Paris - Moscow

[shetland]

Hello My first post to what seems like an excellent forum.

I will be travelling on the Paris to Moscow Train 24 in August and have a couple of questions. Firstly, I am struggling to find a timetable which lists all the stops, can anyone point me in the right direction. Also, I notice the train stops in Brest to change the bogies, are passengers allowed to get off and watch or will I have to stay on the train?

Also, if anyone has done this trip do they have any tips regarding food and being able to get off. Thanks

 

[DEE-DE]

See here for the timetable from DB's website for August
Changing the link slightly should show all stops, even non-public ones, though that might not always include all stops abroad. Also it shows border points where the train just passes through (Kehl (Gr), Frankfurt (Oder) (Gr), Brest (Gr) and Osinovka (Gr))

 

[Oscar]

The train stops for nearly an hour at Terespol, the last Polish station before the border. The Polish passport control happens here. The train is then timed for about 45 minutes for the few kilometres to Brest. I believe you pass through the gauge changer before reaching Brest station. You can't get off and watch. There is a two hour time difference between Poland and Belarus. The train then stops in Brest for some time, the drivers change over and there is Belarusian passport control. There may not be passport control between Belarus and Russia and Russians don't need a visa to enter Belarus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEuKx4TVc3o
http://www.ice-treff.de/index.php?id=290911
http://www.welt.de/reise/staedterei...unden-Zug-im-Selbstversuch-Das-Protokoll.html

 

[TCDD]

I did the trip last year. The train arrives into Brest on the 'Warsaw side' standard gauge platforms, where border formalities take place. Once this is done, the train is shunted into a large shed, broken up, and the carriages are lifted for the bogie change. Certainly when I was there we were not allowed to get off for photos etc. In fact photography is not easy due to a lack of decent opening windows. In the event I took photo through the window in the car end doors and leaned out of the door - which the provodnik (steward) did not seem to mind.
The process of changing the bogies is time-consuming to say the least and during this time the toilets are out of action as the electricity (apart from essential lighting) is disconnected.
Once everything is complete, the carriages are shunted back together and the train proceeds back into Brest station, but this time to the broad gauge 'Moscow' platforms. Here the train stands for 30 minutes or so and a Russian restaurant car is attached.
The Belarus/Russia border is reached in the early hours, but we were not awoken or disturbed.
Interestingly, a lot of passengers travelled Paris-Berlin and another lot Berlin- Moscow. On the latter section the key cards for the 4 bed compartments were handed out. Perhaps they did not trust those alighting in Berlin to hand them back!
I hope you enjoy the journey. It is a nice trip.

 

[shetland]

Many thanks for all the helpful replies. One last question to those who have been on this trip, what is the food in the restaurant car like ?

This is part of a long trip from where I live, close to Oxford, to Tokyo by rail and ferry. After a few days in Moscow we travel on the Trans Mongolian to Ulaanbaatur for a tour round Mongolia then back on the train to Beijing and then to Shanghai to catch a ferry to Japan. I will be posting some questions about the Trans Mongolian later

 

[Flamingo]

Is it a through Didcot Parkway - Tokyo ticket (I can't find it on a TVM), or did you find it cheaper by splitting?

Also, you do know your NSE card won't work that far?

Good luck with the trip. Sounds like an adventure!

 

[TCDD]

There's a Polish PKP Intercity restaurant car between Paris and Warsaw. It is not cheap, but it's not outrageous either. Food and service is good and it makes a special treat watching the evening sunset as the train speeds through the Champagne country east of Paris. After the 'fun and games' of Brest, a Russian restaurant is attached until Moscow. This is cheaper with a different 'style' of service, but you'll get a decent breakfast. In addition, the stop at Warsaw Wschodnia is long enough to pop out to grab something and bring it back. The stop at Berlin Lichtenberg is now a bit too short for that. From the conductor's office it is also possible to get boiling water any time you like.

 

[Mag_seven]

Is it a through Didcot Parkway - Tokyo ticket (I can't find it on a TVM), or did you find it cheaper by splitting?

Either way its probably cheaper than an anytime Didcot - Paddington single.

 

[Iskra]

That sounds fantastic and I'm looking to do Paris-Moscow myself some time soon. Please write a report up for our trip report section on this forum.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I'm also looking into doing Paris - Moscow and then followed by Moscow - Beijing (why yes I am a little crazy ) so I'd love to read a trip report!

 

[MarcVD]

I did the trip last year. The train arrives into Brest on the 'Warsaw side' standard gauge platforms, where border formalities take place. Once this is done, the train is shunted into a large shed, broken up, and the carriages are lifted for the bogie change. Certainly when I was there we were not allowed to get off for photos etc. In fact photography is not easy due to a lack of decent opening windows. In the event I took photo through the window in the car end doors and leaned out of the door - which the provodnik (steward) did not seem to mind.
The process of changing the bogies is time-consuming to say the least and during this time the toilets are out of action as the electricity (apart from essential lighting) is disconnected.
Once everything is complete, the carriages are shunted back together and the train proceeds back into Brest station, but this time to the broad gauge 'Moscow' platforms. Here the train stands for 30 minutes or so and a Russian restaurant car is attached.
The Belarus/Russia border is reached in the early hours, but we were not awoken or disturbed.
Interestingly, a lot of passengers travelled Paris-Berlin and another lot Berlin- Moscow. On the latter section the key cards for the 4 bed compartments were handed out. Perhaps they did not trust those alighting in Berlin to hand them back!
I hope you enjoy the journey. It is a nice trip.

I did Brussels-Beijing in 2011 and can confirm all of the above. When changing
wheelsets, the carriage doors could be freely opened so taking pictures was
easy enough. Will go again, Brussels-Paris-Moscow-Tashkent end of
September...

 

[suzanneparis]

Wow. Very impressed at how adventurous you lot are.

I've travelled quite a lot on the Electrishka in Moscow region. Which I am rather fond of due to their vast cavernous size and the heated seats in winter.