Best Train Classes and Accommodation Options, Trans-Siberian Railway: Choose Your Berth

The Trans-Siberian Railway offers three main classes of overnight accommodation, each with different levels of privacy, comfort and cost. Your choice depends on how much isolation you want, your budget, and whether you prefer to travel alone or meet other passengers. This guide compares the actual experience of each class: what you’ll see inside a cabin, how you’ll sleep, what amenities come with your ticket, and which class suits different kinds of travellers.

All Trans-Siberian classes include clean linens, a berth, access to toilets and washbasins, and passage through some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. The main difference is how many people share your sleeping space and how much of your compartment door you can lock.

At a Glance

#	Place	Best for	Good to know
1	SV (First Class) – Two-Berth Private Compartment	Most private and spacious	All Trans-Siberian routes; paid. Check the official booking site (rzd.ru) for current availability and the Rossiya train schedule.
2	Kupe (Second Class) – Four-Berth Compartment	Popular for groups; balance of cost and privacy	All Trans-Siberian routes; paid. The most popular class among Western travellers.
3	Platzkart (Third Class) – Open Berths in Shared Carriage	Budget option; most social experience	All Trans-Siberian routes; paid (cheapest option). Third class is perhaps the most atmospheric of all the classes and is worth trying at least once.
4	SV with Shower – First Class on Premium Routes	Best for comfort; select trains only	Rossiya train (Moscow–Vladivostok); Trans-Mongolian route (Moscow–Beijing); paid. Check RZD website for current service details.
5	Kupe on Standard Trains – Budget Alternative to SV	Practical middle option; daily service	Train #100/099 Moscow–Vladivostok (daily); paid. No meals included; dining car available.
6	Grand Trans-Siberian Express – Private Train Accommodation	All-inclusive luxury alternative	Private charter; booked through tour operators only. Includes meals, excursions and accommodation.
7	Deluxe Gold on Grand Trans-Siberian – Premium Private Train	Most spacious and equipped	Private charter train only; booked through specialized tour operators. Premium pricing.
8	Buying Out a Kupe Cabin – Partial or Full Compartment	Private group travel at lower cost than SV	All Trans-Siberian routes; paid (multiply kupe single berth price by number of berths you want). Book directly on rzd.ru.
9	Onboard Facilities and Shared Spaces – All Classes	What to expect beyond your berth	All Trans-Siberian trains. Toilets at both ends of each carriage; samovar (hot water) available throughout journey.

How We Chose

Each class listed here is verified to operate on the main Trans-Siberian trains serving the Moscow–Vladivostok route, particularly the Rossiya (branded) and standard long-distance trains. Descriptions are based on official train specifications, actual passenger compartment layouts, and onboard facilities as documented by RZD (Russian Railways). Special variants offered by private charter operators (like Grand Trans-Siberian Express) are noted separately since they differ from the standard RZD fleet.

• First class (SV) and second class (kupe) compartments are lockable and have numbered seats per berth.
• Third class (platzkart) has open bays with no doors but offers significantly lower fares.
• Amenities vary by train: some include meals, shower facilities or fresh linens; others require you to purchase these separately.

1. SV (First Class) – Two-Berth Private Compartment – Most private and spacious

First class (SV) accommodates two people, with two long couches which can be converted into sofa-beds and a table. There are nine compartments per coach, typically with two lower beds on Russian trains, two washrooms and toilets at each end of the corridor, and all compartments are lockable. Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets* and pillows, are provided for each berth, along with personal reading lights, luggage storage space, a big window and a small table. SV gives you a two-berth compartment with a shared wash basin inside, and you can book both berths for solo travel in genuine privacy.

Good to know: All Trans-Siberian routes; paid. Check the official booking site (rzd.ru) for current availability and the Rossiya train schedule.

Tip: There are coat hooks above each berth and handlebars to reach luggage storage space at the very top of the compartment near the ceiling, which can be useful for storing large suitcases.

