Speed and comfort - this is the most important thing in long trips. If you have chosen railway transport for yourself, then, of course, it will lose to aviation in speed. However, it can provide more comfortable travel conditions than, for example, a business class on an airplane. It concerns, of course, not all cars. Most travelers who value travel comfort choose a CB for themselves. What is it? We will devote an article to the answer to this question. Consider the characteristics of such cars, services, provide photos and reviews of railway travelers themselves.
What is it?
CB is a sleeping car, readers will immediately decide. However, the decoding of the abbreviation is not only that. It is also historical — it refers to pre-revolutionary Russia.
What is it? SV - “retinue car”. That is, a carriage for a retinue - representatives of the royal family.
In modern times, this letter combination means a sleeping car on a train. One that provides transportation of passengers in conditions of increased comfort.
What relates to the latter characteristic? Increased comfort is the following:
- Smaller than the standard number of beds. In SV they are usually 1-3.
- Comfortable soft shelves for passengers.
- The presence in the compartment wardrobe for storing clothes.
- Basic and individual lighting in the compartment.
- The total number of seats in the car is from 16 to 18.
- The carriage space is standardly divided into 9 two-seater coupes.
Services in a sleeping car
Wagon SV. What is it in terms of services? For passengers here, the railway carrier offers the following:
- Safe.
- TV.
- The bathroom is directly in the compartment.
- Dressed bedding.
- Hygiene items for travel.
- Providing a variety of hot meals during the trip.
What is this car? CB refers to class 1 cars on Russian railways. However, this introduces some confusion. After all, “Luxe” cars (soft) also belong to the first class on Russian Railways, which are distinguished by greater comfort than SV.
Service classes
Wagon SV. What is it, we sorted out. However, this is just a characteristic of the car. In addition, your ticket will include a class of service designation. The following categories have been introduced for CB cars:
- 1B. In other words, this is a business class. Usually includes air conditioning coupe and a number of additional services.
- 1E. The highest-class SV car designed for VIPs.
- 1E. It can be called both option 1B and 1E, but only sold for some reason at a reduced cost.
- 1U. Also, a first class car, but with the provision of the very minimum of additional services.
- 1L. A car of type CB, but without providing the passenger with additional services.
Let's look at each class of service in more detail.
1B
SV - what is it? This is the name for a sleeper car of increased comfort. If you want to purchase tickets for SV 1B, then this will mean the following:
- The purchase of such a ticket means that you redeem the whole compartment. With this in mind, the fare is added up.
- The compartment will have a pleasant microclimate - the air conditioning is sure to work.
- You can transport a small pet in your compartment in a special container.
- Hot meals along the route (for example, the Russian carrier CJSC TKS offers the passenger a comprehensive breakfast and dinner).
- Mineral water and various hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate).
- Slippers.
- Hygiene travel set: shoehorn, paper and wet wipes, comb, shoe polish, toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Fresh linens.
- Fresh press - magazines, newspapers.
In addition, the following amenities will be presented in your compartment:
- TV.
- Free wireless internet.
- Safe.
- Sockets for recharging laptops, mobile devices.
- Access to your compartment with a magnetic key card.
1E
SV - what is it? The transcript, as you recall, is a sleeping car. We list the amenities and services that await you when purchasing a ticket SV 1E:
- Air conditioning in every compartment.
- Passenger protection implemented through the use of video surveillance systems.
- Each compartment has a shower, washbasin and dry closet.
- Each compartment (compartment) also has a TV, safe and individual sockets.
- The price of your ticket will include the following services: hot meals, hot drinks, drinking water, traveler's travel kit (hygiene products and an arsenal for shoe care), bed linen.
Such a ticket also implies the redemption of the entire compartment - for one or two passengers. You can travel in 1E, for example, on Moscow-Berlin flights, on Swift trains (Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod).
