My trip finally begins : Tonight, the 
453 will bring me in a comfortable wagon-lits to Berlin, the first stop of my #FOSSRail trip from π§πͺ Brussels to πΉπ Bangkok connecting the FOSDEM with the FOSSASIA by train.
I will spend the next two weeks on trains across 12 countries and 11.000 km on rails.
May the games begin βπ½.
#FOSSRail #FOSDEM #FOSSASIA #CrossBorderRail #TeamNightTrain
One step further : After a cuddly journey with @char and @ellie in a comfortable wagon-lits of the 453, we arrived perfectly on time for our transfer in Berlin for the local train replacements in towards Erkner and Frankfurt (Oder).
Next major destination : Warsaw π.
Due to exceptional terminus of Frankfurt(Oder) of the Germany - Poland 
EIC trains these days, we're taking the comfortable 
Desiro HC regional trains for 45 minutes before reaching our 
π€π½ 
finally bringing us to Warsaw.
The 
vending machine is not able to sell tickets over the border from Frankfurt(Oder) to Rzepin. There is no other vending machine nor a ticket counter. So a national online ticket from Rzepin to Warszara it is and we will ask the conductor so sell us the international part onboard.
π€π½ EuroCity acquired π. Bonus content : a cute steam locomotive π.
Next stop : π΅π± Warsaw
After 4 hours in the π€π½ EIC, we arrived in Warsaw. Two hours of transfer here allowed me to exchange some currency and grab some food before boarding the connecting π€π½ 
IC "Wigry" bringing me across the Lithuanian border to π±πΉ Mockava for the transfer towards Vilnius.
It's -20 Β°C outside and slowly the heating of the carriage struggles with the outside temperature βοΈ.
After four more hours, my IC finally arrived in Mockava providing a transfer to the broad gauge train Vilnius for the dozen passengers onboard.
I'm joining the Pesa 630MiL unit up to my final destination of today : KaiΕ‘iadorys, a village in the outskirts of Vilnius saving me some travel time.
That was quite a stout beginning for my first travel section : Brussels - Vilnius, 30 h travel time staight without break.
Arriving in Kaisiadorys, #FOSSRail day two ends. 900 km further east and five countries crossed so far, I'm prepared to get up early tomorrow morning in order to catch the Baltic express connection bringing me across Latvia to the Estonian-Russian border.
#WhatsMissing : a night train Berlin/Praha/Krakow - Warszawa - Kaunas - Riga - Tallinn π.
Good night !
#FOSSRail day three : Today's mission is crossing the Baltics via Riga, Valga and Tapa to Narva before leaving European ground into the eastern direction.
After a short walk out in the cold, at first a Skoda EJ 575 will bring me on my first few kilometers towards the Baltic's Express route for half an hour. The train is comfortable, snacks and drinks are provided at seat and the tables are perfectly fine for working on my laptop.
#FOSSRail #CrossBorderRail #Lithuania #Latvia #Estonia #RailBaltica
Reached my long distance transfer, the comfortable π€π½ 
Pesa 730ML bringing me via Riga to Valga π !
Crossed the border into π±π» Latvia π !
Good day Riga !
After a short stop, our LTG Link train resumed its travels now operated by in the direction of Valga at the Estonian border. The train is comfortable and much less crowded than during the Lithuanian section.
I'm exhausted of the short night, stressed from work and hungry - but my desired lunch sadly needs to wait up to Estonia.
Northbound and further northbound.
Border crossed into Estonia. The LTG Link train terminates here and passengers need to change to the 
Elron train on the opposite track.
Due to frozen tracks, we collected an hour of delay, my connection to Narva will therefore not be possible. After some mediation by fellow passengers, the train manager proposed me to travel over to Talinn for the next train to Narva arriving at 10:06 p.m. - quite a challenge with the border post closing at 11 p.m.
I'm exhausted but taking everything easy and relaxed, in either way, I will be able to find a hotel on Narva if the border is already closed.
The transfer to Narva couldn't wait. I decided to hop in the train on the opposite track in Tapa and hereby arrived in Tallinn for tonight where I could finally get some delicious food.
