IT IS the world’s most famous train journey, beginning in Moscow and ending in the dingy Pacific port of Vladivostok. Along the way are Russia’s most picturesque vistas: Siberian rivers, the elegantly curving Lake Baikal, and the hazy Barguzin mountains. There is also a lot of steppe.
But for those who always dreamed of travelling on the epic Trans-Siberian railway but never quite managed to stir from the sofa, help is at hand: a new website that takes you on a virtual tour of the 9,203km (5,720 mile) route.
The multiplatform portal by Google Russia and Russian railways allows you to watch the view in real time as it unfolds from the train’s window. Simultaneously you can plot the locomotive’s virtual progress eastwards on a Google map, looking at the satellite view or tracking the actual terrain and mountains.
The video footage covers the whole six-day journey. You can choose different sounds to accompany it: the rumble of wheels, sugary Russian pop tunes, or the evocative playing of a balalaika. Alternatively, you can listen to readings (in Russian) of Leo Tolstoy’s 1,400-page War and Peace or Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls. “We wanted to show the beauty of our country. The Trans-Siberian railway is Russia’s unique calling card. The idea was to bring the journey to people who may have thought about doing the trip but who never got round to booking it,” said Alla Zabrovskaya, a spokeswoman for Google Russia.
Train fans can watch all 150 hours of the epic journey, which starts in Moscow, trundles past suburban orange tower blocks, and goes on through 12 Russian regions and 87 cities.
For virtual travellers, of course, there is no need to queue for the loo or shower, and no danger of sharing a cabin with a snorer. (The downside is that you don’t get the scalding black tea served in a silver-leaf-and-glass holder.) Alternatively, you can hop on and off, skipping to the highlights and diving into Russia’s rarely visited far east.
Filming took place in August 2009, during Russia’s scorching summer, and was a major logistical feat. Two video crews were involved, shooting out of the window as the train rattled across half of Europe and most of Asia. “This project is very special. We want to demonstrate how unusual and fascinating Russia really is and how much it can offer to a devoted tourist. I know few people who travelled along the Trans-Siberian railroad but I am sure that a lot of people feel enthusiastic about this trip,” said Konstantin Kuzmin of Google Russia.
A one-way non-stop ticket costs 6,509 roubles (€166) for a basic seat, and 17,500-19,800 roubles for a bed in a shared carriage. Special tourist trains allowing you to stop off along the way cost more. But it’s cheaper, and far easier, of course, to do it from home. – (Guardian service)