Train No. 5 from UB to Irkutsk: When does it cross the border?

I'm thinking of taking the Train No. 5 on Fri 15 May at 1.50 pm from UB to Irkutsk. Because my Russian visa starts on 16 May, I'm concerned about the time of the border crossing. Can anyone confirm that the train will reach the border past midnight (on 16 May) according to Russian time?

hi don't really know but maybe you can find some information looking on my webpages about mongolia and so look on the links about train and maybe found this information?
http://www.terramongolia.com

have nice trip

The #5 does not leave UB for Moscow on Friday 15 May. It is the #3 train which originates in Beijing. The schedule is here

Sorry, but this train crosses the border at Naushki at 19:14 Moscow time. What I don't know is whether immigration uses Moscow time (19:14 May 15) or local time (00:14 May 16).

Ruth

Russian immigration uses local time. And after midnight in Naushki the stamp in your passport will be May 16.

Thanks for your information because I face the same situation. I will take Train No. 5 from Ulan Bator to Irkutsk at 1.50 p.m. on 9 June 2009, and my Russia Visa starts on 10 June. I am relief after reading your reply.

SF

Edited by: sfliong

Ruth,

Just updating that it is indeed No. 5 not No. 3. No. 3 arrives and leaves UB on Thu not Fri. No. 5 is a Mongolian train, originating I think from UB.

SF,

I strongly suggest you avoid taking No.5 or any other Mongolia-originating train if possible. It was a pretty awful journey.

The train was full of Mongolian traders who were smuggling China-made clothes, handbags and accessories across the border to sell to Russians at every stop on the train station platforms, all the way to Moscow. They were trying to hide the contraband in every corner including my luggage compartment, and one guy was crazy enough to asked me to let him put some in my bags. These smugglers kept moving the goods around... packing, unpacking and repacking things -- even before the train left UB, and even after they got past the Russian customs till 1-2 am. They kept opening and closing my cabin door for some reason, even though they were not from my cabin...I think looking for more space to hide their stuff. They also kept moving items in and out of my cabin. There was a lot of noise and activity (loud talking, moving and packing of goods, doors slamming) and the carriage was often filled with cigarette smoke. At some point, a fight broke out between the woman smuggler in my cabin and a man from another over something.

As a result of all this, it was very hard to be comfortable or relax. I didn't get much peace and quiet or sleep until past 1 am. Then the craziness started up again once it was morning because the smugglers started selling the goods at every stop.

There was also no water in the toilets for some reason, and no restaurant car either.

If you have to take this train, be very prepared, especially with food. I didn't see any vendors at any stop before Russia selling food.

Edited by: aycarumba

Dear aycarumba,

Thanks a lot for your advices and sorry to hear about your awful (crazy too) experience on the train. I really appreciated it. I had booked and paid for the train No 5 for UB-Irkutsk with a Russia travel agent. Let me see is there any others alternative to that route when I arrive in Ulan Baator on 3 June, so that would no experience the awful fate as you experienced there. If there is no other choice, well, at least I can stock up some food and water, all thanks to your advices and latest information.

sfliong - there are two alternatives to the #5 train. One is the local pasenger train which operates daily and takes about 10 hours longer. The other is the bus from UB to Ulan Ude and then the train from there. These are really the only options.

Ruth

Dear Ruth,

Thanks for your information.

SF