New Year on a train: romance or a challenge?

The chime of the Kremlin clock, clinking glasses, the smell of Olivier salad, and... the rhythmic clatter of wheels outside the window. Celebrating New Year's Eve in a train car is a scenario that some call a nightmare, while others consider it the most heartfelt adventure of their lives. If you're tired of typical TV-dinner celebrations, the railway can be a great alternative. But you need to be prepared for such a trip.

Why do people do this?

The main reason is the indescribable "train romance." On New Year's Eve, the carriage transforms. Conductors often dress up as Ded Moroz (Father Frost) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), passengers become one big family, and tangerines and caviar appear on the tables instead of the usual grilled chicken.

Moreover, it's cost-effective. Tickets for December 31st are often cheaper than for adjacent dates, as most people aim to reach their destination in advance.

A test of endurance

However, don't wear rose-tinted glasses. New Year on a train is a lottery with your neighbors. You might get a fun group of students with a guitar, or tired shift workers who will go to bed at 10 PM and demand silence.

An important nuance is the "dry law." Officially, drinking alcoholic beverages on trains is prohibited. Of course, on New Year's Eve, conductors often turn a blind eye to a glass of champagne as the clock chimes, but excessive drinking can result in being disembarked at the nearest station and meeting the police instead of celebrating.

Preparation: the secret to success

For a smooth trip, it's important to plan in advance what to take on the train for New Year's. Here's a quick checklist from an experienced traveler:

• Battery-powered garland. It will instantly create coziness even in an open-plan carriage.

• Festive table. Don't count on the dining car (it might be overcrowded or closed). Bring cold cuts, tangerines, sweets. Perishable salads are best eaten first.

• Gifts. Buy a handful of candies or small souvenirs. Treat your neighbors and conductors – this will immediately foster a friendly atmosphere.

• Headphones and a sleep mask. Just in case you still decide to sleep, but the carriage decides to celebrate until morning.

How to choose the best seat

Golden rule: "the middle is gold"

In winter, this is more relevant than ever.

• Best seats: compartment or open-plan carriage sections from 3rd to 6th. This is the middle of the carriage.

• Why: cold air from the vestibule doesn't reach here when passengers enter and exit. The sound of the entrance doors and noise from the toilet are least audible here. Additionally, there's less motion sickness in the middle of the carriage.

The secret of "emergency windows"

In old carriages (and many new ones), emergency exits are located in the 3rd and 6th compartments (or corresponding open-plan carriage sections).

• Winter plus: windows in these sections are structurally non-opening. This guarantees no drafts from gaps.

• Winter minus: if the conductor heats the carriage to +30°C (which is a common practice in winter, "to prevent drafts"), you won't be able to ventilate.

• Seat numbers: in an open-plan carriage, these are seats 9–12 and 21–24, as well as side seats 49–50 and 43–44 (but it's better not to take side seats for other reasons). In a compartment, these are seats 9–12 and 21–24.

Seats to avoid in winter

Open-plan carriage

• Seats 37 and 38 (side seats near the toilet): this is an absolute taboo. In winter, there's a draft from the vestibule door, the slamming of the toilet door won't let you sleep, and unpleasant odors (even with a bio-toilet) may be present.

• Seats 1–4 and 53–54 (first section): proximity to the samovar (water boiler) and the conductors' compartment. People constantly walk here for tea, it can be noisy, and the door to the service vestibule often lets in cold air.

• Seats 33–36 (last section): this is the "popular path" to the toilet and the trash bin. Plus, the partition wall with the toilet is often cold.

Compartment

• Last compartment (seats 33–36): even if the train is new, the sound of the vacuum bio-toilet (sharp and loud) behind the wall will wake you up all night.

Upper or lower bunk?

In winter, physics applies here: warm air rises.

• Upper bunk: in winter, it is often very hot and stuffy here. If you don't tolerate stuffiness well, choose the lower bunk.

• Lower bunk: it's cooler here. However, if there's still a draft from the window, it will blow directly on the person sleeping below. Tip: lie with your head towards the door and your feet towards the window, or cover the window with a blanket/rug (in old carriages).

Double-decker trains

In winter, they have their own nuances.

• Second floor: it's warmer there, as heat rises from the first floor. But the roof is closer (it can be a bit cramped on the upper bunk), and motion sickness is stronger there.

• First floor: more stable in temperature, but the floor can be cool.

• Seats near the stairs: avoid them (especially on the 1st floor, seats at the end of the carriage), as cold air descending from the second floor accumulates there in winter, plus constant foot traffic.

Where to go to the sound of wheels?

If you've decided on an adventure, all that's left is to choose a destination. The main question is – where to go by train for New Year's so that the journey itself becomes part of the adventure?

To a fairy tale: Veliky Ustyug. A classic winter route. You need to travel to Kotlas station. This journey will especially appeal to children, but adults will also find the atmosphere of the true Russian North there. The logistics are simple: you need to buy tickets to Kotlas on Kupi.com in advance, and from there take a bus or taxi to Ded Moroz's residence. Meeting midnight among snow-covered forests, approaching the homeland of the winter wizard – what could be more symbolic?

To the sea and palms: Sochi. If you're tired of snow and cold, consider where to go by train for New Year's for warmth. Sochi is an ideal option. Double-decker trains are comfortable and modern. Imagine: you board the train in a winter jacket, and you get off where magnolias are blooming. For residents of the Northern Capital, this is a great chance to change the climate: just take tickets Saint Petersburg – Sochi, and in two days, the grey sky will be replaced by sea surf.

Polar Express: Murmansk. For those who want real exoticism and a hunt for the northern lights. Polar night, endless tundra outside the window, and a chance to see green flashes in the sky right from the carriage window.

New Year on a train is an event you definitely won't forget. Whether it will be a warm evening with heartfelt conversations or a fun carnival with strangers depends on your mood. The main thing is to remember that the celebration is not about the place, but about the people. Happy travels!