long train trip in Ukraine - sleeping berth

[CDW]

Has anyone ever been on a long train journey in Ukraine?

I am planning to go on it:  Kiev - Kherson

Train Kiev - Kherson (N 101/102) starts about 21.00 from Kiev and arrives to Kherson about 10.15 next day (road will take about 13 hours).

Here aproximate prices for tickets from Kiev to Kherson:
1st class sleeping carrriage (cabin for 2 persons, in russian pronouncing like “spal’nyi wagon”) - 330 ua grivnas;
2nd class (cabin for 4 persons) [in russian pronouncing like “coupe”] - about 100 grivnas
3rd class (has sleeping places for 6 persons) [in russian pronouncing like “platzkart” or “platzkartnyi wagon”] - about 70 grivnas.


About 1st class, ever shared cabin with someone else?   How will you trust this person?  He/she could be a thief?

Does the train have food & drink services?  Wash cabin, and so on ?????????

Any one?

[Wayne]

I have taken an over night train in Ukraine several times. The first class option is the best. If you are alone and do not want to share  a compartment, you can purchase the entire compartment. Likewise, with the 4 berth compartment, you can purchase the entire compartment. I don't recommend the third class option, and why would you want to be so cheap!
 
If you just buy one ticket, you never know who you will be sharing the compartment with.
 
It is difficult to find English speaking workers on the train and stations. There are small toilet rooms with a little sink. Service is much better on the first class train. The toilet just dumps out on the track, so they lock the toilet rooms while in or near a station.
 
You should take your own food with you on the train, and beer, wine or vodka! Sleeping depends on how many stops the train makes.
 
Why not fly? Check out the domestic airlines. I would not reccomend traveling alone on a train for the first time. If you purchase the entire compartment, you can LOCK THE DOOR WHILE INSIDE! The storage area for luggage is under the lower bunks. If you have an upper bunk on the 4 bunk compartment, some one else is sleeping over your luggage.
 
Yes, sometimes people get robbed on the train.

[CDW]

Thank you, Wayne for the information.   About flights, there is no airport in Kherson.  The nearest is in Odessa - some 3 hours away from Kherson.  I might need some good night sleep in the train and to gain experience

[calmissile]

I have taken the overnight trains several times in Ukraine.  Personally, I prefer the train to bus.  Depending on your personal wishes, the train can be an intersting experience.  I have met many nice Ukrainians on the train rides.

As Wayne pointed out, unless you buy each berth, you may be sharing the compartment with others.  It might be men or it might be women.  LOL   I have never had a problem on the trains.  Some of the attendants speak some English.  Tea is pronounced CHI.  I think coffee is pronounced the same in English.  Restroom is toilet, at least in my experience they all understand toilet.

Make friends with the female attendants.  They are usually eager to please and seem to like Americans.  If you order tea or coffee, the attendants will bring it to your compartment.  The collect the combined fees near the end of the trip.

You also might want to request that the attendant return your ticket to you at the end of the trip.  It is not automatic and in some cases you might need it for your records.  The attendant or a fellow passenger can show you how to make up your bed.  The sheets and pillow come in sanitary plastic bags.

There is usually a dining car somewhere on the train.  You might have to travel from car to car for the length of the train to find it.  You can get a long way with hand signals and animated gestures to communicate.  Something as simple as motioning to eat can often get her to tell you which car is the dining car.  They are numbered in sequential order.  I don't remember if the numbering starts at the front or rear of the train.

Except is first class, it is common that there is not toilet paper in the bathroom.  If there is at the start, it is likely to disappear shortly after leaving the station.  Best to take a roll in your backpack.  As Wayne suggested, take food with you.  It is likely that you will have some stops with a store at the station, but sometimes the stops are only for a few minutes.  Making friends with the attendant will result in her helping you out with the length of stops and places to pick up snacks.  I have been warned by my Gal and others to not eat the food served on the train.  I don't know  if it is valid advice but I never questioned it.   A week or two of severe diarrhea will make you wary of buying prepared food and drinking tap water very quickly.  LOL

Sometimes in each car there is schedule of the route and all the times and layover times at each stop.  Be prepared for the layover times to change dramatically.  The engineer will often cut the stops short in order to make up for time sitting on a siding, etc.

