After having used the Moscow-Beijing train (Train 4), I would like to share some tips concerning this trip, although many of these apply to the Transsiberian in general:
- As you probably know, there is a Samovar from which hot (almost boiling) water can be drawn at any time for free, in every wagon. Coffee and tea are obvious, some instant meals like noodles and meshed potatoes are good to bring. However, you do not need to bring too much, as you can buy it at every stop from the vendors on the platforms. If you like to have some fruit, this may be more important to bring, as with the vendors, you never know how fresh it is.
- Bring the cutlery and crockery to eat your meals. Fork, spoon, knife, a cup and a plate are very useful. You will be offered alcohol and you might want to have something to drink it from.
- Toilet paper is not provided, so bring yours. Can also be bought on the way, but expect Soviet-style single-layer (rough, with holes) then.
-
DC 48 V ??
There are power outlets in the wagons (this is the Chinese rolling stock on train 4, remember, Russian rolling stock may be completely different), which are exactly German Schuko standard (so fit Euro plugs). They are, however, dubiously labelled “DC 48 V”. Some mobile phones could charge (mostly the ones with very new USB chargers), such as my Motorola Milestone (probably the power adapters are very tolerant). At least some Nokia and Sony Ericsson models had problems, my laptop wouldn’t charge. However, there may be 220 V outlets in first class compartments and I think I have seen 110 V ones in one Russian waggon which was in our train (I think it went for Irkutsk)
- First class compartments have showers shared between two of them. However, I have been told that there is not a lot of water coming from them, so they might not be worth it.
- “Siberia” might sound like a cold place, but in summer, it definitely isn’t (continental climate). So prepare for very hot wheather, there is no air conditioning on the train.
- You might be tempted to think that the train gives you plenty of time to adjust to time zone changes. Well, that might be true if you make sure you always go to bed according to the right time zone, but I can tell you, it is not too easy. On the first two days, it is 2h/day, which is too fast for most people, so you might want to adjust only part of it. Then another hour on the third day, but in summer, you probably don’t want to set this, as you would have to set it back when coming to Mongolia and China, which do not use Daylight Saving Time.
However, the real problem is that the train is running according to Moscow time all the way through Russia, so many passengers do not change their time at all, and it is quite difficult to adjust your time living next to people who go to bed at totally different times. - I used a Megafon (МегаФон) Russian SIM card, which provided me with cheap internet access until crossing the Mongolian border.