1E, 1L and 1U
CB in the train - what is it (photos on the train are presented in the article)? The abbreviation refers to a luxury car for which several classes of service have been introduced. We will analyze the last of them:
- 1E. The same set of services that we have listed for 1B and 1E. The difference is one: in this case, the passenger does not completely redeem the entire compartment, but only gets one seat in it.
- 1U. The passenger also travels in a first-class carriage - SV. However, the price of his ticket does not include a set of additional services (except for bedding). He can pay some of them separately at will.
- 1L. Perhaps you will meet such a class of service. It also involves traveling in a first-class carriage, but with one drawback - your compartment will not have a personal dry closet. The restroom is common to the whole carriage.
We draw your attention to the fact that all the classes of service listed above allow passengers to transport small pets in special containers.
We will also introduce to the reader a worthy analogue of CB, first class cars. This is a train with wagons layout RIC. They can boast of the following: 10 double compartments (upper and lower shelves), a bathroom, chairs, a wash basin.
Comparison with reserved seat car
We already know that these are places on the SV train. Let's compare them with other types of cars to highlight the main advantages and disadvantages.
If we compare the NE with the reserved seat (open wagon of the second class), then the sleeping wagon here will win in almost everything:
- Private space completely isolated from other passengers.
- Wide sleeping shelves, their comfort and softness.
- All the essentials for traveling in your compartment are a bathroom, sockets, a compartment for luggage and outerwear, armchairs, a washbasin.
- The ability to adjust the microclimate in your own way, and not according to general desire.
- The level of service, attentive attitude of the conductors.
Reserved carriages are good for only one indicator - a trip in this class will cost you about three times cheaper than in NE. But saving is only good for short trips. To spend more than 2 days in the reserved seat is a real test.
Comparison with the coupe
What is this, CB place on the train? Many decide - the same compartment, but only with a set of additional services.
Not certainly in that way. In front of a closed second-class carriage (compartment), a sleeping car (CB) has a number of significant advantages:
- The number of passengers in your compartment. The most unexpected neighbors will ride in a compartment with you. In NE, you can fully redeem a compartment for yourself, your family. If you drive 1U, 1E, then you will have only one companion (as practice shows, if other compartments are free, then the person will choose the one where he will go alone than travel with a neighbor).
- The maximum level of services, catering, care conductors.
- Increased comfort and safety.
Plus, the coupe in front of the CB only has one - the cost. A trip in a closed second-class carriage will cost you 2 times cheaper than in a sleeping one.
Comparison with Lux
Now let's compare the SV with the cars of a higher class - "Lux". Here the sleeping car will already be losing:
- Coupe "Lux" in area exceeds the standard 1.5-2 times.
- There is a comfortable bathroom equipped with a vacuum toilet.
- Safe.
- Individual air conditioning system.
- TV, video player.
- Food and drinks (up to alcohol) are included in the price.
- Fresh press.
- Advanced hygiene kit.
- Bar in the car.
- Travelers are excluded - the coupe here is redeemed only in its entirety, with no exceptions.
As for the cost, a trip in the Lux carriage will cost you 1.5-2 times more expensive than in the NE.
Traveler Reviews
In conclusion, we consider the reviews of passengers who have traveled in a sleeping car:
- CB is the most optimal choice for those who want to travel in comfort and safety. You can buy the whole compartment - only the passenger himself has access to it on a magnetic card. It is possible to go about your business, relax without being distracted by fellow travelers.
- If you want to save, you can choose a ticket without providing additional services. You will also ride in a comfortable carriage with pleasant companions (or alone, having bought a compartment).
- Excellent value for money. If you once traveled in the reserved seat, then you will understand that the cost of CB is not so expensive. But nothing will leave an unpleasant aftertaste before your vacation.
- CB is the most affordable comfort if you turn to Russian railway carriers. Such cars are available not only on international, but also on many long-distance routes.
CB is a sleeping car that provides all the possibilities for a comfortable trip, which is very important if you are traveling long distances. Additionally, several classes of service are introduced - you can choose any, based on your financial capabilities and personal preferences.