Billets Transmandchourien: problème site RZD des chemins de fer russe
by Hermadus
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Hello,
Je suis en plein préparatif de mon voyage en transsibérien. J'ai décidé de prendre les billets moi-même afin d'éviter de me faire arnaquer (il faut du coup du courage et de la patience).
Je suis ainsi sur le site des chemins de fer russe (rzd), les billets nationaux de lieux russes à lieux russes se passent bien, ma carte de crédit est acceptée.
Cependant, lorsque je souhaite prendre mon billets de Irkutsk à Harbin (donc trajet international), j'effectue, la procédure normalement, plein de couchettes sont encore libres et je mets mes coordonnées habituelles, pas de problème jusqu'à ce que je passe à l'étape "Order Check". A ce moment-là, j'ai le message suivant :
"Your order in the selected carriage cannot be completed because an insufficient number of seats is available for sale"
Est-ce que cela est déjà arrivé à quelqu'un?
J'ai essayé de refaire la procédure en laissant le site en russe du début à la fin, mais ça ne marche pas. J'ai aussi essayé en sélectionnant des sièges différents, impossible.
Est-ce que j'ai meilleur temps d'acheter ce dernier itinéraire en arrivant à Moscou, dans une gare?
Il y a qu'un train par semaine, du coup c'est un peu tendu si je n'arrive pas à avoir un billet.
Je précise que je suis en Suisse.
Oui tu peux acheter ton billet a Moscou et même à Irkutsk où tout se passe dans le calme et même en anglais
Je pense que le site est bloqué parce que tu t'y prends trop tôt
J'étais nerveuse comme toi, tout s'est bien passé. C'est l'orient faut y aller calmos 😏
Bonsoir,
Sujet très intéressant. Je suis en plein dans la même démarche. Nous partons en janvier prochain.
Je ne sais pas comment acheter ce transmandchourien et je ne sais d'ailleurs même pas combien ça peut coûter. 🙂
Je vous avoue que j'ai franchement envie d'être calmos comme c'est l'orient mais pour l'instant je n'ai pas encore mon visa chinois... et cela me génère quelques questions.
Venant de Russie et donc du transsibérien, comment doit-on faire la demande de visa sachant qu'à fortiori, je n'aurais pas de ticket d'entrée dans le pays. Deuxièmement, si j'achète mon billet de train pour la Chine directement à Irkoutsk... comment cela se gère avec la date d'entrée sur le territoire chinois inscrit sur le visa?? il faut tout faire en sorte que cela se goupille bien... 🙂 Bref, ça sent la bonne aventure!!! Merci en tout cas si vous avez quelques éléments de réponse.
Bonne soirée. David
Sujet très intéressant. Je suis en plein dans la même démarche. Nous partons en janvier prochain.
Je ne sais pas comment acheter ce transmandchourien et je ne sais d'ailleurs même pas combien ça peut coûter. 🙂
Je vous avoue que j'ai franchement envie d'être calmos comme c'est l'orient mais pour l'instant je n'ai pas encore mon visa chinois... et cela me génère quelques questions.
Venant de Russie et donc du transsibérien, comment doit-on faire la demande de visa sachant qu'à fortiori, je n'aurais pas de ticket d'entrée dans le pays. Deuxièmement, si j'achète mon billet de train pour la Chine directement à Irkoutsk... comment cela se gère avec la date d'entrée sur le territoire chinois inscrit sur le visa?? il faut tout faire en sorte que cela se goupille bien... 🙂 Bref, ça sent la bonne aventure!!! Merci en tout cas si vous avez quelques éléments de réponse.
Bonne soirée. David
Hello,
Je t'écris depuis la Russie où mon voyage à déjà commencer! Je réponds à tes questions
1: Concernant le visa chinois il m'a juste fallu apporter mes billets d'avion en preuve : soit l'aller de Genève à Moscou et le retour de Pékin à Genève. C'était amplement suffisant, même si j'ai eu une boutade de l'employée consulaire qui n'arrivais pas à comprendre comment on peut vouloir faire le transsibérien haha. J'ai amené aussi une réservation dans une auberge de jeunesse chinoise, que j'ai bien-sûr annulé par la suite dès que j'avais un itinéraire plus précis (mais chutttt). Au final, tout c'est très bien passé, mais c'était au consulat chinois de Bern, en Suisse. Ils s'en fichent que tu n'aies pas ton dernier billet de train.
