If you buy a ticket at the box office, you can discuss your preferences regarding the selection of a seat in the car with the cashier. In the same case, if the ticket is purchased on the website, you will have to make a choice yourself. To do this, you must first familiarize yourself with some of the nuances of various places. Otherwise, faced with them during the trip, you will have to endure inconveniences that could have been avoided.
Wagon selection
First you need to familiarize yourself with the classes of service in order to have an idea of what level of comfort you will meet during your trip.
Soft (M), Luxury (L), Coupein (K), Reserved seat (P), With seats (S).
Individual air conditioning, shower and toilet are provided only in a soft car. In all the rest - air conditioning is shared, there is no shower, two toilets in the car.
In a soft car and a luxury car, there are 2 berths per compartment, and in a compartment - 4.
In addition to the type of wagon, it is important to consider service classes. There are quite a lot of them, and they differ in the presence and diet (hot / cold), the category of equipment with bed linen, the presence / absence and completeness of sanitary and hygiene kits, and the provision of the press. Moreover, different carrier companies use different designations for service classes, and the same designation class can have different service fillers.
Branded trains consist of cars of new modifications, and include their different types, so you can choose the right option for yourself without any problems.
But in a double-decker car you can find much more inconvenience than it might seem at first glance. There are twice as many seats as compared to a one-story car, and the number of conductors is the same (it takes longer to wait for tea, boarding a train as well), there is no third upper shelf in the compartment and there is nowhere to put things. Instead of titanium - an ordinary electric kettle. There are only 3 toilets, a staircase that is not easy for elderly people to climb with luggage, and a low ceiling on the second floor.
Location selection
In standard Russian compartment and reserved seat carriages, the following rule applies: the lower seats are odd, the upper ones are even.
Side seats in the reserved seat start at 37. Above it - 38, which are located directly at the toilet. The last upper non-lateral place (36) cannot be called convenient either, since there is a toilet behind the wall, and it differs from all other places from which the legs, sorry, hang down, by the presence of a partition and the absence of a step for climbing.
Next to the conductor's compartment, there may also be little pleasant. The compartments provided for luggage will probably be occupied by coal, blankets and other things. It hardly makes sense to argue with the conductor about this for your calm and comfortable stay on the road. It is better to choose a different place in advance.
Passengers of high stature should take into account that in the reserved seat seats 1, 2, 35, 36 are shorter than the rest of the centimeters by 15.
There is one fairly common misconception about carriages with seating. These wagons are often confused with common ones. There is no air conditioning in the common car, and 3 passengers are sitting on the shelf. In the carriages, on the contrary, it is very comfortable. The layout of the seats is reminiscent of placing them on a bus. The seats are soft, you can recline them to take a nap.
In carriages with seats, despite many different modifications, the principle of “odd at the window” remains unchanged. Therefore, if you are a fan of warming up and cannot sit still for a long time, it is better to buy an even seat, it is closer to the aisle.
Even with the current problems, you can always find an option that is most suitable for you. Removing an inconvenient seat can keep you in good spirits and set a precedent for the company to pay attention to unclaimed seats in the future and lower the price on them.
The reserved seat car consists of 9 non-closable compartments and 54 beds.
Each compartment consists of 4 shelves - two lower and two upper.
Opposite the compartment there are two side seats - lower and upper.
Each car is equipped with two toilets with sinks located at the beginning and end of the car, titanium for heating water and two vestibules, one of which is for smoking.
You can see what a reserved seat car looks like on a train.
Numbering of the lower and upper shelves
If you are traveling together, then it is best for one of the passengers to take the shelf below, and the other - the shelf above it. So you will be more comfortable and calmer, because with a familiar person it is always easier to agree on household trifles during the journey.
Side seats and compartment
If your trip in time is less than a day, and you do not plan to sleep during the trip, then you can choose. Tickets for them, as a rule, cost less. Side seats include seats from 37 to 54. It is also advisable to take side seats for those who travel together. You do not have to share a table with a stranger and worry about your and his convenience.
Are you planning a long trip? Then it is best to choose a 4-seater coupe. Their numbering is from 1 to 36. This coupe is also better for people with tall stature. If it is simply impossible to stretch your legs on the side seat lying down due to the longitudinal location of the shelf, then in a 4-seater compartment you can freely stretch your legs to their full length, unless, of course, you are not embarrassed by the possibility that they will constantly be touched by passing passengers.
