Plan to leave Moscow, Russia, on a Wednesday or Thursday if you are taking the 0064 express train.
Purchase a phrase book. Train personnel rarely speak English. The train service is by Mongolian Railways on Wednesday and by Russian Railways on Thursday.
Plan to take the 004 express train on a Tuesday if you prefer.
Take the 5-day duration of your journey into consideration when making your travel plans.
Select your desired class of travel. Class options include regular first and second-class and first and second-class in private cabins.
Consider booking your tickets through an agency, for ease of purchase. You may also find discounts.
Buy your tickets directly from a ticket office. Be aware that you may have to deal with long lines.
Obtain a visa to Moscow in advance. Visa requirements vary depending on what country the visitor is from. Check with your local embassy or consulate for more information.
Know that luggage space in the cabins is limited so plan with that in mind.
Consider taking some food with you. Meals in the restaurant cars could cost up to $15 per person. Ideal food would be anything that can survive for at least two days outside a refrigerator.
Purchase a language translation book if you are not familiar with the Russian or Mongolian language.
Dress comfortably for the trip. Many passengers change into tracksuits and sneakers for maximum comfort.
Arrive at the Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow in enough time to board the train.
Seek the help of a porter to locate your train if you don't understand the language.
Prepare to spend 106 hours on the train, traveling the 6266km distance.
Be aware that there are 2 toilets per wagon and they are locked 30 to 60 minutes before and after a train stop. Prepare for long lines!
Prepare for the train to stop at various cities along the way for 20 to 30 minutes.
Plan to make purchases of food and other needs from sellers at these stops if necessary.
