The Trans-Siberian Railway spans 8 time zones and covers 5,772 miles, connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and several Asian countries. It was built between 1891 and 1916 and electrified between 1929 and 2002. The railway boosted the economy of Siberian cities, and now attracts tourists from around the world. There are three travel options, with third class having no division between beds, and second and first class having small cabins with four or two beds. Cleanliness can be an issue, but it’s an adventure of a lifetime.
The Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the most famous railway networks in the world. Connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and several Asian countries, including China and Mongolia, the Trans-Siberian Railway spans eight time zones and covers 5,772 miles (9,288 kilometers). Travelers wishing to cross into Russia can board the Trans-Siberian Railway in Moscow and arrive in Vladivostok seven days later.
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway was started in 1891 by order of Finance Minister Sergei Witte and built mainly with the labor of convicts, and later by prisoners exiled to the Far East. The construction faced many difficulties, including Lake Baikal which is extremely deep and long. Eventually bridges were built to connect natural obstacles, the most famous of which is the Krasnoyarsk Bridge, the longest railway bridge in the world, spanning the Ob River. The last section of the Trans-Siberian Railway was built in 1916. The electrification of the Trans-Siberian Railway took much longer than its original construction, which took place between 1929 and 2002.
The Trans-Siberian Railway was built as an economic asset, not a transportation solution. Thanks to the railway, many Siberian cities have had a great economic and agricultural boost. Cities like Novonikolaevsk, just a small village before the railway was created, became Novosibirsk, a thriving economic center and currently the third largest city in Russia. Other cities, such as Tomsk, were larger before the Trans-Siberian railway. As the railroad bypassed them, they began to lose power and were eventually left behind.
The Trans-Siberian Railway attracts thousands of tourists every year, who come from all corners of the world to experience the longest railway in the world. Locals mostly use the train for short trips between cities, while foreigners try to experience the whole journey.
There are three travel options on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Third class consists of 20-30 carriage beds, with no division between them other than a hanging curtain which is not always present. Second and first class are basically the same: a small cabin with four or two beds. There is no choice of mates, so unless you pay for the entire cabin, you may be stuck sharing a room with someone of the opposite sex. There are no showers in the train and the toilets are shared by the whole car, so cleanliness can become an issue. If you have a sense of adventure, however, riding the Trans-Siberian Railway can turn into the experience of a lifetime.
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