Seb, How long do you think I should allow in Irkutsk to get this organized and get a train? 3-4 days? More?

Cheers,

Tom.

Hi tom,

Yep, I think that is a realistic timing.
Actually you can fix it all in a few hours, but all will depend on availability of the trains and if you can/want to put the bike on the same train as yourself.

Crating the bike will take them half a day (or a full day depending).
Sorting out what train to take: 10 minutes to 2 hours...
Buying the tickets 10 minutes.
Waiting for your train... good question, from a few hours to a few days.
We were in high season so it was more difficult, but I'm confident you should make it out of Irkutsk within 4 days.
When we enquired in the morning at 9 on how to do it, Michael who was with me could take the train in the afternoon with his bike. So it can go fast but we had more time... ;-)

What I would do:

When you arrive in Irkutsk, sort all the train thing out and if it's a few days later, just take your bike and go to Olchon Island in Lake Baikal (it's only a few hours from Irkutsk) and stay there for the few days you wait. Then go back the day before your train is due and you should be fine!

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Thanks, this has been probably the most informative thread I have found on HUBB. Super easy to follow.

Your plan sounds spot on, I want to have a good look around Lake Baikal. Hopefully the guy you met is still working there next July!.

Seb very useful thread! I will be looking at transporting our bikes from Irkutsz or UB next August all the way to Moscow, so this is very useful and specific info.

We will do the Pamir Highway on the way to UB! Seems more logical

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Maria,

Yep it is.
The reason why we didn't is that in June there were elections in iran and then you never know if they close the borders as most of the times they do and I didn't fancy the boat from azerbaidjan.

You'll be better off sending the bikes from Irkutsk to Moscow than from UB in my opinion.

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Maria,
Its a lot easier to ship domestically ... from Ulan Ude or Irkutsk (both in Russia) than to transport from UB.... which would mean your shipment has to cross a customs border - complicating things a lot.

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As mentioned already in post 13 at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ope-trip-57891 I strongly suggest you don't freight from UB to anywhere. The Irkutsk train connection is seemingly very good. It certainly won't be close to being worse than UB as a freighting point.

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Hi Seb, Super post and thanks for the info, Would you be so kind and let us know the full costs of bike transport and your ticket costs. Thanks once again for your super post.

The ticket cost for us I can't remember anymore honestly. But I think we paid around 70€ each, I remember that in total I paid less than 300€ for two people and two bikes (inclusive crating) from Irkutsk to Novosibirsk.
It would cost the same (or even more) if you would ride the 2.000km and stay for 2/3 nights in a hotel.

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Hi guys, thanks for the advice. I will be looking at making my way to Irkutz, and if we have time, have a little ride round before we ship the bikes to Moscow.

Maybe ride to Novocibirk if the road is nice. My brother has a friend there so he could help with translation.....

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Has anyone got any up to date information regarding the train back to Moscow from vlad or Magadan ?? If bike and passengers are allowed etc. How much ?? Is it direct ??

Thanks

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Thx Seb for the info. It came handy as we just did the same.
Just to confirm, as Seb said. Nothing to add else than the "crating" is very flimsy and you should be there when they do it.

There were 5 bikes on the train with our two, so seven in total. One got damaged during the trip.

Make sure you remove mirrors and windshields and all stuff fragile yourself!

Supervise the crating. If you can, buy cables with ratchets to secure the bike.

The guys in Irkutsk built very flimsy crates. I will try upload pictures. One bike fell during the trip onto another one. Not one of ours.

Then here is detail of where to pick up the bike in Moscow.

Train station Yaroslavsky. Nearest Metro Komsomoslkaya.

Now to find the depot where the bikes will be, look at the station, go on the right side of the station, inside, walk toward the extreme right platform, go to this platform, you will see a metal steps and a metal ramp on the right, ( parallel to the rail) take it, then that passage go through some parking. Take it. It will take you toward the right then turn left as soon as you can so you follow the rail line!

You will walk past the huge post Office Depot. Continue past it. The rail line will be still on you left hand side. You will not see it as there is a concrete wall with barbed wire on top. Continue until the end. It is eventually a cul-de-sac.

Go to the office and show your docs and passport. They will give you a small piece of paper.

Then go inside the depot and try locate your bike. Hand over your paper if asked. You should not be asked any money!

Now if someone try to stop you getting your bike out of its crate, inside the depot, and tell you to do it in the street, unless you can do teleportation of your bike, as no one will help you move your crated bike, just ignore the shouty blond woman! Bring tools to brake the crate and do it in the depot. Take the wood pieces to the bin outside so you don't make it harder for others bikers. I got shouted at a lot that day by blond woman and workers at the depot! Not nice people on that day and no help!




That is all. Sorry for bad typing. Sitting at reception desk of stalinian type hotel with wedding in full blow around!

Few pictures of "crates"!

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Ted only few trains can take he bikes, but you do not need to take that train. We took it, but the owners of the other five bikes (3 Fins and two germans) were not on the train and we never met them.

We got to Irkutsk the 11th of July. We were told only the train on the 12th and the train on the 18th could transport our bikes. We found space for us and our bikes on the train last saturday and got to Moscow on Tuesday. Although long boring journey, best flying if you can! See details on my blog and fb.

Price from Irkutsk to Moscow.

We paid 8,000 roubles for our two bikes based on weight (150 and 160 kg)

Then 4000 rouble per crate. expensive for what it is! Make sure you are in reserve, if not they will make you drain the fuel! We did!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Great stuff Maria!

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Hi Maria,

I was just wondering how many days the train took to reach Moscow from Irkutsk?

Also does any know how long it would take to ride from Irkutsk to Moscow comfortably doing 8-10 hr days?


Cheers,

Zac