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[jmabro]

Can anyone please advise on the difference in the trains from Moscow to Ekaterinburg and then onto Irkutsk? We will be travelling in June and I have seen that train 16 is the most direct. Is it best to take this rather than train 2 or 10? What's the difference?
We will then be travelling onto Irkustk. I have read that train 10 is the best but train 2 also sounds ok. Has anyone who has been on these trains got any advice? Is there an electical power socket in the compartment? Finally, any views on 1st class vs 2nd class for the two of us?
Any advice on Lake Baikal Listvianka and Olkhon Island?
Thanks.

[sibways]

hi, time difference is 1 hour between 16 and 10 to get to Ekaterinburg and no difference between 16 and 2. Generally they go Moscow-Ekaterinburg for 26 hours. The difference is in the final destination of the train and their classes.
As for Ekaterinburg-Irkutsk. The same thing: no difference between 10 and 2 in terms of shipment time (50 hours). The difference is in the final destination of the train and their classes.
About 16th see the link http://eng.rzd.ru/isvp/public/rzdeng?STRUCTURE_ID=4109
It has special fare too.
In Olkhon Nikita Bencharov has pretty good facilities for accommodation and meeting in airport to book via Internet. There is the possibility to get the different and more cheap accommodation too.
From Listvyanka the trail runs ashore.

[jmabro]

Hi, Thanks for the information especially the link for train 16. We have now booked train 16 and 2 and are going Olkhon Island as well! Really excited for our trip and looking forward to relaxing on the trains...and at the lake.

[runbikefly]

Hi, Thanks for the information especially the link for train 16. We have now booked train 16 and 2 and are going Olkhon Island as well! Really excited for our trip and looking forward to relaxing on the trains...and at the lake.

I have been on a few train trips in Russia and I was traveling by myself. I have been in the 1st class (good for 2) and the 2nd class (good for 4). I really enjoyed my train rides. The views outside ur window are just incredible, coz it really is like going to another world, like a storybook fairytale. The tiny houses (I am talking about out of Moscow or any city) the people working their vegetable gardens. THe smoke coming out of all the chimneys. How i want to go back there someday. Each train car has it's own attendant, very much like a flight attendant, and she will bring u tea or whatever. They can pack so much food and snacks into this little plastic container. These things really impressed me coz I am a flight attendant, ha ha. There is a great diner car too where you can go and order food . I found the Russians so friendly. I love it there. Have fun.