Train from Moscow to Beijing

Q: I would like to find out about the new Moscow to Beijing tourist train. We are interested in the schedule and itinerary for the train. Could you possibly supply us with an email address? - Diana Erskine

A: This new luxury train service had its inaugural run in August, leaving from Moscow's Kazaknsky railway terminal to Beijing. The 15-day trip makes stopovers in Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyerask, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, Ulan Bator and Erlian. Included in the journey is a sojourn at Baikal Lake and a night in a Mongolian nomadic tent. Accommodation is in first class compartments with shared bathrooms and luxury compartments with their own shower and toilet. The train has two dining cars, a bar car and a cafe car. The next trips take place in 2012: from July 1 - July 15 and August 11 - August 25. The listed prices range from 7,380 US dollars per person sharing to 13,993 US dollars per person sharing in a deluxe compartment. The price includes all meals and hotel accommodation in Moscow and Beijing. The organisers are Russian Railway Tours and Intourist. You can contact them on the email address: info@travelallrussia.com or visit their website www.travelallrussia.com. Please note that the train trip referred to above is the "Grand Deluxe" service. There are more affordable train trips from Moscow to Beijing. One passes through Ulan-Bator (priced from 3,038 US dollars), while the other travels via Irkutsk (priced from 3,825 US dollars). These trips also have stops along the way and used standard Russian trains, with first and second class cabins. (2/10/11)