2: J'était pas si "calmos" que ça, je vais donc éviter de faire le voyageur-troleur, car je préfère te donner une vraie solution. Personnellement, j'ai pris un airbnb à Moscou (si besoin je peux te le donner), et le premier jour j'ai fait un tour (payant bien-sûr) avec eux de la ville. J'en ai profité pour leur demander de m'accompagner dans une gare prendre mon dernier billet. Vu que c'était un couple de voyageurs moscovites, il connaissaient une gare tranquille où ils avaient l'habitude de faire ça, car la plupart de leurs invités font le transsib. Au final, j'ai pu acheter mon billet Irkoutsk-Harbin sans problème, directement à Moscou, pour la somme d'environ 250 francs suisse. Sur mon train il n'y avait pas de 3ème classe, du coup le montant est élevé car c'est du 2ème classe. Bon, pour 52 heures de train, je pense que c'est préférable. Je pense que tu n'auras pas de problème de place si tu fais le transsib en janvier.
3: Pour que ça se goupille bien, je te conseille de bien réfléchir à ton itinéraire et de faire ton programme complet (avec un fichier excel) à l'aide du site realrussia qui te donne le nom des trains et les horaires (toujours à l'heure de Moscou), ensuite tu prends tous tes billets correspondants sur le site des chemins de fer russe (jamais acheter ailleurs) sauf celui de irkoutsk à Harbin que t'achètes en arrivant à Moscou. Une des principales contraintes et le train de Irkoutsk à Harbin qui ne passe qu'une fois par semaine, le mercredi je crois.
Voilà, à dispo si t'as des autres questions!
Salut Raphaël!!
Wahou! Merci beaucoup pour ce retour, un retour qui compte. Je dois avouer que tu nous rassures pas mal :). Tu nous offres enfin des réponses auxquelles on avait pas mal galéré à trouver l'info.
Malgré tout, comme nous envisageons de poursuivre de la Chine au Laos par voie terrestre... nous serons malgré confronté à ce billet de sortie de territoire... :) à voir comment on peut contourner ça.
Pour le billet de train Irkoutsk / Harbin, le fait d'avoir uniquement des 2nde classe fait un sacré budget... et j'espère qu'il y a un moyen autre de contourner ça. Sinon, on va avoir note budget bien plombé par cette partie du trajet. 🙂
Et donc dans ta demande de visa chinois, tu as mis dès le début la date à laquelle tu avais prévu de traverser la frontière chinois en prenant le train d'Irkoustk.. c'est bien ça? On va essayer de planifier tout ça au mieux ; en espérant pouvoir se laisser quelques libertés malgré tout.
Encore merci pour le coup de pouce et comme tu es en plein dedans, je te souhaite un super méga bon voyage!!!!
Wahou! Merci beaucoup pour ce retour, un retour qui compte. Je dois avouer que tu nous rassures pas mal :). Tu nous offres enfin des réponses auxquelles on avait pas mal galéré à trouver l'info.
Malgré tout, comme nous envisageons de poursuivre de la Chine au Laos par voie terrestre... nous serons malgré confronté à ce billet de sortie de territoire... :) à voir comment on peut contourner ça.
Pour le billet de train Irkoutsk / Harbin, le fait d'avoir uniquement des 2nde classe fait un sacré budget... et j'espère qu'il y a un moyen autre de contourner ça. Sinon, on va avoir note budget bien plombé par cette partie du trajet. 🙂
Et donc dans ta demande de visa chinois, tu as mis dès le début la date à laquelle tu avais prévu de traverser la frontière chinois en prenant le train d'Irkoustk.. c'est bien ça? On va essayer de planifier tout ça au mieux ; en espérant pouvoir se laisser quelques libertés malgré tout.
Encore merci pour le coup de pouce et comme tu es en plein dedans, je te souhaite un super méga bon voyage!!!!
Oui, j'avais aussi galéré à trouver des vrais réponses. D'ailleurs, je ferai un retour complet de mon voyage une fois de retour!
Ah oui, c'est vrai que si tu entre et sors de manière terrestre, ils risquent de te demander une preuve, je ne peux pas t'aider dans cette voie là. Le seul truc que je peux te dire, c'est que ton visa chinois ne doit pas être fait méga tôt. Car quand tu le reçois, tu as un certain laps de temps pour rentrer sur le territoire, sans qu'il y ait une date fixe. Par exemple, j'ai fait le mien autour du 10 septembre, et je dois rentré avant le 12 mars 2017. Du coup, je pense que tu peux le faire maintenant le tien, si tu voyage en janvier!
