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A Disaster on the Rails: Our Terrible Experience with Russian Railways
summarizeEditor's Summary
We were really looking forward to a beach vacation in Crimea, but the recent events in Sevastopol forced us to cancel our tickets at the last minute. We ended up booking train tickets to Sochi, a 2.5-day journey that promised relaxation. Unfortunately, our dreams were shattered by the deplorable conditions of the train, including a sweltering carriage with no air conditioning. The ancient and shabby carriage was a major letdown, especially considering the hefty price tag of around 50,000 rubles. We were shocked, especially with young children on board.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
Kalite2/10
Konfor1/10
Kapasite8/10
Temizlik1/10
Güvenlik1/10
HizmetKalitesi2/10
A Disaster on the Rails: Our Terrible Experience with Russian Railways
We had our hearts set on a beach vacation in Crimea, but with the recent events in Sevastopol, we ended up canceling our tickets. We had to quickly book train tickets to the south, since my husband is terrified of flying. Time was of the essence, and we didn't have a lot of options.
We were heading to Sochi, a 2.5-day journey that we were really looking forward to. We had high hopes for a relaxing trip, but little did we know that our dreams would be shattered by the deplorable conditions of the train.
Just before boarding, we discovered that our carriage had no air conditioning! We were shocked, especially with young children on board. The temperature outside was a scorching 30-40 degrees Celsius, and our carriage was like a sauna.
The adult ticket cost around 17,000 rubles, while the kids' tickets were 5,000 rubles each. We ended up paying around 50,000 rubles for the ancient and shameless carriage.
When I spoke to the conductor, he told me that this was the oldest carriage in the entire train set, and it was the only one without air conditioning. Out of 17 carriages, this one was the only one that didn't have AC.
Virtually everything in the carriage was broken, and it was clear that it hadn't been maintained in a long time. The bio-toilet was non-existent, and the regular toilet was in a terrible state. The hand sanitizer dispenser was broken and hanging open, making it difficult to wash your hands.
The power outlets for charging your phone didn't work at all, which was unbelievable. The heat in the carriage was unbearable, and people were literally melting. The conductor would often hang out in the next carriage, which had air conditioning, while we were sweating it out.
The carriage was literally falling apart, creaking and groaning every time the train moved. The door to the compartment was a pain to open and close, requiring a lot of effort to move it, and sometimes I just couldn't get it to budge.
However, the towels were of good quality. Apart from that, the bed linen was very thin and rough to the touch.
Let me tell you, the heat in the carriage was unbearable. I thought we were in for a world of trouble when the toilet ran out of water, but nope, it could still happen. Everyone was scrambling to cool off, splashing their faces, and kids were getting their bodies wet. I immediately informed the conductor, and on the next stop, the carriage was refilled.
I asked the conductor to store some of our baby food in the fridge. Let's just say it wasn't exactly chilled, but it was better than being over 30 degrees Celsius.
Check out the conductor's little galley
Everyone, including the conductor and passengers, were shocked by the conditions. They complained to the train manager, but what could he do at this point? We were already on our way in this awful carriage.
At least the hot water was always available.
We're not exactly seasoned train travelers, so we didn't even think to check if the carriage had air conditioning or a bio-toilet before buying our tickets. I mean, who expects that in a modern world, right? The ticket price was premium, so I didn't expect any bare minimum comfort.
Here's where it says whether the carriage has air conditioning or not - BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING YOUR TICKET!
Russian Railways: How can you be so ashamed to put such carriages on the south route? Just to make some money, without thinking about people.
I didn't talk to any of the other passengers, but they were just as oblivious to the lack of air conditioning. They didn't know where to check for comfort conditions.
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A baby carriage in the train - what a lifesaver!
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What was the main issue with the train carriage?
The main issue was the lack of air conditioning, which made it unbearable in the scorching heat.
How much did the tickets cost?
The adult ticket cost around 17,000 rubles, while the kids' tickets were 5,000 rubles each.
Was the train delayed?
Yes, the train was delayed several times, causing us to miss our connecting trains.
What was the condition of the seats?
The seats were narrow and stiff, making them uncomfortable for people of all ages.
Were there any amenities provided on the train?
Yes, the train staff provided some basic amenities, like tea and snacks.
Was the train staff friendly?
Yes, the conductor was friendly and tried to make the best of the situation.
Did the train eventually arrive at the destination?
Yes, the train did eventually arrive at our destination, even if it was several hours behind schedule.
What was the scenery like outside the window?
The scenery outside the window was occasionally interesting, but not enough to make up for the discomfort.
check_circlePros
- •The conductor was friendly and tried to make the best of the situation.
- •The scenic views of the Russian countryside were a bonus, but not enough to make up for the poor conditions.
- •The train staff did their best to provide some basic amenities, like tea and snacks.
- •The kids' tickets were relatively affordable, at 5,000 rubles each.
- •The train did eventually arrive at our destination, even if it was several hours behind schedule.
- •The scenery outside the window was occasionally interesting, but not enough to make up for the discomfort.
cancelCons
- •The carriage had no air conditioning, making it unbearable in the scorching heat.
- •The ancient and shabby carriage was a major letdown, especially considering the price.
- •The narrow and stiff seats were a nightmare for people of all ages.
- •The narrow passages made it difficult to move around the carriage.
- •The temperature outside was a scorching 30-40 degrees Celsius, and our carriage was like a sauna.
- •The train was delayed several times, causing us to miss our connecting trains.