Location of vestibules, toilets and conductors' room
One toilet is at the end of the car, the other is at the beginning. If it is important for you to be close to the toilet, then you should choose a compartment in accordance with its location.
Smoking on the train is allowed only in a specially designated place for this - the vestibule. For smoking passengers, a vestibule is allocated, located at the tail of the car. In the vestibule, located at the beginning, smoking is prohibited.
The compartment of conductors is located at the beginning of the car, next to the first passenger seats. Buying a shelf next to such a compartment, you can always quickly get the information of interest from Russian Railways employees.
- The best places are 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- First reason: they are closest to the compartment in which the conductors ride. And this means that in case of unforeseen circumstances and problems, you can always turn to the train workers for help.
- The second reason: the side compartment, located opposite, is most often left without passengers, as it stores blankets and bed linen. This means that in such a compartment there will be no neighbors opposite, which makes it conveniently similar to a closed compartment.
- Third reason- walking distance to a boiler with water and a vestibule with a window, where the passenger can always be in solitude, look out the window and stretch his legs.
- The second most popular among passengers and for convenience are 4-seater compartments in the middle of the pasture - these are places from 14 to 27. It will be convenient on these shelves because you do not have to wake up from the sounds of slamming toilet doors and inhale the tobacco smell coming from the vestibule for smokers.
Which ones are not worth buying a ticket for?
The most uncomfortable shelves are from 33 to 37. These are places located next to the toilet and the smoking vestibule. The whole trip will be accompanied by clattering of doors, unpleasant smells and passengers walking past you.
The top shelf at number 36 does not have a handrail for climbing up.
You should not choose compartments 4 and 6 for long-distance travel (13-16, 21-24, 43-44 and 47-48 places). Emergency exits are located in these compartments.
From a safety point of view, this can be a plus, since in case of a train fire or an accident, you will be the first to get out.
From the point of view of convenience, such places are not always comfortable: the windows in them do not open, which can make traveling in hot weather unbearable.
REFERENCE: The length of the shelves in seats 1, 2, 35 and 36 is shortened by 15 cm. It will be uncomfortable for tall passengers to sleep on such shelves.
Compartments that should be preferred to a family with a child
For passengers with children, it is best to choose 4-seater compartments. It is recommended that the child be placed on the lower shelf, since the upper one may be unsafe for him, because in order to climb it, some skill and physical strength will be required.
It is worth noting that children under 5 years old travel free of charge. However, there is no separate shelf for them. This means that a parent with a child will have to share one shelf for two. In this case, it is recommended to choose the lower bunk in a 4-seater compartment. This is not the best place for a passenger with a small child. In this case, the table will have to be divided into three.
For the elderly
For older people, it is best to choose closer to the beginning of the car. In this case, passengers will have everything they need within walking distance: guides, a toilet, a vestibule and a boiler with hot water.
You should not choose places with emergency exits (compartments 4 and 6), as they can be too stuffy in summer. In winter, on the contrary, such compartments can be the warmest. .
Those who do not tolerate long trips should choose places in the middle of the pasture - there is the least motion sickness and does not shake.
What places should young people take?
When buying a ticket, many young people want to choose a seat equipped with power outlets. If the path is long, then you can not do without additional recharging of your phone or laptop. next to the hot water boiler at the beginning of the pasture and in compartments 2 and 8 (places 39-40 and 51-52).
How to buy a ticket with a discount?
A trip in a reserved seat train pasture can become cheaper if you buy tickets for the most unclaimed seats - the section next to the toilet. It includes places from 33 to 38. Discounts on such shelves can reach up to 30%. Also, a discount is provided on the upper shelves and.
To save on travel, you should buy tickets in advance. They go on sale 45 days before the flight date. So you can buy a ticket for almost half the cost of its original price.
When choosing a seat in a second-class carriage of a train, it is important to take into account the distance of the trip, your well-being and personal preferences. It is better to take care of tickets in advance in order to choose the most convenient and safe place.
Having bought a train ticket, it is always interesting - what place did you get?
Shelves upper and lower, side and not side ... Preferences are different for everyone, in general, you can select places in the reserved seat better and worse.
There are only 54 seats in the reserved seat car. Unpaired numbers are the lower shelves. Paired - upper. Seats 1-36 are regular. 37-54 - side.