Pour l'histoire de la 2ème classe, je ne pense pas que ça soit une vérité absolue, et peut-être que sur ton train en janvier il y a de la 3ème classe. Fais tout pour avoir la 3ème classe, car personnellement je trouve que c'est là où les rencontres sont les plus authentiques!
Pour répondre à ta question, sur ma demande j'ai mis une date que, de toi à moi, j'estimais à ce moment-là. Le truc c'est que de toute façon cette date estimée n'est pas marquée sur ton visa, comme dis précédemment, ils te mettent juste une date maximum d'entrée sur le territoire. Le seul truc que j'ai fait, c'est que ma réservation factice d'auberge de jeunesse je l'ai faite en fonction de cette date estimée, pour qu'il y ait une cohérence dans ma demande!
Merci beaucoup, et hésite pas si tu as des questions! Je sais que c'est un peu compliqué à organiser!
Ah oui? tu as 6 mois pour entrer sur le territoire chinois? 😮
J'étais persuadé d'avoir lu qu'une fois le visa obtenu, il fallait visiblement un mois ou un mois et demi pour entrer sur le territoire...
Du coup, on comptait le faire en décembre mais on se posait aussi des questions avec le voyage en Russie auparavant.. Comme quoi la communication sur le visa chinois sur internet est très aléatoire 🙂
On espère vraiment avoir la 3ème classe tout du long car même si ce n'est certainement pas tout beau tour rose... on espère avoir l'opportunité de rencontrer plus de russes, et voyageurs. En plus, ma femme parle un tout petit peu russe, ça ne pourra que nous aider.
Encore une fois Raphael, merci pour ton partage d'expérience, grâce à toi, on avance déjà un peu plus sereinement (même si on n'était pas vraiment tendu non plus 😉) dans notre aventure "consulaire" 🙂
bon voyage
On espère vraiment avoir la 3ème classe tout du long car même si ce n'est certainement pas tout beau tour rose... on espère avoir l'opportunité de rencontrer plus de russes, et voyageurs. En plus, ma femme parle un tout petit peu russe, ça ne pourra que nous aider.
Encore une fois Raphael, merci pour ton partage d'expérience, grâce à toi, on avance déjà un peu plus sereinement (même si on n'était pas vraiment tendu non plus 😉) dans notre aventure "consulaire" 🙂
bon voyage
Hello,
Ce voyage était incroyable. J'ai donc écris un retour pour les personnes qui souhaitent l'organiser.
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7699088;live=1;
A bientôt, Raphaël
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7699088;live=1;
A bientôt, Raphaël
Log in first, then come back to this page.
You might also like
On the Silk Road: Chronicles of a Sixty-Something Traveling Completely Independently
Yellow Rocks 2019FR
No, I Won’t Be Going Back to China
Chine: au fil de l'eau du YangtseFR
Two Sides of China: Urban Shanghai and Rural Yangshuo
Les empreintes désormais obligatoires pour toute demande de visa pour la ChineFR
De Angkor à Hong Kong, le grand écart asiatiqueFR
More discussions
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a trip around Italy using only trains or public transport in October (hoping the weather stays nice!).
I’d obviously like to see some tourist destinations, but I also want to get off the beaten path a bit, and I’m hoping to find some help here? I don’t plan to linger too long in the cities.
Starting in the north, I’d like to visit Lake Como or Lake Orta, pass through the Cinque Terre for some hiking, spend a few days in Naples and Rome, then head down to Sicily.
What do you think?
Thanks for your help! 🙂
I’m planning a trip around Italy using only trains or public transport in October (hoping the weather stays nice!).
I’d obviously like to see some tourist destinations, but I also want to get off the beaten path a bit, and I’m hoping to find some help here? I don’t plan to linger too long in the cities.
Starting in the north, I’d like to visit Lake Como or Lake Orta, pass through the Cinque Terre for some hiking, spend a few days in Naples and Rome, then head down to Sicily.
What do you think?
Thanks for your help! 🙂
Hi there,
I’ll be traveling to Japan this coming August. We’ve finalized our itinerary and booked our flight tickets. Now I’m at the stage of buying train tickets for the few segments we’ll need to cover:
Tokyo - Hakone
Hakone - Kyoto
Kyoto - Osaka
Osaka - Tokyo
Here are my questions:
a) Is it possible to buy train tickets for these segments from Canada?
b) If so, which website should I use to do this?
c) And if it is possible, will we be able to print our tickets from Canada?
d) If it’s not possible, where in Tokyo should I go to buy these tickets when I arrive?
