Today, I departed Moscow toward Nizhniy Novgorod on the first leg of my Trans-Siberian Railway trip. Anxiety did not escape me. The Cyrillic alphabet, compounded by my inability to converse in Russian, does not nurture seamless navigation. My biggest fear is missing the train and being swallowed by bureaucracy in attempting to arrange a new ticket.
After reviewing everything for the tenth time, I headed out early to catch the train. Moscow has many train stations with routes based on the direction the destination is located in relation to Moscow. Basically, the train stations in North part of the city trend North, etc. Many of them, if not all, are conveniently connected to the metro system. As Russia prepares for the FIFA World Cup in 2018, it is improving its signage with English translations. It shocked me to find signs that were indeed helpful, which is in contrast to my previous visit. I was able to follow the signs and surface from the metro right in front of the train station!
Shamefully, I always worry the train stations will somehow be seriously lacking. This has always been proved wrong. While the station’s information booth and departure hall for general seating were closed, it indeed was a fully functional station. Announcements are frequently made in Russian, but it is a wonder anyone understands what is being said. The public announcement speakers are so antiquated that the voice comes out fairly inaudible.
The only reliable initial indicator I had as to which train to take was its departure time. It takes a few moments to be sure the Cyrillic matches up. My train was due to arrive at platform one, however it came to platform eleven. The information board never updated, however no one but me seemed phased. Tickets are checked twice, prior to boarding and after the train is on its way. One can never be too careful in Russia and I dread thinking what happens to stowaways, particularly in the harsh winters.
I was worried about knowing when to get off. The time of day is really the only indicator I can count on. I know it does not sound like a difficult concept. However, what if the train was running late? How would I know? Turns out announcements on the train are also made in audible enough English. I had no problem disembarking. Nizhniy Novgorod is a big enough city to have its own metro and after riding the metro successfully in both Saint Petersburg and Moscow, I managed it with the skill of a local.
// Oliver – Day 64 – Russia