On non-lateral places, as for me, it is more pleasant to ride than on the sides. No one walks back and forth next to you. However, if you go far, then I still prefer a side seat - you can sit at a table, looking out the window or reading a book, or you can fold the table and lie down for a nap. What can not be said about the upper sidewall - it is perhaps the most uncomfortable. People of high stature will have a bad time on the sidewall - the “height” of the shelf is about 1.80 m.
The good thing about the top seats is that no one bothers you - no one is running up and down, sitting on your shelf, etc. etc. You can hide in a corner and sleep until you stop. Personally, I prefer this option. However, the top shelf is definitely not suitable for the elderly. It is also inconvenient if you want not to lie down, but to sit - then you will have to "strain" the neighbors from below.
The lower seats are convenient because you don't need to climb up, there is a table, and the entire "trunk" under the shelf is at your disposal. (Of course, you can put your bags there even if you have a top seat, but I don’t think a fellow traveler will like it if you wake him up to pick up your luggage.) On the bottom shelf, you will get bored with neighbors climbing from above, and possibly perched on a drink seagull on your shelf.
I would classify places near the toilet as "bad" places (seats 33-38). Place 36 has an additional wall (so that the legs do not interfere with opening the door :)). There can be unpleasant smells from behind the door, as well as passengers walking back and forth and slamming the door (which is often the most annoying thing).
I think places 01-04 and 53-54 are not very good. There are also passengers going back and forth, constant conversations from the conductor's compartment and the possible snoring of the door (mostly only in winter) are heard. Place 53 is sometimes service.
In the third and sixth compartments (seats 9-12, 21-24) there are emergency exit windows and hammers to break them. Rarely, but it can also be a plus.
Based on all this, I think what is best is the seats in the middle of the car. And side or not, upper or lower - already depends on the preferences and conditions of the trip of each. Also, as practice shows, the comfort of the trip is quite dependent on fellow travelers - a trip to the most uncomfortable place can be much more pleasant than a good place, but with annoying neighbors.
Are you going on a trip or business trip by train? In this case, you need to worry about tickets in advance, having previously decided which car is better to choose on the train. When buying a train ticket, you should pay attention to the fact that each carriage corresponds to a certain class. Among them are seated and second-class carriages, general, compartment, luxury or SV carriages, as well as soft carriages.
Wagon types
How to choose a carriage on a train so that the journey is comfortable? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Sit-down car is the cheapest option
This type is suitable if the trip is short, no more than a few hours. There is quite a lot of space inside the car. Separate soft chairs with headrests and armrests are equipped.
Railway station
By the number of the seat, you can understand where it is located. The odd ones are at the window, and the even ones are at the aisle. Often, each seated car is equipped with a toilet and a wardrobe.
This type of carriage is of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes. They are designated by the symbols (1C), (2C) and (3C), respectively. The advantages of the first include the presence of a folding table and much more space between the chairs. The seats themselves are more comfortable.
In the second class, the number of seats in the car may be more; they are located in 3 rows on each side of the window.
Less often you can find third-class sedentary cars (3C). They differ in that soft benches are used as seats. This is less comfortable than individual chairs.
Seat numbering starts at the back. The two extreme right chairs are designated by the numbers 1 and 2. The extreme left ones, respectively, are 3 and 4. And so on.
On a note: Prices for such cars start from 990 rubles. and higher. In the season can reach up to 5500 r. per person on branded trains.
With such an insignificant difference in cost between a seated car and a reserved seat, preference should be given to the second option. Especially if the trip is long. It is not recommended to choose this class of carriage if you are traveling with small children.
seated wagon
Econom-class train
Prices for this class are slightly different from the seated. For a relatively small surcharge, we get a much more comfortable lying place, which is necessary for long journeys. The principle of numbering here is as follows - the bottom shelf always has an odd number, and the top one has an even number. It is important to know that the numbering of the first 36 places is from left to right. And the next - in the opposite direction. The first places, located next to the conductors' compartment, will have numbers 1-4, 53-54.
Note! Cars of this type are always equipped with a dry closet and a sink. Each of the 9 sections of the reserved seat car is equipped with upper and lower shelves (can be transformed into a seat), a shelf for clothes and towels, and a table. Also in these cars there may be air conditioning and a radio. There is a socket for recharging phones in the vestibule.