Thanks a bunch,
Mario Séguin Québec, Canada
Thanks a bunch,
Mario Séguin Québec, Canada
Hi everyone, I wanted to take the Paris-Berlin overnight train with a sleeper berth, the new service operated by European Sleepers.
24/05/2026 17:45 Paris-Nord (actually 16:00 from Paris Bercy Seine) -> 25/05/2026 9:59 (actually 7:30 in Berlin) 05/06/2026 18:31 Berlin (actually 20:00) -> 06/06/2026 10:00 Paris Nord (actually 12:30) Part of the journey was operated by bus instead of the promised overnight train.
For 2 people: 340 € round trip
A total disaster. Never again. I was really looking forward to taking the overnight train, but we faced last-minute changes and truly unpleasant travel conditions. Here are the details:
1) 2 days before departure: email announcing a change of departure station for the outbound trip—Bercy Seine bus station instead of Gare du Nord. 2) Change of schedule: 4:00 PM from Bercy instead of 5:45 PM from Gare du Nord. 3) Change of transport mode!! A bus from Paris to Brussels, then an overnight train from Brussels to Berlin. No functional toilets on the bus. No children under 4 allowed on the bus. 4) On the sleeper train at 9:30 PM: no functional toilets in our carriage, so we had to go to other carriages, even in the middle of the night, to find working ones. 5) The onboard staff, though very friendly, were as lost as we were. In particular, they didn’t know how to handle the lower berths, so people using them had less space (armrests and backrests). Berth numbers weren’t respected, so some passengers had to move. The staff also didn’t know who was supposed to join the compartment during the journey. 6) Arrival at 7:30 AM in Berlin instead of 10:00 AM. No arrival announcement. Passengers had to search for staff to get breakfast and ended up with just a coffee (breakfast = 15 €, not bad for just a coffee). 7) Return trip: drastic schedule change announced by email on 26/05/2026—departure at 7:30 PM instead of 6:30 PM, with arrival between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM in Paris instead of 10:00 AM. No change in transport mode announced. 8) Change in transport mode announced by email on the same day (05/06/2026)!! Overnight train from Brussels to Berlin, then a bus from Paris to Brussels. No functional toilets on the bus. Children under 4 banned from the bus, and families in this situation were asked to find another way—after being notified the same day. 9) The overnight train arrived at Berlin station with a 30-minute delay on top of its initial delay (scheduled for 6:31 PM, then 7:30 PM, finally arriving at 8:00 PM). The heating was blasting in the compartment with no way to turn it off. No functional toilets in the carriage. From that point on, customer service stopped responding to my messages. 10) Woken up at 5:00 AM with an announcement in all carriages about arrival in Liège. 11) Woken up again at 6:00 AM to be told we’d arrive in Brussels at 7:00 AM. 12) Arrival in Brussels at 7:00 AM and a one-hour wait for the bus to Paris. No functional toilets on the bus. 13) Arrival at Paris Nord at 12:30 PM, so 2.5 hours late compared to the originally scheduled time. 14) The overnight trains used are very old—I recognized the carriages from 20 years ago!! No functional power outlets, no Wi-Fi, no air conditioning. Five people per compartment is a bit cramped, but I consider these conditions expected (especially the air conditioning), so I’m not complaining about that. There’s already plenty to gripe about with the travel conditions.
I have little hope of getting even a partial refund. Customer service emails acknowledge the discomfort but only offer to reimburse the cost of a coffee on board if we send them the receipt... a bit weak.
I’m sharing this experience in the hope it might help others.
24/05/2026 17:45 Paris-Nord (actually 16:00 from Paris Bercy Seine) -> 25/05/2026 9:59 (actually 7:30 in Berlin) 05/06/2026 18:31 Berlin (actually 20:00) -> 06/06/2026 10:00 Paris Nord (actually 12:30) Part of the journey was operated by bus instead of the promised overnight train.