Storage for you bags are below the lower berths as well as a compartment above the door.  It is a good idea to never leave your laptop or cell phone on the table or berth where it can be seen by passerbys.  Just a precaution.  It is unlikely that someone in your compartment is a thief.  It is more likely that someone will walk the train looking for open doors and items of value laying around.  Making friends with your compartment mates seems to be a way to watch out for each other.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the train trip as much as we have over the past couple of years.

[southernX]

+ 3 with wayne & calmissile 

iv used the trains both in ukraine and russia  , kiev outbound etc,

if you like trains they are very comfy , most are old style but as mentioned make friends with the attendants, they used to love any of your countrys gold coins ? seemed a novelty to them ime  especially the custome control guys if your border crossing at all

i took my own food ,on the long 12 hour + trips ,  buy some fruit , chocolate,salami ,olives, maybe some cheese & bread sticks like grissini or crackers   soft drink , id not recommend the alcohol , especially if your on your own

if you can book the lower bunk in the shared 4 berth compartment
ive slept on the top bunks , but it is a bit disconcerting first time you climb up there , and as pointed out , someone else will be sleeping on your luggage below , not that safe imho

oh and dont be seen to sit down on the ground or on your luggage at any of the stations , even if there are no chairs or benches , its a sign of being homeless , and the police will become interested in you if you sitting on the ground anywhere near the metro
i have had many good and interesting meetings with the locals on such train trips ,
the tynets [toilets ] are something else   lol

overall a great way to see the local landscape , and meet the people even if it is sign language and mime

SX

[CDW]

Thank you, Doug & SouthernX

Buy food & drink from Kiev airport?

[Noch1]

I have traveled long distance on trains several times, i quite liked it.
If your concerned about theft, then book the whole cabin.
Take food as I only ever found the food car once, but they do offer coffee and tea.
I even had a stick once and my computer worked for most of the trip.
Bathroom, well have fun with that

I did end up in a 4 car once and met some good people.
ended up babushka fed me))) Daughter was young but spoke some English.

If you smoke, you sorta do it between cars, when traveling ( not aloud)
But all do it, including the staff.

[calmissile]

Thank you, Doug & SouthernX

Buy food & drink from Kiev airport?

There are plenty of kiosks at the train station to buy snacks and drinks.  In fact they are everwhere.
My advice is to not be paranoid about getting robbed.  Just use common sense to not leave your valuables sitting in plain sight.

Relax and try to make friends.  They do not always open up right away, but if you read my trip report, you can see that after about an hour the women passenger in my compartment was feeding me her food and speaking in English.  They are a little cautious about strangers until they figure out you are a good guy (not the police).  LOL

Make the best of the trip, walk the cars and gesture  a hello to other passengers.  Some will shun you, others are more friendly.  Contrary to some security briefings, letting locals know you are an American does a lot more good than harm.  They are generally friendly to us.  A side note, don't make any passes at a woman unless you know she is single.  If you think the  women are jealous, it is nothing like the men are.  LOL

As noted in an earlier post, you might find that your cell works for much of the trip.  I used my tablet with GPS to track the whole journey.  It was interesting to know what towns we were going through and where we were stopping without having to ask.  Just an idea for you.  You will need a Ukrainian map that is downloaded completely into the tablet since you may or may not have cell/internet coverage.

If you are like many of us that enjoyed the train rides, you will return with those memories as well as your romantic adventures.  LOL

[CDW]

but if you read my trip report, you can see that after about an hour the women passenger in my compartment was feeding me her food and speaking in English.  They are a little cautious about strangers until they figure out you are a good guy (not the police).  LOL

I wouldn't accept food from others, just in case they are drugged!

[Daveman]

+4 (or more) with the others' with good train experiences.  There is also storage in the upper part, like a cubby hole which can store pretty large luggage.  I sleep quite well on the overnight runs, though it can be rather stuffy sometimes during stops. 


Also, when the train stops you can jump off and buy all kinds of goodies from the babushki selling their home cookin' at the stations.  I've eaten quite well that way. Bread, Shaslik...  Probably Rat, Cat, Dog, but it tasted fabulous and helps cull the stray population


Unless you're the culinary adventurous type, take your own food/snacks/drinks.

[Noch1]

I wouldn't accept food from others, just in case they are drugged!

