brief history

Trans-sib – Dusting off the history books
Russia’s longstanding desire for a Pacific port was realised with the foundation of Vladivostok in 1860. By 1880, Vladivostok had grown into a major port city and the only year-round ice-free port on Russian territory. The lack of adquate transportation links between European Russia and it’s Far Eastern provinces soon became an obvious problem. Japan, Britain and America had all managed to gain footholds on the Chinese coast as bases for their trade with China and the Orient. Russia, too, needed to secure her foothold on the east as well as securing the vast expanses of Siberia. In 1891, Tsar Alexander III drew up plans for a trans-continental line linking Moscow & St Petersburg with Vladivostok. “It is time, high time!” His Majesty exclaimed and with that the Trans-Siberian Railway concept was born and construction was initiated.

Despite the enormity of the project, a continuous route was completed in 1905, having being rushed to completion by the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War the year before. The present route of the line, including both the difficult stretch around Lake Baikal and a northerly replacement for the dangerously situated Manchurian line, was opened in 1916. The Trans-Mongolian line is a relatively recent addition to the Trans-Siberian network. Construction started in 1940, and was completed by 1956.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural overland adventures by Trans-Siberian train from Moscow to Beijing and vice versa. Fun and informative, from the express route of some 7 days to an 18 day journey studded with awesome stops at Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude in Eastern Buryatia and Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia plus the original route all the way to Vladivostok, on the go offer 2 types of Trans-Siberian train packages with a range of inclusions to suit all pockets. A 2-night stay is included at the departure city of Moscow or Beijing, and accommodation offered at stops ranges from home stays or hotel stays to Mongolian gers at Terelj National Park. Catch a ride on the greatest train of all – the Trans-Siberian.