For 2 people: 340 € round trip
A total disaster. Never again. I was really looking forward to taking the overnight train, but we faced last-minute changes and truly unpleasant travel conditions. Here are the details:
1) 2 days before departure: email announcing a change of departure station for the outbound trip—Bercy Seine bus station instead of Gare du Nord. 2) Change of schedule: 4:00 PM from Bercy instead of 5:45 PM from Gare du Nord. 3) Change of transport mode!! A bus from Paris to Brussels, then an overnight train from Brussels to Berlin. No functional toilets on the bus. No children under 4 allowed on the bus. 4) On the sleeper train at 9:30 PM: no functional toilets in our carriage, so we had to go to other carriages, even in the middle of the night, to find working ones. 5) The onboard staff, though very friendly, were as lost as we were. In particular, they didn’t know how to handle the lower berths, so people using them had less space (armrests and backrests). Berth numbers weren’t respected, so some passengers had to move. The staff also didn’t know who was supposed to join the compartment during the journey. 6) Arrival at 7:30 AM in Berlin instead of 10:00 AM. No arrival announcement. Passengers had to search for staff to get breakfast and ended up with just a coffee (breakfast = 15 €, not bad for just a coffee). 7) Return trip: drastic schedule change announced by email on 26/05/2026—departure at 7:30 PM instead of 6:30 PM, with arrival between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM in Paris instead of 10:00 AM. No change in transport mode announced. 8) Change in transport mode announced by email on the same day (05/06/2026)!! Overnight train from Brussels to Berlin, then a bus from Paris to Brussels. No functional toilets on the bus. Children under 4 banned from the bus, and families in this situation were asked to find another way—after being notified the same day. 9) The overnight train arrived at Berlin station with a 30-minute delay on top of its initial delay (scheduled for 6:31 PM, then 7:30 PM, finally arriving at 8:00 PM). The heating was blasting in the compartment with no way to turn it off. No functional toilets in the carriage. From that point on, customer service stopped responding to my messages. 10) Woken up at 5:00 AM with an announcement in all carriages about arrival in Liège. 11) Woken up again at 6:00 AM to be told we’d arrive in Brussels at 7:00 AM. 12) Arrival in Brussels at 7:00 AM and a one-hour wait for the bus to Paris. No functional toilets on the bus. 13) Arrival at Paris Nord at 12:30 PM, so 2.5 hours late compared to the originally scheduled time. 14) The overnight trains used are very old—I recognized the carriages from 20 years ago!! No functional power outlets, no Wi-Fi, no air conditioning. Five people per compartment is a bit cramped, but I consider these conditions expected (especially the air conditioning), so I’m not complaining about that. There’s already plenty to gripe about with the travel conditions.
I have little hope of getting even a partial refund. Customer service emails acknowledge the discomfort but only offer to reimburse the cost of a coffee on board if we send them the receipt... a bit weak.
I’m sharing this experience in the hope it might help others.
Hi there,
I’d like to take the Train of the Clouds from Lima to Huancayo.
I’ve heard it only runs during certain periods.
Does anyone have info on this?
Thanks!
HuancayoHuancayo
Hi everyone,
As part of my professional thesis, I’m conducting a study on the evolution of long-distance rail transport in France, particularly since it opened up to competition. I’ve put together a very quick (about 5-minute) and completely anonymous questionnaire. Your answers will help me better understand users' expectations regarding pricing, frequency, and environmental impact.
Questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/gF1YyesVp2hkh2GDA
Thanks so much for your help! !
As part of my professional thesis, I’m conducting a study on the evolution of long-distance rail transport in France, particularly since it opened up to competition. I’ve put together a very quick (about 5-minute) and completely anonymous questionnaire. Your answers will help me better understand users' expectations regarding pricing, frequency, and environmental impact.
Questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/gF1YyesVp2hkh2GDA
Thanks so much for your help! !
Hi everyone,
Are there any luggage lockers at Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok?
Thanks in advance to those who can help me out, and happy travels! Jaunesoleil
Thanks in advance to those who can help me out, and happy travels! Jaunesoleil
Hi there,
We’re planning a 15-day trip to Uzbekistan in March—classic independent itinerary: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva. We’d like to take the train between each city, but I don’t want to lock down the whole trip before we leave.
So, my question is: is it absolutely necessary to book train tickets before departure, whether for the high-speed trains or the regional ones? Is booking really essential for the regional trains?
Thanks a bunch!
Philippe
We’re planning a 15-day trip to Uzbekistan in March—classic independent itinerary: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva. We’d like to take the train between each city, but I don’t want to lock down the whole trip before we leave.
So, my question is: is it absolutely necessary to book train tickets before departure, whether for the high-speed trains or the regional ones? Is booking really essential for the regional trains?
Thanks a bunch!
Philippe
Hello,
We’re traveling as a family with two boys aged 10 and 12 to Cairo in February. During our trip, we’re planning to take an overnight train (with or without a sleeper) for the Cairo-Aswan route.
Do you know how I can book this remotely?