Ahh little paranoid eh? They are eating the food to.
I am sure they didn't pack the food with the thought of getting you

[calmissile]

Ahh little paranoid eh? They are eating the food to.
I am sure they didn't pack the food with the thought of getting you

The gal with me was a Kiev police dept employee and she was eating the same food as she served me.   LOL

I hope his paranoia does not spoil his trip.  He should read my TR of the midnight cab ride across Ukraine.   LOL

[JayH]

CDW ,where are you planning on staying? What type of contact do you have there?  ( Kherson).Not a bad plan  to train it-- you still have a fair wait from flight arrival time  and the cost to get to station.Definitely the cheapest way-- and if you sleep the journey away it will go quickly.
 Boryspil does have take-away food =quite good choice and some familiar. I have not flown into new terminal--it was in Terminal B which is 100mtre or so across. Make sure you buy bottled water-- mineral with seals --either  gas or non gas.If you can get to supermarket you can but large bottles cheap.In fact--if you could do that to fill in time while waiting for train-- you can buy more than you need  to eat and drink. Whatever you do- don't drink tap water-I never trust it anywhere.
In Kherson I can refer you to great place to stay-- boutique hotel with great restaurant-- open to everyone -- excellent chef who serves great variety in all styles.Good by any standard and not expensive  -- and in the centre of everything.

[ghost of moon goddess]

I am planning to go on it:  Kiev - Kherson

Train Kiev - Kherson (N 101/102) starts about 21.00 from Kiev and arrives to Kherson about 10.15 next day (road will take about 13 hours).

CDW, here is your train waiting for you 


And here is a link to comments (in Russian) and pictures left by some passengers who had a terrible experience on a first-class sleeper from Kyiv to Kherson.
http://more.ks.ua/news/sw-kiev-kherson

A very brief summary of those comments:
Don't travel in first-class sleeping cars carried by the (101/102) train Kyiv-Kherson unless you really really like to find yourself a "prisoner" locked in a cramped and dusty kunstkamera of the 60s !

[Belvis]

Has anyone ever been on a long train journey in Ukraine?

Train Kiev - Kherson (N 101/102) starts about 21.00 from Kiev and arrives to Kherson about 10.15 next day (road will take about 13 hours).

Here aproximate prices for tickets from Kiev to Kherson:
1st class sleeping carrriage (cabin for 2 persons, in russian pronouncing like “spal’nyi wagon”) - 330 ua grivnas;
2nd class (cabin for 4 persons) [in russian pronouncing like “coupe”] - about 100 grivnas
3rd class (has sleeping places for 6 persons) [in russian pronouncing like “platzkart” or “platzkartnyi wagon”] - about 70 grivnas.


About 1st class, ever shared cabin with someone else?   How will you trust this person?  He/she could be a thief?

2nd class is seems to be  optimum for you.
Trip is not  long, only 13hrs, most time of it you'll be sleeping. Toilet cabin is relatively unoccupied in 2nd class, there is a space outside compartment to walk along a carriage and rest from your company. You can survive without food through night time, tea is served there. If you really want the late dinner or breakfast you have to have some food with you.
Comfort of 1-st class greatly depends on the person you'll share the limited space. It's not the case in 2-nd class where you can ignore others more easily.
About being robbed at the train: there is a chance that 3 other persons in your cabin make a plot against you. You should be on alert if you're going to carry a bag with diamonds or cash like in gangster movies. Otherwise nobody interested.

[Shadow]

I wouldn't accept food from others, just in case they are drugged!

Are you planning on taking food from the US and cooking yourself?
After all the people in the restaurants might drug your food as well, and I would not trust those shops and babushka's selling food either.

In fact do not eat or drink anything during your trip, especially if you are in the company of a woman and het family.

 

[LAman]

-5 for me.....
Other than the experience or going back in time, why would someone want to travel in Ukraine on a train?
Only time I ever took a train here is because of 94' quake and only for 1.5 hour trip. Not high on my list!!
Only one time in Ukraine too. An overnighter from Kiev-Odessa....coming staright from KBP with a 2.5 hour wait for train. Used a company for transit and train ticket( ahead of time). Found a guy who helped me find my train and car( somehow I think that is why he is at station, gave him a few bucks for his time). It was a 4 berth. I had read before about being careful with your valuables. I had top bunk, young girl underneath me. An older lady across on bottom and older man on top. I was tired and concerned about my valuables...had trouble sleeping...lights constantly flashing....loud noises from trains as it slowly coasts into every town/village/stop. Girl undernearth me on puter, talking consistently. Man across from me snooring away.....and lady on bottom(big lady) sleeping with her bag firmly pinned against wall with her body. Yea, I felt great coming into Odessa 11, 12, 13 hours later....feeling all beat up...with maybe an hour or two of sleep
after a 15 hour flight which you maybe get a few hours sleep......boy was i glad to hit a nice firm bed in the horizontal position....would I take another overnight train? Just guess???

