TRAIN AND CARRIAGE CLASSIFICATION

Fast Trains
These are the best trains, usually going overnight between big regional centers of the country. Those trains make quite a few stopovers en-rout, have carriages of good quality and high-quality service.
Fast trains usually have 1st, 2nd and 3rd class carriages.

High-speed trains
These are the fastest trains, usually going between big regional centers of the country. Those trains make quite a few stopovers en-rout, have carriages of good quality and high-quality service.
High-speed trains usually have 1st, 2nd and rarely 3rd class carriages.

Passenger Trains
Quite slow trains, making numerous stopovers. Traveling might take up to 30 hours for long-distance routs.  The quality of a train depends on a rout and may vary from good to barely acceptable.
As a rule, these trains have 2nd, 3rd and 4th class, rarely 1st class carriages.

Suburban Trains
There are two types of these trains: electric and diesel.  The trains go within a region limits or between two regions close to each other. Quality of the trains is average and the trains are extremely slow, usually overcrowded, especially in summer, have no sleeping berths. Short distance travel might take up to 6 hours, while going by car would cut the time twice.

1st class, (SW), sleeping carriage
This is the best type of carriages in Russia. Every carriage has 9 compartments, 2 berths in each one.
Beneath the lower berth(s) there is a box for luggage, which can accommodate 1-2 medium bags. Bigger storage for luggage is in the niche above the door. There is a small unfolding table by the window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be locked from inside.
You can be offered tee, coffee, mineral water, magazines.
Each carriage has WCs with wash-stands, 2 per each carriage.
1st class cabins are air-conditioned at the summer time. Air-conditioning is functioning while the train engine is working. Therefore it might be rather hot in the first hour or so of the trip and when the train is making stopovers.
One or two stewards serve every carriage.

2nd class, (Coupe), sleeping carriage
2nd class is a good type of carriages. The quality and the interior depends on a train.
Each carriage has 9 compartments, each one has 4 berths -  2 lower and 2 upper ones.
This is the most usual accommodation on long-distance trains, and they will suit you if you do not care too much about lack of place, or if you are travelling with your friends or want to make new acquaintances on the train. Cuupe carriages are usually cleaner and less noisy than platzcart. The price of Cuupe is usually about 50-90% more than platzcart.
There are boxes for luggage below lower berths. Bigger storage for luggage is in the niche above the door. There is a small unfolding table by the window. Every cabin has a door lock and can be locked from inside.
2nd class compartments in Fast trains are usually air-conditioned but not always.
You can be offered tee, coffee, mineral water, magazines.
Each carriage has WCs with washing-stands, 2 per each carriage.
One or two stewards serve every carriage.

3rd class, (platzcart), sleeping carriage
It’s the cheapest option. There are eight opened compartments in the carriage, each providing 4 sleeping places and space for luggage, plus additional 2 sleeping places on the other side.
Generally, platzcart carriages are a little bit noisy, then Cupe, but on the other side you get an opportunity to meet many people.
Each carriage has WCs with washing-stands, 2 per each carriage.
One or two stewards serve every carriage.
The prices are always lower than in the 1st or 2nd class carriages.

Sitting carriage
The quality of carriage may very depending on the train. There are 2 classes of sitting carriages: business and economy.
Depending on it the carriage can be or can’t be equipped with TV, video, with or without meal.