On November 1, 2012, the double-decker train No. 104 Moscow-Adler set off for the first time. This composition existed before. However, by decision of the management of Russian Railways, the cars in it were replaced by fundamentally new ones. What is the difference between a trip on this train and a trip on a regular one, and what are the passenger reviews about it?
Travel Features
The double-decker train Moscow-Adler (reviews of which are somewhat controversial) leaves from Kazan station at 10 a.m. Some discontent of passengers is caused by the insufficient time spent on the platform. The train is only 3 minutes. For a comfortable fit, this, of course, is not enough. Stops along the way are also quite short-lived (5-15 minutes each). That is, going to the station shop and acquiring a mineral water will not work.
Smokers are not provided with the Moscow-Adler train 104. Stopping is the only way to relax with a cigarette. Smoking on long-distance trains has been prohibited for some time, and the developers of the wagons took this into account. In some vestibules, adventurous passengers still poked openings under the ashtrays, but you might not be lucky.
Admire the scenery in this train will not always succeed. From the top shelf, due to its location, this is impossible. Leaning to the window in order to look into it will have to be in the corridor of the second floor of the car. It is convenient to watch the flashing beauties only from the lower shelves and armchairs of the restaurant hall.
Features of cars
Sleeping shelves in this train are located in the same way as in the usual. That is, two from the bottom and the top. The difference is in the absence of an upper shelf designed for luggage. Bags and suitcases will have to be put in the bunker under the lower berths.
Another feature of the double-decker coupe is a very small distance from the top shelf to the ceiling. Sit on it will not work. You can only lie, and even then many passengers complain about the inconvenience in this case. People of small stature will feel even more or less tolerable. A fat, tall person on the top shelf due to lack of free space will probably experience some discomfort. Especially on the second floor of the train, where the ceiling is slightly sloping. Tightness is the main reason that reviews of 104 double-decker trains are not always flattering.
There are no reserved seats in this train . Only compartment and CB. And still, the capacity of this train is much larger than usual. Therefore, a ticket in a compartment of a double-decker train at a cost is quite comparable with a travel document for an ordinary reserved seat.
Modern equipment
The double-decker train "Moscow-Adler", reviews of which passengers are often not too flattering, is declared, however, by the leadership of Russian Railways as a premium class. Indeed, there are much more amenities in it than in ordinary ones. For example, in each compartment there are two outlets (on the wall near the lower shelves). However, you can only include devices that require voltages of up to 100 watts (a laptop consumes 10-15 watts). Available in wagons and WiFi provided by Megafon. You can use it absolutely free.
The difference from ordinary cars in a double-decker train is also in:
- The presence of a button opening the doors of the vestibule. The sash closes automatically.
- The ability to lock the compartment door with a card. Conventional locks are magnetic and open by means of a key issued.
- The presence of containers for the distribution of garbage by type.
- The presence of dry closets. You can use them even at stops.
LED car lighting.
Service
In terms of service, the double-decker train Moscow-Adler (which reviews are not bad in this regard) is practically no different from ordinary ones. Since the composition is branded, the price of the ticket includes bed linen and a traveler's set (pate, cookies, etc.). Of course, if you wish, you can order tea or get water from a boiler. There is only one restaurant in the car - on the second floor. On the first is a small bar.
Windows in double-decker train cars do not open. So a ride with the breeze will not work. However, you will not have to suffer from heat either. The cars have a ventilation system. Heating is also, of course, available. There are not two toilets in each carriage, as in ordinary ones, but three. There are also coupes for the disabled and a video surveillance system.
In this article, you can see what the double-decker train Moscow-Adler looks like (photo).
Traveler opinions
In fact, there are a lot of negative reviews about this composition. But you should not be surprised at this. After all, there are much more people in such a train than in an ordinary one, and there is less space for each passenger because of the design features of the cars. Small in this train are not only the compartments themselves, but also the corridors. Tall passengers and they do not feel too comfortable. It is inconvenient to move along very narrow stairs leading to the second floor. Especially with suitcases. If in ordinary trains at large stops queues are formed, then in a two-story train it is just a crowd. Given the parking time, there is no need to talk about any comfort in this case.
There is WiFi in the train, but it works intermittently, and sometimes it does not work at all. Passengers are not saying too well about dry closets. They work properly and do not close at stops. But, since smoking in cars is prohibited, many passengers slowly smoke in toilets. Which, of course, causes inconvenience to other travelers. In addition, to visit the restroom often have to stand a long line. Some passengers also complain about incorrect ventilation. Sometimes in cars it’s stuffy.
Regarding prices for the 104 Moscow-Adler train, reviews of some passengers are also not very flattering. Many people think that the fare is somewhat overpriced. Equipped with a good composition, but to be in it due to lack of free space is not particularly comfortable.
Ticket prices
The cost of a travel document to the double-decker train Moscow-Adler (reviews of which, as you see, are not always good) is about 3,500 rubles. This amount will be valid only if the tickets are booked in advance (one month before departure). Prices for seats on a double-decker train are dynamic. The more the car is filled, the higher the cost of the travel document. The day before departure, the ticket price can reach 8,000 rubles. You will have to pay more for the lower shelf than for the upper.
Above is the price of a ticket from Moscow to Adler. Passengers traveling to intermediate stations will be cheaper to travel. Passes train 104 "Moscow-Adler" through such large cities as Voronezh, Ryazan, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Tuapse, Sochi.
Where can I buy tickets?
A travel document for a double-decker train can be booked in the usual way at the ticket offices of Russian Railways at stations, at points of the Svyaznoy company or on the Russian Railways website. Clients of some Internet banks are also able to purchase tickets. For example, Sberbank and Alfa Bank.
Numbering of seats in the double-decker train cars is traditional: odd shelves are at the bottom, even shelves are at the top. So in this regard, no confusion can arise. The shelves on the second floor begin with 81 rooms (112 each). From Moscow to Adler, the train takes 24 hours.
conclusions
So, you decided to buy tickets for the double-decker train Moscow-Adler. Prices for seats in it are still more or less democratic. However, travel itself due to cramped conditions may not be particularly convenient. How to make it more comfortable? To do this, firstly, bring along food and drinks all the way. Secondly, tune in smoking at stops. It’s better not to do this in the toilet. Think of the kids. Older people should not buy tickets to the second floor. Climbing up and down a steep staircase, despite the presence of handrails, will be quite difficult for them.
Think, maybe it’s worth overpaying 500 rubles, but it’s more or less convenient to go on the lower shelf. Take your laptop or netbook with you. Near the settlements, WiFi in a double-decker train catches almost always. Consequently, the Internet can help to brighten up a not too comfortable trip. Well, of course, get your tickets in advance. This will significantly save on travel.