Weather advice...!

Of course, weather can vary greatly from year to year, month to month, day to day. I was in St. Pete's and Moscow a few years ago in early July, and it was pleasant but unseasonably cool. Click here for weather averages. Weather is not unlike southern Scandinavia/northern Europe, I think. Trains can get a bit hot in sun during summer days, but usually when they're moving you get the air moving. (I never experienced air conditioned trains in Russia, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.)

Dave

There are airconditioned trains but they are newer trains and generally operate on the lower numbered trains to places where air con is more important than to Murmansk.

There is no second class or third class. There is platskartny which is an open space with 54 berths, 6 per section and there is kupe which 36 berths, 4 per lockable compartment. If you have a choice, the lower bunk is usually cooler than the upper bunk but it means that you can't easily lie down during the day if you share your space with others.

Ruth

Thanks for your replies guys. Just trying to get an idea for packing and what to buy in the christmas sales here in melbourne!

Thanks,

jess

I was in Moscow and St Petersburg in June/July this year. During the days it got pretty hot in Moscow - up to 30 degrees. I used my summer clothes in Moscow. In St Petersburg the days were consistently around 14 degrees. A jumper with a hood and a light jacket to keep out the wind came in handy.