Some features of reserved seat cars:
- there are "emergency compartments" in which it is not possible to open the window. These are places 9–12, 21–24, 43–44, 49–50;
- shelves numbered 1, 2, 35, 36 are 15 cm shorter than others;
- in the second and penultimate compartment it is possible to constantly use the socket;
- do not choose places near the toilet. These are numbers 35–38;
- the most convenient are the compartments near the conductor’s compartment or in the center of the car (in this case, passengers will practically not walk past you).
Econom-class train
For older people and mothers with children, it is recommended to choose a place on the bottom shelf. The second advantage of these places is access to the table. Side shelves are the least popular. And this is quite justified - these places are on the aisle and personal space for this reason is significantly reduced.
The cost of tickets in a reserved seat varies from approximately 1000 rubles and more, depending on the season, discounts and the direction of the train.
Additional Information! In the future, Russian Railways plans to stop buying reserved seats, replacing them with “new type” cars that will have showers and USB sockets.
Compartment carriage
It differs from the reserved seat in the absence of side seats and the presence of a partition that closes the sleeping places from the passage. In total, it has 9 compartments that can accommodate 36 passengers. Each compartment is equipped with shelves for sleeping, a folding table, a common lamp and individual reading lights.
The numbering of seats is carried out according to the same principle as in the reserved seat - even numbers are assigned to the upper shelves, and odd numbers to the lower ones. For luggage storage, there are niches under the lower sleeping shelves and special lockers above the door. To prevent falling, the upper shelves are equipped with railings. Near the door there are buttons to call the conductor, the keys to turn on the lighting. The window is protected by a curtain to control the amount of light. Often in compartment cars there are sockets and TVs. Less often - air conditioners.
compartment car
At the end of a large corridor there are dry closets, which are equipped with a bathroom, a washbasin with a mixer and a soap dispenser, and a mirror. Near the office there is a boiler in which you can get hot water.
On a note: The compartment car is much more comfortable in relation to the previous ones. Especially due to the presence of a closing partition, which will help you to be more secure and close from strangers, which is important if you have a baby with you.
Train tickets can be purchased both through the website and through the ticket office of the railway station. The cost of a trip in a compartment class carriage is higher than in a reserved seat. It starts from about one and a half thousand. Often you can find various holiday promotions and discounts.
Sleeping car (abbreviated SV)
The car with the increased level of comfort. The main difference is the number of beds. In the NE there are only 2 (rarely 3).
SWs come in several classes:
- 1 E (lux). It implies the redemption of the coupe in full. Food and drinks, air conditioning, personal hygiene items are provided. A TV, sockets, wi-fi and a personal safe, a dressing room - all this is in a compartment of this class. Another benefit is having your own shower and toilet.
- 1 E (the cost is slightly lower than in 1 E). It has no difference from the suite. But it does not oblige to fully redeem the coupe. You can purchase 1 ticket.
- 1 U - first class. The difference is that the entire set of services is provided to the passenger for an additional fee.
- 1 L - the last, without additional services and a bathroom.
Transportation of pets is allowed in SV carriages.
Taking into account all the advantages of a carriage of this class, the price for seats in it is much higher than in a simple compartment. If the journey will be long enough, and comfort is important, it is better to choose this class.
Note! What car number is better to choose on the train so that the trip does not cause discomfort? Numbers 3, 4, 5 will be the most successful. Since the cars at the very beginning and tail of the train often shake more strongly.
Separately, it should be said about the high-speed branded trains "Allegro", "Sapsan", "Swallow" and "Palmira".
- The Allegro train consists of 7 cars, they are divided into 2 classes and a restaurant car. All seats are seated.
1st class has 48 seats, salon - meeting room and toilet. Places are arranged according to the 2 + 1 scheme. Services include headphones, daily newspapers and a self service area with coffee and tea. 2nd class accommodates 289 passengers. The seating arrangement is 2+2. In the 7th carriage there is a playroom for children. In the 2nd car there are two places for the disabled.
Lux class SV carriage
It is equipped with a lift and a special toilet complex. The train has a speed of up to 220 km/h and has an air conditioning system. Runs between Russia and Finland (St. Petersburg - Helsinki). The fare in "Allegro" is from 20 to 40 euros for the second class. For the first class, prices are higher - from 59 to 75 euros, depending on the date.
