Plan Your Trip Trans-Mongolian Railway - Mongolia - page 74

Security The trains are reasonably safe but it's still a good idea to watch your bags
closely. For added safety, lock your cabin from the inside and also make use of the secur-
ity clip on the upper left-hand part of the door. The clip can be flipped open from the out-
side with a knife, but not if you stuff the hole with paper.
Non-Ulaanbaatar stops If you want to get off or on the Trans-Mongolian at Sükhbaatar,
Darkhan or Sainshand, you'll still have to pay the full Ulaanbaatar fare. If you're not actu-
ally getting on the train in Ulaanbaatar, you should arrange for someone (your guesthouse
manager, guide or a friend) to let the attendant know that you'll be boarding the train at a
later stop. This is to ensure that your seat is not taken.
Arrive early Tickets list the train's departure times. Get to the station at least 20 minutes
before arrival to allow enough time to find the platform and struggle on board, as the train
only stops in Ulaanbaatar for about 30 minutes.
Timetable A timetable of stops hangs inside the carriage but times can shift so it's wise to
double-check departure times with the provodnista (on-board attendant) if you get off at a
station.
Bringing a bike In Bĕijīng, you need to take the bike to the train station one day prior to
departure. No box is needed, they just wheel it onto a cargo car. If you are in Ulaanbaatar,
bring your bike to the train station two days prior to departure with the bike packed in a
box. A cargo fee of around T3000 is usually charged.
Smoking Lighting up is not allowed in any of the cabins but many travellers will smoke at
the ends of the train cars.
What to Bring
Currency It is handy to have some US dollars in small denominations to buy meals and
drinks on the train, and to exchange for the local currency so you can buy things at the
train stations. It's also a good idea to buy some Russian roubles or Chinese yuan at a
bank or licensed moneychanger in UB before you leave Mongolia.
Food Stock up on bread, cheese, salami, pickles and fruit before you depart, and bring
some bottled water and juice. A small samovar at the end of each carriage provides con-
stant boiling water, a godsend for making tea and coffee, as well as instant meals of pack-
et noodles or soup.
Sleeping-bag liner Train cars are heated in winter and sheets and blankets are provided
so a sleeping bag is not necessary. However, it's a good idea to bring along a sleeping-
bag liner, which offers a little added comfort and warmth.
Other essential items Thongs (flip-flops) or slippers, torch (flashlight), toiletries, a mug or
coffee tumbler, toilet paper, a jumper, a washcloth (or towel), some plastic cutlery, reading
material, a deck of cards and comfortable long pants. Tracksuits are a must for blending
in with the locals.