I A

E S T O N I A

A R M E N I A

A Z E R B A I J A N

G E O R G I A

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

T A J I K I S T A N

K A Z A K H S T A N

T U R K M E N I S T A N

U Z B E K I S T A N

M O N G O L I A

N O R T H K O R E A

MoscowKazan

Yekaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Beijing

Ulaanbaatar

Ulan Ude

Erlian

KhabarovskIrkutsk

St. Petersburg Trans-Siberian

Trans-Mongolian

LAKE

BAIKAL

Vladivostok

Mongolia, ger Mongolia

Independent Rail JourneysTravelling by rail independently

AUSTRALIA – Russian Travel Centre/Eastern Europe Travel: www.eetbtravel.com • 1300 66 88 44 • NZ – Innovative Travel: 0508 100 111 49

Mongolia, Eagle Festival

Dining car 4-berth compartment2-berth compartment

TTst

udio

/ S

hutt

erst

ock.

com

Yekaterinberg railway station Moscow, Kazan railway station

Independent Rail JourneysTravelling by rail independently

About your trainsOn board facilities are basic but adequate. Each carriage has a toilet with a wash basin at either

end and showers on board are the exception rather than the rule. There is no segregation of the

sexes, so you may find yourself sharing a compartment with fellow tourists or locals of the

opposite sex. Sole occupation of your compartment can be secured by paying for all the berths.

1st class compartments are 2 lower berths with a small table separating the bunks (Chinese trains

may have an upper and lower berth). 2nd class sleepers are 4-berth – 2 up and 2 down, the upper

berths fold up during the day. Luggage should be light and kept to a minimum, as storage is below

the bottom bunks or above the door.

The trains are heated during winter and cooled by ventilation during the summer months. Meals

are not included, but with the odd exception (e.g. Ulaanbaatar-Irkutsk) there is a restaurant car

on board. Unlimited hot water is available from your carriage attendant free of charge, so you can

self-cater by bringing your own supply of tea, coffee, instant soup and noodles.

54 AUSTRALIA – Russian Travel Centre/Eastern Europe Travel: www.eetbtravel.com • 1300 66 88 44 • NZ – Innovative Travel: 0508 100 111

Ulan-Ude, Ivolginsky Datsan, Temple of the Pure Land

Eastbound

RouteTrain #

Days of operation Dep Arr

Approx. cost AUD

4-berth 2-berth

Moscow – Kazan 2 Daily 22:08 09:27+1 268 475

Moscow – Yekaterinburg 16 Daily 16:50 20:08+1 366 640

Moscow – Irkutsk 2 Odd dates 13:50 20:57+3 930 1559

Moscow – Ulaanbaatar 4 or 6Tue/Wed/

Thu/Fri23:45 06:35 +5 785 1240

Moscow – Beijing 4 Tue 23:45 11:40+6 1399 2130

Moscow – Vladivostok 2 Odd dates 13:50 20:10 +6 1240 2208

Kazan – Yekaterinburg 16/60 Daily 05:04 20:09 212 397

Kazan – Novosibirsk 82/118 Odd/Even dates 02:00 17:10+1 406 n/a

Kazan – Irkutsk 82 Odd dates 02:00 02:28+3 654 n/a

Yekaterinburg –

Novosibirsk

2

26/56

Even dates

Odd dates

17:39

21:30

14:40+1

18:15+1

373

407

n/a

653

Yekaterinburg – Irkutsk 2 Even dates 17:39 20:57+2 749 1311

Irkutsk – Ulan Ude 362 Daily 21:35 06:40+1 133 n/a

Irkutsk – Ulaanbaatar 362 Daily 21:35 05:40+2 270 n/a

Irkutsk – Beijing

4 Sat (via Mongolia) 07:53 11:40+2 736 1071

20Wed

(via Manchuria)07:53 05:46+3 821 1256

Irkutsk – Vladivostok 2 or 8 Daily 21:20 20:10+3 969 1531

Ulan Ude – Ulaanbaatar362 Daily 07:24 05:40+1 231 n/a

4 or 6 Sat/Sun or Mon 15:27 06:35+1 272 397

Ulaanbaatar – Beijing 24Thu (all year)

Fri (Jun-Sep)07:15 14:04+1 235 351

Westbound

RouteTrain #

Days of operation Dep Arr

Approx. cost AUD

4-berth 2-berth

Beijing – Ulaanbaatar3 Wed 11:22 14:20+1 930 1498

23 Tue or/and Sat 11:22 14:20+1 493 709

Beijing – Irkutsk 3 Wed 11:22 10:49+2 930 1498

Beijing – Moscow 3 Wed 11:22 13:58+5 1538 2364

Vladivostok – Irkutsk 1 or 7 Daily 11:02 06:24+3 969 1561

Vladivostok – Moscow 1 Even dates 11:02 06:01+6 1409 2402

Ulaanbaatar – Ulan Ude263

(361)Daily 21:10 23:02+1 101 n/a

Ulaanbaatar – Irkutsk263

(361)Daily 21:10 07:52+2 132 n/a

Ulaanbaatar – Moscow 5 Tue/Fri (May-Oct) 13:50 13:58+5 417 616

Ulan Ude – Irkutsk 361 Daily 22:25 07:25+1 133 n/a

Irkutsk – Novosibirsk 1 or 7 Odd/Even dates 06:47 09:45+1 475 771

Irkutsk – Yekaterinburg 1 Odd dates 06:47 05:21+2 817 1311

Irkutsk – Kazan 81 Even dates 01:02 15:52+2 668 n/a

Irkutsk – Moscow1

69

Odd dates

Daily

06:47

18:28

06:01+3

04:11+3

1063

886

1705

n/a

Novosibirsk –

Yekaterinburg37/29 Daily 18:02 14:02+1 409 658

Novosibirsk – Kazan 81 Even dates 06:46 15:52+1 412 n/a

Yekaterinburg – Kazan 15/59 Odd/Even dates 10:12 21:32 274 483

Yekaterinburg – Moscow 15/59 Odd/Even dates 10:12 09:23 +1 429 766

Kazan – Moscow 1 Daily 19:45 7:10+1 281 401

zz Rail schedules and fares are correct at time of printing (Jan 2015) but are subject to change without notice. Some prices are for high season – low season prices may be less.

Independent Rail JourneysSchedules

Vladivostok

Siberia, Lake Baikal