I'm heading east this summer, out to the Urals via Poland and Moscow. I've bought the train tickets from London to Poland, and the ticket from Moscow-Chelyabinsk is taken care of - which leaves the middle section. A couple of questions...

1. I'm assuming it will cost more to buy the ticket here via an agency (such as DB), but it will obviously be simpler, and provide me a reservation ahead of time. Is this a good assumption?

2. Do trains from W Europe to Russia run on time? The one I've got my eye on is due to arrive in Moscow at 20:00, which I would normally be wary of due to finding accommodation at night. If the train always arrives on time then it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks all!

It'll be cheaper if buy your ticket while you arrive to Poland.
The train should be on time. The only delays I can think of could be severe winter conditions, which is not going to be the case, if you travel in summer.

I would suggest booking your accommodation in Moscow in advance anyway. I spent half the day running around going to places in my Lonely Planet that were either nowhere to be found or at least twice as expensive as the guidebook said, and ended up settling for a place that cost a lot more than I'd imagined and was quite far from the centre (though the metro in Moscow rocks, so that's not really a problem).

Also, keep in mind that the train crosses Belarus and you will need to get a visa in advance.

The trains to Russia are working pretty good, we made all the way from Kiev to Khabarovsk without delay.

About hostels, maybe you can couchsurf there because there is a big community. And there are agencies making the register so that would not be a problem

I was on a night train from Berlin to Amsterdam last night... it was coming from Moscow via Warsaw. It was 2 hours late.

Thanks for the replies. Booked my ticket today using the DB service (www.bahn.co.uk). More expensive than I'd expected (£89 for 3-bed sleeper) but better that than no ticket at all!

quote:

Originally posted by nerokerr:
I was on a night train from Berlin to Amsterdam last night... it was coming from Moscow via Warsaw. It was 2 hours late.

Sometimes border crossings into Poland are delayed for spite against Russia and Russians but overall, trains within Russia are on time. I've never seen a late train within Russia but then I've only taken them a 100 times or so. Border crossings to and from civilized places like Finland<>Russia are fast and the train only stops momentarily for customs and immigration officials to board, 2 minutes possibly and all is handled quickly, much nicer and faster than airport entries.
Now that Poland and Russia have settled their trade dispute over Polish beef, it is expected that the border officials will be more approving of trains coming from Russia.