I may be traveling to Eastern Europe (potentially in the region Poland-Austria-Hungary-Ukraine) and would appreciate suggestions on useful websites to learn about passenger schedules, rail lines, etc. Thanks for any advice!
The best site by far is The Man in Seat 61, http://www.seat61.com/
Also see the official websites for the railways in each of the countries in question.
I’ve never had a ride in Eastern Europe I didn’t enjoy. But of the four countries you mention, Austria is not Eastern Europe and the difference between its passenger trains and the others you mention strike some as significant. Ukraine’s passenger service can be sketchy off the main stems.
S. Hadid
The main website I used for the route planning for my trip through Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary & Poland in March/April this year was - DB - Germany’s main train site - www.bahn.de
http://www.bahn.de/-S:PtVOR9:eZzeodNNiV-6uNNNNOxM/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml
is the version in English for interntional guests. Has a very good journey search which will show numerous alternative trains for specified station-pairs. Also covers non-German stations for both ends of station pairs. I do not know whether it shows the Ukraine.
For part of my journey I used a railpass - the Eastern Europe Pass. The following paragraph is from http://www.raileurope.com/us/. Another alternative is www.europeanrailguide.com. The options cover multiple days for both first class and second class train travel.
European East Pass
Go off the beaten track with Rail Europe’s European East Pass. Visit Bohemia and the birthplace of Mozart. Head to Danube-hugging Hungary - the land of paprika and thermal baths. Home to Chopin and Copernicus, Poland is historically and culturally rich. In Slovakia, let your feet dance to folk music. Enjoy the unique character and history of each region at your own pace, by train, and in first class. Countries covered on the pass are Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
If you give the travel agents enough time they can book train journeys (if reservations required - they usually are for for inter-country journeys). Alternatively you can book when you get there ( for inter-country journeys the main city stations usually had an English speaking salespperson. I even used the pass to pay for much of a sleeper far
I worked and lived for 5 years in Moscow and Kiev and quite often took trains there (Moscow-St.Petes, Moscow-Saratov, and Moscow-Kiev were my most frequent trips on trains.
CIS intercity trains are usually overnight (exception are some of the faster Moscow-Petr trains such as the Red Arrow (Krasny Strela, hence my name)) and have 3 classes, hard, soft and lux.
Hard is a open compartment (no door) with 4 or 6 berths stacked. There is no bedding, you rent from the attendant. The atmosphere is usually quite party like as there are usuallly at least 2-3 of your bumkmates are going on Komandirovka (a business trip) so they’ve got a couple of bottles stashed away, so don’t expect much sleep.
Soft is a 4 person compartment with a door, basic bedding is supplied but supplemental can be rented. Its a little more expensive, so you tend to have a quieter group (my last trip in this class I shared a compartment with an officer going to a new assignment outside Saratov, a small businessman and a babushka (grandmother). If you have an upper bunk just be always aware where your feet are dangling.
Luxe is a two person compartment and its generallly very nice. Bedding is usally included. There are only 2 beds and adeuate room to sit at the table. Food is sometimes included, but if not it can be purchased from a lady who makes the rounds. The conductor (each wagon has one) has a room at the end of the train and sells tea from a huge industrial samovar for a very nice price (and may have some pastries to go with it). The beds are narrow, but can sleep two in a pinch and there’s just enough room to have some fun as well. Just beware that the compartment is not soundproofed.
Baggage can be stored below the seat (it generally lifts up), and above the aisle, although its quite a job to sling it up there if you’re short. Don’t trust the baggage service. Find out how the door locks there are several simple but effective methods, although crime is down it still happens and
My thanks for the useful information and links! These will be a big help to us.
Mark