2. Kupe (Second Class) – Four-Berth Compartment – Popular for groups; balance of cost and privacy

Second class sleepers are divided into compartments with lockable doors, each fitting up to 4 people, with four berths, a table, a mirror, and a panoramic window; luggage can be conveniently placed under the lower berths. Each compartment contains two upper and two lower bunks, a folding table in between, television and one power socket. There is very little difference between first and second class in compartment size, decor, luggage storage, security and window size. Included in the second class ticket price is one cold meal, bed linen, a travel set and newspapers.

Good to know: All Trans-Siberian routes; paid. The most popular class among Western travellers.

Tip: If you book early enough, you should be able to select an upper or lower bunk (lower bunks are odd-numbered); if you have a lower bunk in kupe, you have a bin under your bunk where you can store luggage—a 55L backpack fits perfectly, but anything larger or any suitcase may be tough.

3. Platzkart (Third Class) – Open Berths in Shared Carriage – Budget option; most social experience

Third class sleepers are open-space air-conditioned cars divided into sections with no doors; each section includes two upper, two lower, and two additional side berths. An open carriage with 54 berths arranged in bays of four (two lower, two upper) on one side, and two more berths facing sideways across the aisle on the other. The obvious drawback is the lack of privacy which is quite essential when travelling long distances. Other than bed linen, no other amenities are included in the third class ticket price, but newspapers and meals can be purchased in the restaurant car or at stations. This is the class where you'll share food with Siberian grandmothers, be offered tea in podstakanniki (the classic metal glass holders).

Good to know: All Trans-Siberian routes; paid (cheapest option). Third class is perhaps the most atmospheric of all the classes and is worth trying at least once.

Tip: Choice of bed is pretty crucial in this class; the alcoves closest to the toilets (the lower-numbered berths) are probably best avoided.

4. SV with Shower – First Class on Premium Routes – Best for comfort; select trains only

On the Rossiya branded train, first and second class tickets include meals delivered to you, and as of recent years, shower cabins have been installed in each carriage. On some services, first class compartments can include showers. On the Trans-Mongolian #003/004 train with weekly departures from Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia, first class cabins have a shower and toilet shared with the cabin next door. The Rossiya train running daily between Moscow and Vladivostok is the main Trans-Siberian service featuring shower facilities in first class. Meals are not included on the Trans-Mongolian and must be purchased at the restaurant car.

Good to know: Rossiya train (Moscow–Vladivostok); Trans-Mongolian route (Moscow–Beijing); paid. Check RZD website for current service details.

Tip: Shower facilities on the Rossiya are a significant upgrade; if you're on a longer journey (more than three days) and value freshness, the Rossiya with showers is worth the price difference over standard kupe.

5. Kupe on Standard Trains – Budget Alternative to SV – Practical middle option; daily service

Train #100/099 is a non-branded train with daily departures between Moscow and Vladivostok; only second and third class carriages are available. This train offers kupe compartments (four-berth, lockable) at lower cost than the branded Rossiya train, but typically without included meals. This standard train offers 2 travel classes: 2nd Class Soft Sleepers and 3rd Class Hard Sleepers; both types of cabins are fitted for four people, but 3rd class compartments have no doors and are less private. The trade-off is lower fares and daily availability rather than the amenities of branded trains.

Good to know: Train #100/099 Moscow–Vladivostok (daily); paid. No meals included; dining car available.

Tip: If you want to avoid crowds in third class but prefer the daily service of train #100Э, booking kupe is reliable and common among Russian commuters.

6. Grand Trans-Siberian Express – Private Train Accommodation – All-inclusive luxury alternative

A choice of 4 different categories of sleeping accommodation from Economy to Deluxe; possibility of guaranteed double and single accommodation throughout the tour. Four categories of accommodation: Standard Economy (3 or 4 persons per cabin), Standard Plus (1 or 2 persons per cabin), Deluxe Silver (1 or 2 persons per cabin, private shower and toilet en suite), and Deluxe Gold (1 or 2 persons per cabin, private shower and toilet en suite). The train offers a restaurant, bar and conference area for lectures; stops for land excursions at interesting places along the route are included every day. This is a chartered train, not standard RZD service, designed for organized tours.