[Faux Pas]

-5 for me.....
Other than the experience or going back in time, why would someone want to travel in Ukraine on a train?
Only time I ever took a train here is because of 94' quake and only for 1.5 hour trip. Not high on my list!!
Only one time in Ukraine too. An overnighter from Kiev-Odessa....coming staright from KBP with a 2.5 hour wait for train. Used a company for transit and train ticket( ahead of time). Found a guy who helped me find my train and car( somehow I think that is why he is at station, gave him a few bucks for his time). It was a 4 berth. I had read before about being careful with your valuables. I had top bunk, young girl underneath me. An older lady across on bottom and older man on top. I was tired and concerned about my valuables...had trouble sleeping...lights constantly flashing....loud noises from trains as it slowly coasts into every town/village/stop. Girl undernearth me on puter, talking consistently. Man across from me snooring away.....and lady on bottom(big lady) sleeping with her bag firmly pinned against wall with her body. Yea, I felt great coming into Odessa 11, 12, 13 hours later....feeling all beat up...with maybe an hour or two of sleep
after a 15 hour flight which you maybe get a few hours sleep......boy was i glad to hit a nice firm bed in the horizontal position....would I take another overnight train? Just guess???

I actually like train travel. I've often thought I wanted to ride a couple of days in Russia if I ever actually have the time. My wife says that I would hate it. She's taken it many times. If I ever get the time I am going to do it.

Many years ago, I used to regularly ride an Amtrak 6 hours to Canal St Station in New Orleans. It arrived at midnight. Spend 24 hours in the French Quarter and had an 8 hour right back. All for the tidy sum of $36 bucks. It was quite the treat.  I know there is no Amtrak or Bourbon St in Russia but, I think I would enjoy it just the same

[CDW]

Are you planning on taking food from the US and cooking yourself?
After all the people in the restaurants might drug your food as well, and I would not trust those shops and babushka's selling food either.

In fact do not eat or drink anything during your trip, especially if you are in the company of a woman and het family.

 

Not everyone in this site comes from USA !!!

[Daveman]

I think one reason train travel doesn't bother me is that I can sleep though anything.  That appears to be a common thread probably a key factor in whether someone has a pleasant ride or not.  With the exception of not having had a shower, I feel refreshed and ready to go upon arrival.  I'd guess light sleepers will hate it while sound sleepers don't mind train travel and actually rather enjoy it. 

[Ranetka]

Personally I hate train rides, never felt comfortable, 2 people compartment is just bearable. Dirt, noise, crowded space....I am surprised anyone can like it! 


CDW, you made me laugh. I do not think anyone would poison your food. However. I have not travel for awhile but actually I would be careful to drink other people's alcohol and do not play cards:-)


On another note CDW I hope you do not mind too much but I think it will be good for you to drop some paranoia. :-) Sorry but tight and paranoid is not going to be popular, you'll scare all honest women; leaving only ones with hidden agenda.

[CDW]

CDW, you made me laugh. I do not think anyone would poison your food. However. I have not travel for awhile but actually I would be careful to drink other people's alcohol and do not play cards:-)

We should really NEVER accept drink or food from strangers regardless how good/trustable they are.  You never know!!!  It is your own risk.

I hear many horror stories how people got drugged from strangers.

WATCH: Alfred Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN   

[Ranetka]

We should really NEVER accept drink or food from strangers regardless how good/trustable they are.  You never know!!!  It is your own risk.

I hear many horror stories how people got drugged from strangers.

WATCH: Alfred Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN   

I hope your dates will accept drink and food from you :-)

[CDW]

I hope your dates will accept drink and food from you :-)

Little different from strangers.  When I meet ladies in KhersonGirls, for example, they aren't as strangers as these people whom I meet on the train.  Alfred Hitchcock taught us the lesson 

[Daveman]