Also, I’m looking for: - A local contact to sail the Nile by felucca for 3 days from Aswan - A contact to guide us in Cairo
Looking forward to your tips, and thanks in advance! Marie
Also, I’m looking for: - A local contact to sail the Nile by felucca for 3 days from Aswan - A contact to guide us in Cairo
Looking forward to your tips, and thanks in advance! Marie
Hi everyone,
I first traveled solo to Japan in 2019, exploring the Kyushu region (28 days), and I’m planning to return with my daughter (she’s an adult and it’ll be her first time in Asia) from April 25 to May 9.
I’m reaching out on this forum to ask for route ideas—this time north of Tokyo, but without heading to the Sapporo island (I’m saving that for a future trip).
I’d love to take advantage of the cherry blossom season and its festivities.
I’m looking to create a route that’s a little off the beaten path while staying within 5-6 hours by train from Tokyo to avoid spending too much time on transfers.
Thanks in advance for sharing your suggestions and experiences!
Michael
I'm heading to MEXICO IN NOVEMBER 2025. Since private guides and drivers are really expensive—over 300 € per day—I'm thinking of exploring the Yucatán by train. CAN YOU SHARE ANY INFO ON THIS? Thanks
Hi there!
We’re planning to visit Serbia (1 week) and then Montenegro (2nd week) with our kids from April 18 to May 4. We’d prefer to travel by train (overnight if possible), but we’re not sure which platform to book on or when to do it (is it too early?). If anyone has any tips, I’m all ears!!
I wanted to know if it’s possible to go from Tashkent to Almaty by train without passing through Kyrgyzstan. I’ve heard the border is often closed 😕 between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Thanks in advance!
Olivier
Hi there!
We’re planning to head back to Istanbul next year—obviously by plane—and then take the train from Istanbul to Antalya. Has anyone here already made this trip by train with TCDD?
I’d love any tips or info that could be useful for us!
I'd like to go to Montserrat on my own from Barcelona. Share your suggestions with me.
Which train should I take, where to get off, what to see once I arrive, etc.
Hi there,
I need to take a sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane in January. I found some ticket options on 12Go Asia, but booking doesn’t seem possible at the moment. I’ve tried simulations for several dates, but no luck. I’m wondering if it’s already fully booked, if they’ve stopped selling tickets… yet 12Go still features it every day 😕
Has anyone else run into this issue? Can I find tickets on another site? (I tried Baolau, but no sleepers left for January 8th.)
Thanks!
I need to take a sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane in January. I found some ticket options on 12Go Asia, but booking doesn’t seem possible at the moment. I’ve tried simulations for several dates, but no luck. I’m wondering if it’s already fully booked, if they’ve stopped selling tickets… yet 12Go still features it every day 😕
Has anyone else run into this issue? Can I find tickets on another site? (I tried Baolau, but no sleepers left for January 8th.)
Thanks!
Hi there,
I’m a bit late to be worrying about this, but hopefully someone can help me before I leave.
Tomorrow afternoon, I arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu on the TGV at 5:50 PM and take the TER to Mâcon at 6:16 PM. Is a 26-minute transfer doable? Are the TGV and TER on the same departure board? And are they on the same platforms too?
I’ve been to Lyon before but never had to make a connection after arriving.
Thanks
Hi there,
I can’t seem to complete the payment for my trip on the IRCTC (Indian Railways) site. No matter which payment method I choose, my Visa card isn’t accepted. Has anyone here managed to do it, and if so, could you share the method you used? Thanks in advance! Charlie
I can’t seem to complete the payment for my trip on the IRCTC (Indian Railways) site. No matter which payment method I choose, my Visa card isn’t accepted. Has anyone here managed to do it, and if so, could you share the method you used? Thanks in advance! Charlie
Hello,
Starting November 15th, I’ll be arriving in Thailand, and during my stay, I plan to visit the north, around the Chiang Mai area, then head south to the Krabi region. After Krabi, I’m planning to take an overnight train to Bangkok. I was wondering if there’s a train that leaves from Krabi or Trang, or if I absolutely have to go to Surat Thani? Also, which official website can I use to book my ticket?
Next, since I’ll be arriving at dawn in Bangkok, I’ve planned to spend 2 days in Kanchanaburi. What’s the most convenient way to get there—bus or train? And if you know any companies or websites, that’d be great.
Thanks for your tips!