Good to know: Private charter; booked through tour operators only. Includes meals, excursions and accommodation.

Tip: Private charter trains are significantly more expensive than RZD but include guided stops, meals and guaranteed single/double cabins; ideal if your priority is structured touring rather than independent travel.

7. Deluxe Gold on Grand Trans-Siberian – Premium Private Train – Most spacious and equipped

Deluxe Gold sleeping cars offer the most spacious and comfortable accommodation; cabins have a private toilet, wash basin and a spacious shower cabin en suite, Euro-Sockets for 220V in each cabin capable for razors, phones and cameras, and are air-conditioned with individual control; only 5 cabins per car and can be booked for double or single use. This is the top tier on the Grand Trans-Siberian Express private charter, far exceeding standard RZD accommodations.

Good to know: Private charter train only; booked through specialized tour operators. Premium pricing.

Tip: If budget is not a constraint and you want full-service accommodation with amenities matching a high-end hotel, Deluxe Gold is the only Trans-Siberian option with en-suite showers on every cabin.

8. Buying Out a Kupe Cabin – Partial or Full Compartment – Private group travel at lower cost than SV

If travelling in a group of two or three, you can 'buy out' a four-person cabin. Most carriages have 4-berth cabins known as 'kupés' with 2 upper and 2 lower berths, plenty of luggage storage space and a small table; many people prefer a 4-berth buyout to a 2-berth cabin as the unused upper berths are useful for easy access storage. This allows a group to have a private compartment (four berths to yourselves) at a price lower than booking four individual SV tickets. On some trains, some trains offer 'female only' or 'male only' cabins.

Good to know: All Trans-Siberian routes; paid (multiply kupe single berth price by number of berths you want). Book directly on rzd.ru.

Tip: If you are two people and want to maximize luggage space and avoid a third person, buying out both lower berths of a kupe gives you a locked compartment at about 2/3 the price of SV.

9. Onboard Facilities and Shared Spaces – All Classes – What to expect beyond your berth

Carriages usually contain nine compartments and are serviced by two attendants (conductors). Each carriage has two Western style toilets with basins for a brief wash; there is also boiling water on tap from a samovar; the corridor usually has fold down seats and each cabin has a lockable door, 2 or 4 berths, a table and a decent amount of luggage storage. The majority of trains along the Trans-Siberian route have a dining car. Third-class platzkart passengers share the same toilet facilities as other classes but have no private cabin space or reserved seating in corridors.

Good to know: All Trans-Siberian trains. Toilets at both ends of each carriage; samovar (hot water) available throughout journey.

Tip: Keep your money, cameras and electronics on your person when the cabin is empty, and luggage should be locked at all times.

Russia Vibes Tips

• If you book early enough, you should be able to select an upper or lower bunk (lower bunks are odd-numbered); if you have a lower bunk in kupe, you have a bin under your bunk for luggage storage. Upper bunks are more popular because you have more privacy and can see out the window, but they offer less legroom and require climbing.
• Train cabins have a sufficient amount of storage space for your luggage and you will be able to accommodate your standard suite cases or backpacks; please do not take oversized suite cases, as you might have difficulties if you have two or more big suite cases. Most travellers succeed with one large backpack or one medium suitcase per person.
• On newer rolling stock, the carriage is quieter in SV, the linens are slightly better, and there is more space; on the oldest rolling stock, the difference from kupe is less marked than you might expect. If comfort is your priority, ask which specific train you are booked on—the Rossiya is newer and better-maintained than train #100/099.
• In third class (platzkart), the unique atmosphere is enhanced by the sound, sight and smell of 53 other passengers; toilet facilities are identical to other classes, it's just that there will be more people using them; air-conditioning, which sort-of exists in higher classes, may sort-of not exist in platskart. If you choose platzkart, bring a sleeping mask and earplugs, and consider it a social experience rather than a rest.
• Almost all compartments on the Trans-Siberian are unisex, though some trains offer single-sex cabins; unless you book out an entire cabin, your neighbours are randomly assigned and you may be sharing a bunk with a snoring person or a sweet old lady—it's part and parcel of the adventure. Request female-only or male-only cabins at booking if this matters to you.
• One of the perks of travelling in first class (SV) is that your bedding is already prepared for you; if you're travelling in any other class, you are given a plastic package consisting of all your bedding and you have to make the bed yourself; on SV you may find a small amenity kit in one of the storage nooks.

