True X'mas gift for my friend: world's longest train ride on X

[gyuri_ft]

My friend from Austria got it: he will ride the bi-weekly N.Korean sleeping car which is the longest rail ride in the world hold by ZC (Korean Railway). The car is the part of the Rossija train till Ussurijsk, than it is attached to local trains finally arriving PyongYang via Chasan/Tumangan Russian/Korean border.

The N.Korean car departs from Moscow on 25th December this year, so it's a perfect X'mas gift!!!

Here is the picture of the sleeper upgrade (not the entire ticket):

Please note the price: 1842 RUR or exactly 70 USD.

Add the coach price (Bratislava - Chop-Kiev-Moscow-Irkutsk-Ussurijsk-Tumangan) 100 Euro or 130 USD round-trip.

Out of curiosity for tariff buffs: obviously, the 30% cheaper MPT international tariff was applied to the NK sleeping car. If it would be a Russian car, they would apply East-West international tariff for the sleeper because the base ticket was issued in Slovakia according the East-West agreement. However, Koreans are not in the East-West tariff, only in MPT - thus according the books cheaper price applies.

The couch ticket is actually here. Due computer-related and language issues it was made till Ussurijsk only, Ussurijsk-Tumangan was sold separately. The railway agency could either issue Devinska Nova Ves-Bratislava-Moscow-Ussurijsk or Bratislava - Moscow - Tumangan, but not D.N.V. - Bratislava - Tumangan. Given the time pressure my friend made a mistake and opted for D.N.V.-Ussurijsk ticket and lost probably $30-$40 because Devinska Nova Ves is about 10 miles from Bratislava, while buying extra Ussurijsk-Tumangan couch ticket in Russia was a bigger pain. Anyway, considering the vast distance all this are mere Pennies on Dollar. Also, he had surprisingly few issues getting the N. Korean car reservation.

And nothing would prevent any American citizen to ride that car within Russia. My friend will detrain in Irkutsk anyway: he is riding the N.K. car as railbuff. Also out of curiosity: the Russian very long distance domestic service is much more expensive than the same traveled internationally.

I hope, he will post more pictures - he has a decent digital camera

 

[Steve4031]

After this trip, this guy will probably enjoy the food service car on the Cardinal.

 

[gyuri_ft]

After this trip, this guy will probably enjoy the food service car on the Cardinal.

LOL - An Austrian would probably rather eat a mediocre breakfast in Russian diner than a well-made in Amtrak. I was countless times riding the trains in formar USSR (transsib 6 times) during the worst years. Even at that time the food in the diner was for me not good, but acceptable. Our stomach and our food is with us until we die. On the other hand with all due respect I was the only passenger on CSL last week completely puzzled over breakfast and giving poor crew hard time. The breakfast is a major curtural shock for us here and also for Americans on the "old continent".

 

[Dinker]

Be sure to try 'myaso po-frantsuzski' or most any 'salat s meijonezom' on a Russian train if you want a cultural shock. On the the other hand, drinks in the restaurant car are relatively affordable and they don't use disposable cutlery and glasses.

 

[gyuri_ft]

Be sure to try 'myaso po-frantsuzski' or most any 'salat s meijonezom' on a Russian train if you want a cultural shock. On the the other hand, drinks in the restaurant car are relatively affordable and they don't use disposable cutlery and glasses.

For me the morning omlette or ciche is a cultural shock.

My mom is, however a specialist in 'salat s meijonezom'. We eat it at any time. Sometimes it is called 'Salat Olivier'. They won't be here this year due my dad's health and we will miss not just them but also the salad time during holidays

The Austrian guy left the half of his heart in Siberia, so he is indeed in need of cheap tickets.

It very well might be, he will enjoy the 'salat s meijonezom' for the rest of his life, even at home - like my dad and many others visiting Russia did :lol: