Way to Russia Talk Lounge

liquidneba · Just Starting Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 4

I would like to travel between St. Petersburg and Smolensk by bus or train, directly if possible. But I haven't been able to find any information about this. Any ideas or info? Would you have to go into Belarus to get to Smolensk? I rather avoid transit and multiple entry visas.

So far, my best idea is to take an overnight train to Moscow and transfer for a ~5.5 hr train ride to Smolensk. I think I can do the same thing via bus.

Thanks in advance,

gaijin · Lounge Lizard Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 155

Checked on rzd.ru :
the train Piter - Mariupol will take you there.
Leaves Piter @16.36, arrives in Smolensk at 5.55 the next day.
Kupe is 1421 rubles.
edit: also, there are still 42 kupes available for tomorrow, so probably you don't have to worry about buying in advance.On some lines it's impossible to have a kupe one week in advance.

Paul Holmes · Lounge Wizard Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 1071

Russian buses are just horrible and very uncomfortable, take the train.

liquidneba · Just Starting Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 4

[code]Gaijin,

I have been looking all over the place for a site like rzd.ru!!!!

Yea I have worldstreamtv at home and seen some of the bus crashes that have happened there recently. I don't mind being uncomfortable, but as long as I'm safe, and get there in one piece and don't have to kick someone's @ss for trying steal something from me, I'm ok. I do like trains more... especially if I can get a kupe.

Spaciba, bolshoia!

liquidneba · Just Starting Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 4

Well I looked up that exact route, looks like it goes through Belarus (Vitebsk). I'm not going to get a multiple entry visa (round trip) would be mean 3 entries into Russia, (original into Piter, 2nd time from Belarus to Russia, and 3rd going back to Piter). Plus I would need 2 transit visas for Belarus.

Unless this stuff is waived if you are just traveling through and not getting off the train... Any advice there?

gaijin · Lounge Lizard Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 155

I would say that you don't need any visa for Belarus, as long as you stay on the train. Besides,the immigration card is valid for the federation of Russia and Belarus.
If you want to be safe,don't take a bus.
Actually rzd.ru is a very bad website (is you compare with the German or French equivalents), but it's all there is. For example it doesn't find some trains because they split, and if you don't get the name of the station right it doesn't offer a mutiple choice. also in cases when 2 stations have the same name it doesn't give the name of their regions, just their zip codes. And of course it's only in Russian.