Fred
Starting November 15th, I’ll be arriving in Thailand, and during my stay, I plan to visit the north, around the Chiang Mai area, then head south to the Krabi region. After Krabi, I’m planning to take an overnight train to Bangkok. I was wondering if there’s a train that leaves from Krabi or Trang, or if I absolutely have to go to Surat Thani? Also, which official website can I use to book my ticket?
Next, since I’ll be arriving at dawn in Bangkok, I’ve planned to spend 2 days in Kanchanaburi. What’s the most convenient way to get there—bus or train? And if you know any companies or websites, that’d be great.
Thanks for your tips!
Fred
Hi! I arrive in Vancouver on August 24, 2025, and I’m staying until Friday, August 29, 2025—the day I take *The Canadian* train to Toronto.
I’m exploring several things in Vancouver, including whale watching—if you’ve got any great tips, don’t hesitate! Thanks!
I’m exploring several things in Vancouver, including whale watching—if you’ve got any great tips, don’t hesitate! Thanks!
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s a bus from Luang Namtha to Boten to catch the train coming from China to Vientiane? If so, what’s the name of the company? Also, how long does the bus take to cover that distance? What’s the condition of the road like?
Thanks for your help!
Tom
I just realized there’s only one payment method accepted for booking the Mombasa-Nairobi express train ticket online: M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer service used in Africa. Would it be impossible to book as a European?
Hi
Have any of you booked tickets through rail.ninja?
Hi there,
I’d love to know if any of you have recently eaten on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
We’ve always ordered food on the train, and it was really good (and super convenient). But in 2022, we ended up feeling like total idiots (with our 4-year-old daughter...) when we boarded the train only to find out that this service was no longer available... (It was the first time we’d traveled right after COVID.)
That’s also when we saw once again how kind Thai people are—they all offered to share their food with us, even though we were mortified. In the end, we managed to buy some instant noodles, which was better than nothing. Anyway, that’s the little story behind it.
In the following years, we’ve always brought our own meals.
I’ve read online that meal trays are back in service (could you confirm this, please?), but that the quality is really poor. I’ve also seen multiple reports that, even though you can eat well everywhere in Thailand, the train meal was the worst food travelers had during their trip...
Could you give me a recent opinion on this? We’ll be departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station—do you know if there’s anywhere to buy a meal there before boarding the train?
Thanks so much for your help, and have a great Sunday!
I’d love to know if any of you have recently eaten on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
We’ve always ordered food on the train, and it was really good (and super convenient). But in 2022, we ended up feeling like total idiots (with our 4-year-old daughter...) when we boarded the train only to find out that this service was no longer available... (It was the first time we’d traveled right after COVID.)
That’s also when we saw once again how kind Thai people are—they all offered to share their food with us, even though we were mortified. In the end, we managed to buy some instant noodles, which was better than nothing. Anyway, that’s the little story behind it.
In the following years, we’ve always brought our own meals.
I’ve read online that meal trays are back in service (could you confirm this, please?), but that the quality is really poor. I’ve also seen multiple reports that, even though you can eat well everywhere in Thailand, the train meal was the worst food travelers had during their trip...
Could you give me a recent opinion on this? We’ll be departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station—do you know if there’s anywhere to buy a meal there before boarding the train?
Thanks so much for your help, and have a great Sunday!
Hi there,
We’re heading to Thailand in February 2026 and we’d like to take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Can we book two first-class tickets? I’m only seeing second-class options.
Thanks
We’re heading to Thailand in February 2026 and we’d like to take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Can we book two first-class tickets? I’m only seeing second-class options.
Thanks
Hi everyone,
For traveling in Rajasthan by train and bus, could you give me some info: where to buy tickets, cost, purchase locations, websites, etc.?
Any tips you have would be super helpful.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re traveling to Java on October 23, just the two of us. I’ve read that it’s best to book train tickets in advance on tiket.com. Is that true, and how far ahead do you recommend? Are the tickets changeable?
Thanks for your help!
Nicole
We’re traveling to Java on October 23, just the two of us. I’ve read that it’s best to book train tickets in advance on tiket.com. Is that true, and how far ahead do you recommend? Are the tickets changeable?
Thanks for your help!
Nicole
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to travel from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk by train this summer but I’m a bit worried about crossing the borders. How does it work? Could anyone share their experience? (I’ve found quite a few accounts of people going *from* Russia *to* Mongolia, but entering a country is never the same as leaving it—especially in this context!)
Thanks in advance! 😊
Thanks in advance! 😊
Hi
Can anyone tell me how to book train tickets online? We're planning to travel from HANOI to HO CHI MINH CITY by train, making several stops along the way. I'd also like to find the schedules and the stations where the trains stop.