Explore Nearby Best Train Classes and Accommodation Options, Trans-Siberian Railway

Related guides

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  How to Board a Russian Long-Distance Train: Steps, Tickets and Conductor Etiquette
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  How to Keep Your Luggage and Valuables Safe on Trains, Trans-Siberian Railway: Security Setup and Storage
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  How to Sleep Comfortably on Overnight Trains, Trans-Siberian Railway: Bedding, Compartments and Practical Tips
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  How to Eat and Drink on Long-Distance Russian Trains: Five Options From Vendor Stops to Dining Cars
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  How to Use Toilets and Showers on Russian Sleeper Trains: Practical Tips for Comfort

Browse more: All Guides · All Guides in Trans-Siberian Railway · All Other · All Trans-Siberian Railway

?

FAQ

What is the main difference between SV, kupe and platzkart?

The usual distinction on almost all Trans-Siberian trains is that second class compartments have 4 berths and first class has 2 berths; there is very little difference in compartment size, decor or window size. SV is a locked two-berth cabin (private or shared); kupe is a locked four-berth cabin (shared with 1–3 others); platzkart is an open bay with no doors and up to 54 beds.

Do the berths come with bedding?

Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets and pillows, are provided for each berth, along with personal reading lights, space to store luggage, a big window and a small table. On first-class SV, the bed is made for you. On kupe and platzkart, you receive a package of clean linens and make the bed yourself.

Is there a shower on the Trans-Siberian trains?

The Rossiya branded train with daily departures between Moscow and Vladivostok has first, second and third class carriages; first and second class tickets include meals delivered to you, and shower cabins have been installed in each carriage. The Rossiya offers 1st Class Deluxe Sleeper for two or 2nd Class Soft Sleeper for four, and the train cars are equipped with showers. Train #100/099 does not have showers.

How much luggage can you bring?

Train cabins have a sufficient amount of storage space for your luggage and you will be able to accommodate your standard suite cases or backpacks; please do not take oversized suite cases, as you might have difficulties if you have two or more big suite cases. If you have a lower bunk in kupe, you have a bin under your bunk where you can store luggage—a 55L backpack fits perfectly, but anything larger or any suitcase may be tough.

Can you lock the compartment door?

All SV and kupe compartments are lockable. Kupe compartments are accessed via a key card and have a button to call the train attendants. Platzkart has no doors and no locks. Keep your money, cameras and electronics on your person when the cabin is empty, and luggage should be locked at all times.

Which class is best for a solo traveller?

If you are a solo traveller and really want to travel in style, it's possible to purchase both tickets for the first class cabin. You can book both berths of SV for solo travel in genuine privacy. Alternatively, platskart may appeal to some lone females, as sharing a closed compartment with a group of men may not appeal; the open dormitory gives a certain feeling of safety in numbers.

Which class is most popular with Western travellers?

Most Western travellers opt to travel in second class. Kupe offers a balance of privacy (locked compartment), comfort (four berths but more space per person than platzkart) and cost (significantly cheaper than SV). Compartment wagons are one of the most popular options for tourists.

Does the ticket price include meals?

Included in the second class ticket price on the Rossiya is one cold meal, bed linen, a travel set and newspapers. On third class, other than bed linen, no other amenities are included in the ticket price, but newspapers and meals can be purchased in the restaurant car or at stations. On the Trans-Mongolian, meals are not included in the ticket price and must be purchased at the restaurant car. Check your specific train's ticket terms.

Take this guide with you

Get a free PDF of this guide to print or read offline: key facts, tips and a map link on a few clean pages.

Get the free PDF I want to receive the newsletter by email and agree that my email address is stored for this purpose. I can unsubscribe at any time.