On to St Petersburg by Train #24 "The Younst"

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Saturday 23rd May
On to St Petersburg by Train #24 “The Younst”
Dawn revealed a rather overcast grey sky with light rain.Looking out the window at the deserted childrens playground and walkways one can imagine what the place would be like in the winter when people would be kept inside by the ground covered in snow.The surrounding buildings in their drab colours certainly don’t liven the view up under overcast skies.
We got ready for departure in a leisurely fashion aware that because we had to leave the keys in the flat when we left that there would be no coming back if we remembered that we had left something behind when we got halfway to the subway!!
We planned a 10am departure and made that time comfortably.This should give us plenty of time to make our 12.30pm train from Leningradsky Station in the city.
The market was starting to get into gear as we trollied our suitcases along the wet pavements.Luckily the rain had stopped which meant we weren’t ducking the rain as there was no cover as we walked the 500mtrs or so to the subway station.
We thought that we might get a seat on the train as it was a Saturday and our station was only the third from where the train starts.However we were out of luck and although the train wasn’t full by any means there wasn’t a seat available.In some ways it suits to stand and keep one’s suitcase upright while the train lurches through the underground at speed.
We made the interchange with ease letting the hordes of people who queue up for the one of two escalators that were working get ahead of us making it easier to ride the escalator up the 30mtrs or so to the next underground level.
By the time we emerged at the railway station it was raining again but fortunately it was only 20 odd metres to the main entrance.
We had had good weather in Moscow until today and perhaps if it had to rain it was best to do so on the day we weren’t doing any sightseeing other than watching the countryside pass by from the train window.
We had just under two hours before the train left so found a seat in one of the many lounges(with hard seats) to wait.
At midday we thought it was time to go onto the platform and see if train #24 was ready to board.
It was there all 16 carriages and dining car.The train stretched out down the platform and as our car was #2 we had a long walk down the platform to get to it.People were gathering around the carriage entry and by the time we got there the guard(one for each carriage!!)was checking people on.
Most people were travelling with relatively less luggage than us with two suitcases and backpacks and there wasn’t a luggage compartment in the carriage.
The carriage had about 60 seats,half facing forward and half backwards.Thankfully ours were forward facing.There seemed to be a lot of action as people tried to find places for their luggage and the only real place for ours was at the front of the carriage where the small passageway entered the carriage itself.There was a guy there buggering around fishing in his suitcase while I stood there blocking the passageway waiting to put our cases in the space available.he eventually got what I wanted to do muttering away in Russian although I had no idea what he was saying.
The carriage was almost full as we pulled out bang on time hauled by an electric engine.There are about 12 or so trains in each direction daily between Moscow and St Petersburg and despite a lot of staff on the train the railways should run at a good profit if this was the way they fill their trains up.Oddly many of the trains are through the night and you would want a berth as the chairs although comfortable enough wouldn’t be great to try and sleep overnight in.
It didn’t seem to take long and we were clear of the city and getting along at a good speed through the countryside.The countryside was trees,trees and more trees all very spindly looking things and where there were green open spaces there was not an animal in sight.And it was flat!!Not a hill in sight anywhere!!And the line seemed pretty straight !!The ride was very smooth with almost no noise of the wheels clicking along on the wide guage track.
The train made several stops during the day at drab looking small towns on the way.One thing that stood out was the lack of sealed roads in and around the railway line as we approached or left these small towns.The houses were very small and basic with people out digging their gardens which had probably only become unfrozen during the month.The growing season would be short so we guess people have to make the best of it.Another feature were huge piles of firewood which gave indication of the need to keep the cold out in what would surely be uninsulated houses.
We could have had a seat where a meal was included in the fare but we opted to bring our own supplies as we weren’t sure what the food on the train would have been like.So we tcked into our chippies,chocolate,fruit and drink as the train bolled along.
Soon after the train had left Moscow the guard opened a cupboard at the end of the passageway into the carriage and revealed a large water heater.Soon our fellow passengers were up filling cups for their tea and coffee and this continued for the whole trip.This all seemed very convinent and saved struggling back to the dining car 7 or 8 carriages back in the train.
The weather improved as we neared St Petersburg and the sun even made an appearance in between showers.It was hard to see where the showers were coming from as there were no hills to line them up against.Rather it would suddenly start making the window wet and then just as quick stop.
The population numbers increased an hour or so out of St Petersburg with more small towns with marginally better looking housing than we had noticed out in the real countryside.The rail stations also increased in number although we didn’t stop at them rather they were suburban ones and we passed a number of local trains as we sped towards St Petersburg.
As occurred when we landed in Moscow by plane the Russians all got up far too early to alight the train.In fact many of them stood up 20 or 30 mins before we arrived at the terminus.They had started to get their luggage down as we entered the suburbs of the city.
We pulled in bang on time.Great work Russian Rail and a very enjoyable trip of just over 7 hours.!!
Because we hadn’t had the internet to check the way to our hotel from the station we decided(or Gretchen did!!)that we would have a taxi and thankfully there was an “official” taxi desk at the exit to the station.The lady spoke good English,which was a relief after Moscow,and the price would be R400 or NZ$20approx.It seemed a lot as we thought the hotel wouldn’t be too far but if we headed out to walk and went in the wrong direction it would be a cheap taxi.
The driver was very helpful with the suitcases and we sped down the 6 lane main shopping street alive with people(on the pavements!!)at 90kph.So much for the 50kph speed limit signs.So St Petersburg was no different to Moscow streets with cars speeding and changing lanes at breathtaking speed.Cormac you would love driving here!!!
The ride was just 5 mins at 90kph!! And we arrived at the building #7 which gave no indication it was a hotel.We had instructions on how to operate the digital pad to get the door opened and we were in........to an empty hall.
Now we knew the hotel was just 7 rooms and was on the 5th floor but we didn’t expect to find the ground floor empty.we spotted the lift and pressed the button.It duly arrived and opened!! Just enough room for one person with backpack and a suitcase!!So Gretchen went ahead and by the time the rickety lift had carried me up she had booked us in.
The Benvie Budget Adventure Trip moves UPSCALE!!!
Wow!! What a room(in comparison) to the Moscow hostel.Now we understand why the hotel were a bit upset when we booked it through TripAdvisor for one third of the daily cost it should be.This place is luxury and we will make the most of it !!
At last we will have a shower that contains the water where it should be and no more wet floors!!And a toilet that you can put the paper down!!(although Moscow was OK on that too....when the toilet flushed or when it was our apartments turn to flush!!)
We joined the Saturday night crowds of mainly young people on the 4km long main street and found a place for pizza and a beer.
It was 10pm and still full light.Was sleep going be hard to get to when it doesn’t really get dark here??
Back to our luxury mini hotel on the 5th floor and a comfortable bed with large light fluffy eiderdown and sleep.

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Photos

Trees..trees..trees from Train #24 to St Petersburg
Russia must be well in credit under the Kyoto agreement!!! with all these trees

Comments

[Helen Fenwick]

The Benvie Budget Adventure Trip
Enjoy the luxury :-) loving your adventure tales and hope we can get together in the not too distant future and see your photos xx