European Railroad Discussion > Russia, May 2018 - Part 6

Still in Saint Petersburg

1) PVC - Positive Vehicle Control. Overhead structure encloses large insulated steam pipes. Central steam plants still power some buildings.
2) Older short-distance coach EMU. Crossing guard was tending the little garden before & after train time.
3) Staraya Derevnya tram loop, Metro station and bus transfer terminal. Another tram line loop and a commuter rail depot are behind me on the opposite side of the RR tracks in photos 1 & 2.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/18 12:20 by Duna.

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4) Lines 19 & 48 articulated trams on Savushkina St at Yakhtennaya St.
5) The Moscow Gate, a few blocks from the Grand Maket model railroad. More WWII Victory Day banners.
6) Coal train passing thru the RZD Ladozh station.

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7) My sleeping car on the Moscow-bound "Artic".
8) 1st Class 2-person compartment. An older car, but comfortable and quite. The beds were a little narrow and did not pull out like I've seen on some western European sleepers. There was a television behind me and WiFi was available.
9) Dinner delivered to my room at 11:15 pm, shortly after departure. There was also a large chocolate bar. Most long-distance passengers drink at least one serving of tea from an iconic glass & metal mug, it's become a tradition. Almost all passenger cars have a hot water samovar at one end. Most are now electric, but coal-fired ones still in service.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/18 12:17 by Duna.

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Back in Moscow-

10) Electric locomotive at Leningrad Station, Moscow.
11) Commuter EMU train
12) Avtozavodskaya Metro

Link to Part 5 https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?17,4639550
Link to Part 7 https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?17,4641849



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/18 10:14 by Duna.

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A few days ago, the WSJ published an article on the pending retirement of the platzkarts, 54 bunk cars.
I would post a link except it's behind a pay wall.
Interestingly mentions airlines have 21% of the intercity market vs. 39% for rail.
Price comparison mentions Moscow to Vladivostok is $1500 air vs. $200 rail.

prrmpup Wrote:
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> A few days ago, the WSJ published an article on
> the pending retirement of the platzkarts, 54 bunk
> cars.
> I would post a link except it's behind a pay
> wall.
> Interestingly mentions airlines have 21% of the
> intercity market vs. 39% for rail.
> Price comparison mentions Moscow to Vladivostok is
> $1500 air vs. $200 rail.

Those are the open-berth sleepers, considered 3rd-class. I didn't check these out on my visit, but there are lots of photos out there. The fare differential between different classes is huge, plus RZD uses demand-drived (dynamic) pricing.

As incomes rise in Russia, auto and air transport mode-shares are rising. Just like in Europe, USA, Mexico...

History of Moscow Gate is an interesting read.  The gate had been dissassembled and parts had been used as a defence of Leningrad during the 900 day siege.

Bob

Sure appreciate these postings on Russia.

Thanks for posting.  My wife and I did a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 2016.  I could only get a small sample of the railway action.