Amtrak is underfunded! Put you opions here.

[JamieLei]

But then the train is really not viable, in both cost and practicability for getting to somewhere that would take over 1h30 on a plane. Ie: it's cheaper to fly to Moscow than to take the plane.

Noone is questioning that planes are the best method of transport for over 1000 miles though

[Ameecher]

Ie: it's cheaper to fly to Moscow than to take the plane.

Say what?

[JamieLei]

Train I meant

[orudge]

Although one day, I do want to take the train to Moscow, and then onto Beijing via the Trans-Mongolian railway.

[JamieLei]

Aye - same.

Although it takes almost 2 weeks IIRC, and it's best to take a friend

Interestingly, the railway is mainly used by "locals" rather than tourists.

[Ameecher]

The trouble with the Trans-siberian (and mongolian) is that there is nowhere notable to stop off at mid-journey thus breaking the monotony of being on a train for days and the scenery isn't very notable either unlike some of the great train journeys of the world. You generally only get the cranks and few people who do it just to say they have done it.

[orudge]

True. I did plan out a hypothetical itinerary a couple of years ago. In practice, no idea when I may ever actually do this, if ever. One day, perhaps.

[Kevo00]

The trouble with the Trans-siberian (and mongolian) is that there is nowhere notable to stop off at mid-journey thus breaking the monotony of being on a train for days and the scenery isn't very notable either unlike some of the great train journeys of the world. You generally only get the cranks and few people who do it just to say they have done it.

Have you done it?

[JamieLei]

The trouble with the Trans-siberian (and mongolian) is that there is nowhere notable to stop off at mid-journey thus breaking the monotony of being on a train for days and the scenery isn't very notable either unlike some of the great train journeys of the world. You generally only get the cranks and few people who do it just to say they have done it.

The article in the Emirates magazine gave it an outstanding review, with many notable interesting places to stop off (including one lake where you could throw yourself in, go for a swim, and then be back on the train in under 20 minutes) and some amazing stunning and changeable scenery. The journey is undertaken by thousands of people, mainly not cranks actually and the company aboard the train is varied, interesting and a melting-pot of cultures.

[michael blunck]

[Trans-Siberian]

There are quite a couple of different routes you may do that interesting journey. From Moskva to Omsk, you may choose among three (later two) lines: via Nishnij Novgorod and Perm, via Kazan, and via Samara and Chelyabinsk. And beyond Ulan-Ude you may choose again between three different routes: the "classic route" via Chabarovsk, the "Trans-Mandjurian" via Harbin and the "Trans-Mongolian" via Ulan-Bator. In addition, you may try the BAM which also links to the Chabarovsk/Vladivostok line at Skovorodino.

regards
Michael