The Trans-Siberian Railway runs across immeasurable spaces, dozens of Asian nations and difficult to imagine natural resources. It crosses six time zones which makes the landscape change like in a kaleidoscope . From the forests of taiga, across prairies and deserts. Below we present the description of the Trans-Siberian Railway route.
9288 kilometres - it is the length of the railway connection between Moscow and Vladivostok. The journey from the capital of Russia to the Far East begins in the Moscow Jaroslavski Railway Station. After 210 kilometres of ride there is the first serious stop - in the city Vladimir. The next - after 6 hours. It is Nizhny Novgorod. Then the railway stops in Kirov (after 917 km) and Perm (after 20 hours and 1397 kilometres). On the 1777 kilometre of the journey it crosses the border between Europe and Asia. Next stops are: Yekaterinburg (after 1 day, 2h and 1778 km), Tyumen (after 2104 km), Omsk (after 1 day, 14 h and 2676 km), Novosibirsk (after 1 day, 22 h and 3303 km), Krasjonarsk (after 2 days, 11 h and 4065 km), Taishet (after 4483 km), Irkutsk (after 3 days, 4 h and 5153 km), Ulan-Ude (after 3 days, 12 h and 5609 km), Chita (after 3 days, 22 h and 6166 km), Birobidzhan (after 5 days, 13 h and 8312 km), Khabarovsk (after 5 days, 15 h and 8493 km), Ussuryjsk (after 9147 km). After 6 days, 4 hours and covering 9259 kilometres, the Trans-Siberian Railway reaches the travel destination - Vladivostok.
Below there is a brief description of the stops of the railway route of the Trans-Siberian Line from Moscow to Vladivostok.
Moscow
The political and financial capital of Russia and its cultural centre. In the city it is necessarily to visit Kremlin and Red Square, the Church of the Saviour. Moscow is the biggest European city where you can find everything what you desire.
Vladimir 209 km 2h 30 min
Build on the Klyzhama river, established in 995, Vladimir was one of the capitals of Russia, it belonged to its political, cultural and religious centres. Its unique cathedrals were especially famous, four of them are listed on the world heritage monuments list UNESCO. To the jewels of architecture worth visiting belong the Ouspensky Council (1158 -61) and the Golden Gates (1164).
Nizhny Novogorod 461 km 6 h 30 min.
The city was established in 1221 and was the trading centre for merchants from the East, Siberia and Turkistan. It was called Gorki in the past, since it was for many years a place of exile of many political refugees and was closed for the newcomers from the outside. Recently the city has opened its doors for visitors; a big number of well-preserved historical monuments from the 13th and 14th centuries proves its amazing attractiveness.
Kirov 917 km 12h 50 min.
Kirov is inhabited by 350,000 citizens, on the shores of the River Vyatka, communication artery connected with Volga, was located the centre of agricultural industry.
Perm 1397 km 20 h 10 min.
Perm is located about 800 miles east from Moscow on the western sloped of the Ural Mountains and it stretches on both banks of the River Kama. It was established in 1568 as a village Lagoshika. Since 1756 is was a centre of Russian military industry. Since 1781 it was established as an administrative centre of the northern Ural and became the gate of Siberia.
Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk) 1778 km and 1 day 2 h 20 min.
The third when it comes to size city of Russia and the capital of Ural. Svierdlovski circuit is one of the best developed and most modern civilisationally region of Russia. Rich in mineral deposits and natural resources, it is a highly industrial area. It is located far from the ethnic conflicts, which gives it political stability.
Tyumen 2104 km 1 day 6h 30 min. Tyumen was the first Russian city on Siberia and it has always been famous for its extremely rich fairs and talented craftsmen. In the pre-Soviet times it was considered to be the richest Russian city. Today it is the capital of gas and oil.
Omsk 2676 km 1 day 13 h 50 min.
Initially it was built for the strengthening of the southern border of Russia by the guardsman of Peter the Great, Ivan Buchholc, when in the spring of 1716 he and his unit stood on the bank of Irtysh, on the spot where this powerful river connects with the more peaceful Om River. In such a way the Omsk city was established, which has presently become the biggest industrial and cultural centre of Siberia.
Novosibirsk 3303 km 1 day 21 h 30 min.
The biggest city in the region of Siberia, established in 1893. It's the third largest scientific and cultural centre of Russia (after Moscow and Petersburg), here is also a famous Novosibirsk University. The city develops quickly and is regarded as the capital of Siberia. The area around Novosibirsk and the Altai Mountains is a paradise for the lovers of nature.
Krasnoyarsk 4065 km 2 days 9 hours 20 min.
Krasnoyarsk becomes the most attractive region of Russia for both Russian and foreign tourists. The region has to offer a unique combination of beautiful mountains and rivers, clean air, hunting and fishing opportunities, architecture and the ethnic culture of the unique nation inhabiting the north.
Angarsk 5113 km 3 days 2 h 20 min.
A very dangerous city with gloomy landscapes. Recently the topic of the construction of the pipeline between Russia and China has been discussed, starting in Angarsk.
Irkutsk 5153 km 3 days 3 hours 20 min.
Irkutsk has a population of over 600, 000 citizens and it is located on the banks of the Angara River. It is a starting point for many travellers heading towards Baikal Lake areas, because it is the main communication hub of the trans-Siberian and trans-Mongolian railway. Established by the Russians in 1652 as a main port apart from Ural, it was peopled by political prisoners sent by the tsar and the Communists. Today it is a university city, filled with student of local institutions.
Baikalsk 5360 km 3 days 6 h 40 min.
Baikalsk is a popular skiing and snowboard resort.
Ulan-Ude 5609 km 3 days 12 h20 min.
Ulan-Ude, established in 1666, is the capital of The Autonomous Republic of Buryat, which between the 12th and 17th centuries was a part of the enormous Mongolian Empire. It is a classical example of eastern influences in Russia. In Ulan-Ude the route is divided into two directions:
the southern direction through Lake Guisinoje, Dzhida, Naushki (Russia) to Ulaan Baatar (Mongolia), to Beijing (China) - trans-Mongolian
the eastern direction through Chita to Vladivostok - trans-Siberian
Chita 6166 km 3 days 21h 50 min.
A big industrial city and the centre of Chita region. 100 km after Chita (in Karimskaja) the trans-Siberian railway is divided into two routes:
Eastern to Vladivostok
Southern across Manchuria to China (Trans-Manchurian)
Birobidhan 8320 km 5 days 13 h 20 min.
It ends the Jewish region and starts the Khabarovsk circuit on the 8481 kilometre. It crosses the Amur River on the 8482 kilometre at the longest Trans-Siberian bridge (2612 metres), which directly turns into a tunnel.
Khabarovsk 8493 km 5 days 15 hours 40 min.
Located on the Amur River, which floats on the border of Russia and China, it is a nice and cute city and a good stepping stone from the time spent on the train.
Vladivostok 9259 km 6 days 5h 19min.The final station of the trans-Siberian railway. In 1860 the army unit stopped at the bank on the Goldern Horn River and built military barracks, which were the first buildings in Vladivostok. Shortly after that Vladivostok became the main Russian port on the Pacific Ocean. It is an interesting place to visit, but also a bit dangerous.
