Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting a seat
When travelling in hard-seat class, you will almost certainly have to fight to
get a seat. If you're not travelling alone, one of you can scramble on board and find seats
and the other can bring the luggage on board.
CLASSES
There are usually three classes on domestic passenger trains: hard seat, hard sleeper
and soft seat.
Hard seat
In hard-seat class, the seats are actually padded bunks but there are no as-
signed bunks or any limit to the amount of tickets sold, so the carriages are always
crowded and dirty.
Hard sleeper
Called
platzkartnuu,
this looks just like the hard seat but everyone gets their
own bunk and there is the option of getting a set of sheets and a blanket (T1000). Up-
grades are available to soft seat if you decide you can't stand the hard seats.
Soft seat
These are only a little bit softer, but the conditions are much better: the price dif-
ference (usually at least double the price of the hard seat) is prohibitive for most Mongoli-
ans. The soft-seat carriages are divided into compartments with four beds in each. You
are given an assigned bed, and will be able to sleep, assuming, of course, that your com-
partment mates aren't rip-roaring drunk and noisy. If you travel at night, clean sheets are
provided for about T1100, which is a wise investment since some of the quilts smell like
mutton. Compared with hard-seat class, it's the lap of luxury, and worth paying extra.