There are four of us, and we've already planned stops in HANOI / DONG HOI / HUE.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!
Mounette74
Can anyone tell me how to book train tickets online? We're planning to travel from HANOI to HO CHI MINH CITY by train, making several stops along the way. I'd also like to find the schedules and the stations where the trains stop.
There are four of us, and we've already planned stops in HANOI / DONG HOI / HUE.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!
Mounette74
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Japan for the second time with my 20-year-old son. During our first trip, we spent two weeks in Tokyo and Kyoto (plus the surrounding areas). This time, we’re planning to stay in Tokyo for at least 4-5 days and then head to the island of Naoshima. I’m looking for suggestions and advice: Is getting to Naoshima from Tokyo complicated? If so, do you have any recommendations for a stopover somewhere? Given that we’d prefer not to move every day, we’d rather settle in one place and then explore on day trips... Do you think it’s possible to do something like this: 5 nights in Tokyo (Shinjuku) 3 nights in Kyoto 2 nights in Naoshima (or is one night enough??) and if one night is enough, where could I spend a second night on the way back to Tokyo? 2 nights in Tokyo (I’d love your advice on staying in a different neighborhood—last time we stayed near Ueno Park)—keeping in mind we’re flying out of Narita.
I’m considering maybe skipping Kyoto, which I love but has apparently become *very* touristy... Not really keen on Osaka... since we’ll already have done Tokyo as our "big city." I’d prefer towns where nature is present... (a bit like Kyoto, which offers all that...)
For info, we’ll be traveling by train. Thanks in advance for all your suggestions and help!
I have one last little question: Is cash still widely used in Japan, or not at all anymore?
Thanks so much,
Karine
I’m heading to Japan for the second time with my 20-year-old son. During our first trip, we spent two weeks in Tokyo and Kyoto (plus the surrounding areas). This time, we’re planning to stay in Tokyo for at least 4-5 days and then head to the island of Naoshima. I’m looking for suggestions and advice: Is getting to Naoshima from Tokyo complicated? If so, do you have any recommendations for a stopover somewhere? Given that we’d prefer not to move every day, we’d rather settle in one place and then explore on day trips... Do you think it’s possible to do something like this: 5 nights in Tokyo (Shinjuku) 3 nights in Kyoto 2 nights in Naoshima (or is one night enough??) and if one night is enough, where could I spend a second night on the way back to Tokyo? 2 nights in Tokyo (I’d love your advice on staying in a different neighborhood—last time we stayed near Ueno Park)—keeping in mind we’re flying out of Narita.
I’m considering maybe skipping Kyoto, which I love but has apparently become *very* touristy... Not really keen on Osaka... since we’ll already have done Tokyo as our "big city." I’d prefer towns where nature is present... (a bit like Kyoto, which offers all that...)
For info, we’ll be traveling by train. Thanks in advance for all your suggestions and help!
I have one last little question: Is cash still widely used in Japan, or not at all anymore?
Thanks so much,
Karine
Hi everyone,
We’re planning this *very* last-minute—I know! But we’d love to spend 4 days soon (within the next 10–12 days) on a city getaway with our young adult kids. Ideally by train, and for this short trip, we’d prefer not to spend more than 4–6 hours in transit, leaving from Lausanne (Switzerland). We’ve been considering Milan, Strasbourg, or Freiburg im Breisgau, but I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit lost...
Venice was our original plan, but the connection changes in Domodossola or Milan are making the travel time longer this year.
It’s peak summer, so there’ll be tourists and it’ll likely be hot, but oh well...
Any suggestions? We love wandering around, taking photos, exploring cities on foot, trying out restaurants, and keeping things low-key.
Thanks to anyone who wants to chime in! :o)
We’re planning this *very* last-minute—I know! But we’d love to spend 4 days soon (within the next 10–12 days) on a city getaway with our young adult kids. Ideally by train, and for this short trip, we’d prefer not to spend more than 4–6 hours in transit, leaving from Lausanne (Switzerland). We’ve been considering Milan, Strasbourg, or Freiburg im Breisgau, but I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit lost...
Venice was our original plan, but the connection changes in Domodossola or Milan are making the travel time longer this year.
It’s peak summer, so there’ll be tourists and it’ll likely be hot, but oh well...
Any suggestions? We love wandering around, taking photos, exploring cities on foot, trying out restaurants, and keeping things low-key.
Thanks to anyone who wants to chime in! :o)