- The Sapsan train can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h. It includes economy and economy+ class carriages, a business and first class carriage, as well as a bistro trailer. Accommodates 528 passengers.
- The branded high-speed electric train "Lastochka" has 5 cars, the maximum speed is up to 160 km/h. It has 443 seats, 4 of them are for people with disabilities and 30 seats with seats that recline. Depending on the direction of movement, it is divided into "Standard" and "Premium".
- The Severnaya Palmyra train consists of double-deck cars that can carry more passengers for less money. There are compartment, SV and headquarters compartment types.
By planning your trip in advance, you can buy a profitable ticket at a lower price. A variety of options are offered - from seating, as in trains, to high-speed trains with luxury seats. Which car is better to take on a train to go on vacation or on a business trip? You should focus on your preferences and circumstances. If the trip is short - it will not be difficult to spend this time sitting. And if you have to spend more than one day on the road, you should think about more comfortable conditions.
*Prices are current as of June 2018.
Are you going on the road and don't know which car is better to choose on the train? For some, this issue is less fundamental, but if there is still a difference, it is better to contact the ticket office in advance in order to have more room for maneuver and choose the most suitable place.
Most rail carriers are ready to offer passengers several types of wagons. They differ in comfort and value.
In such a car, free-standing soft chairs with armrests are installed; the car is somewhat similar to the cabin of an intercity bus or airplane, but there is much more space.
You can take a ticket to a seated car if the trip lasts several hours, and the body does not have time to get tired of the monotonous posture.
Seated cars may differ in the number of seats, their location and class of service.
Despite the individual seats, a sit-down car will not be the best choice for long trips. Econom-class train
This is the most common type of carriage, combining relative comfort with low cost. The carriages have nine compartments, each with six seats. There are no doors between the compartments, they are connected by a common corridor.
Each compartment of the reserved seat car is equipped with tables. Third shelves and compartments under the seats allow you to place even the largest luggage without taking up useful space. Old trains with reserved seats may not be the most comfortable for travel. A fully occupied carriage can be cramped and stuffy. But in branded trains, reserved seats are much newer and more convenient: with air conditioning, dry closets and a large number of sockets.
Separately, general-type cars are distinguished - the same reserved seat with three seats on the bottom shelf. Shared wagons have several serious disadvantages:
- reserved seat shelves are devoid of a headrest and a soft back, it is not very comfortable to sit on them;
- due to the lack of armrests, a feeling of tightness is created;
- tickets for a common carriage are usually sold without specifying a seat.
Shared carriages are the least comfortable, but cheap.
This type of carriage implies a breakdown of seats into blocks of four each, there can be 32 or 36 seats in total. Some cars can be equipped with an additional compartment for two seats - numbers 37-38. The compartments are completely isolated from each other, the door is locked. Each compartment has a hanger, hooks for clothes, a table, a mirror, instead of a third shelf there is a special niche for luggage.
Compartment cars are in demand due to the successful combination of comfort and cost. There are not many people in the car, there are no extraneous conversations, personal belongings are guaranteed to remain safe. Often, carriers hold promotions, according to which the upper shelves in the compartment cost about the same as the seats in the reserved seat.
It’s comfortable in a compartment, but you don’t have to worry about the safety of things
Such cars are usually equipped in such a way that one gets the feeling of being at least in a three-star hotel room. In a soft car there can be from 4 to 6 compartments, which differ in layout and number of beds. Each compartment has a TV, air conditioning, an armchair, a soft sofa, a shower, a dry closet. Every morning, a fresh hot breakfast, a terry towel, and a shower kit are brought to the soft car. Of course, you have to pay dearly for luxury - a ticket in a soft car can cost more than air travel.
You have to pay for convenience Luxury car
SV-type carriages resemble compartment carriages, but are more comfortable. The standard suite has 18 seats, two in each compartment, there are no upper shelves. Among the advantages of the suite, one can single out the presence of a call button for the conductor, air conditioning, and sometimes even a TV.
Like a soft car, a luxury car will cost much more than a classic coupe - (by 60-100%).
The choice of carriage on a train should depend on such key factors as cost, duration of the journey and the level of comfort required. If you are not used to noisy companies and value cleanliness and order, you will have to fork out, especially when you have to travel far. At the same time, for short trips and picky passengers, there are much less expensive offers.