The day was exhausting and I'm glad I made the most difficult part of my #FOSSRail trip : Crossing western Europe and the Baltics with only two short daytime journeys left before reaching the Trans Kazakhstan Railway.
So far, day three of my journey.
My delay had it's positive sides too : I could spend the evening and this morning in Tallinn.
Estonia's capital presented itself in winter's beauty : Snowy parks, frozen waters and the charm of the old citadel underneath the blue winter sky.
In the Baltic railway station, I had the chance to have a glance at the new Skoda multiple units whereas I now continue my journey by the Elron FLIRT towards Narva at the Russian border.
Today's and tomorrow's challenge will be traveling from Tallinn Baltic station to St. Petersburg Baltic station. I hope for a successful day four of my journey !
Baltic railway station challenge :
πͺπͺ Tallinn Balti jaam - π·πΊ Π‘Π°Π½ΠΊΡ-ΠΠ΅ΡΠ΅ΡΠ±ΡΡΠ³ ΠΠ°Π»ΡΠΈΜΠΉΡΠΊΠΈΠΉ Π²ΠΎΠΊΠ·Π°ΜΠ» /Sankt-Petersburg Baltiysky vokzal/
Quick question : I could take the direct train from Petersburg to Chelyibinsk for EUR 450 in sleeper or travel by Sapsan high-speed train to Moskva and take a sleeper from there on by sleeper for EUR 100 more ?
Day four slowly comes to an end : The Elron train brought me to Narva at the Russian border. The Estonian officials were quite fast but yet strict at the border check : even my remaining 20 EUR bill was not permitted.
Walking over the snowy border bridge decorated by NATO fence and tank blockers was quite a weird feeling.
The border is closed for vehicles, officialy due to construction work at the bridge - which has never been carried out. The railway crossing also is no longer in use since the trains from Moscow to Tallinn are paused since the beginning of the COVID pandemic and obviously there is no political willing to reopen it any time soon. So for now, only pedestrians are allowed to cross the border.
It's -21 Β°C right now π΅βπ«.
Good morning !
The night was short but I finally arrived in Russia and made my way to St. Petersburg. I got all my connecting tickets and I'm looking forwards to spending the rest of the day in a comfortable 
wagon-lits compartment sleeping my way to the Kazakh border.
At this point, the mandatory reminder : Do not travel to Russia as a European citizen. We are in a difficult political conflict. Border and diplomatic regulations can suddenly change at any time, it's therefore not safe and reliable to travel between Europe and Russia these days.
Also a brief reminder : This is a publicly visible thread and I'll therefore limit my contributions to railway postings rather than writing any other content related to the current situation.
I hope despite the situation you will enjoy my travel report π !
Whereas the 
"Aurora" did not happen for this year, the still operate their 743Π£ "ΠΠ²ΡΠΎΡΠ°" running from St. Petersburg to Moscow as a daytime inter-city train - in good Soviet manner featuring 1st class sleeper compartments for sure.
I'm taking this train for two hours to Bologoe-Moskolkoe where I'm going to catch my long distance sleeper to the Kazakh border - further away from scary western Russia.
Surprise to my vegan soul : The menu of the first class catering includes an entire page dedicated to plant-based food and I'm looking forwards to some dinner in a moment.
Enjoying dinner in the @diningcar service onboard of the 743Π£ "ΠΠ²ΡΠΎΡΠ°" inter-city service on my way from Sankt Petersburg to Bologoe during my #FOSSRail trip from Brussels to Bangkok.
The three course menu includes some fresh salad with grilled vegetables, a tasty bulgur dish and some fruit pastry, served along with juice, tea, fruits and snacks.
While enjoying the tasty dinner, winter landscapes of Leningrad Oblast are passing by at -20 Β°C.
Stay safe, warm and take care βπ½π !
Second sleeper train of my trip completed on day five. Now waiting for 15 minutes for my connecting train from Bologoe to Chelyibinsk. I booked a comfortable sleeper compartmznt for the 32 hours trip over two nights.
The ΠΠ²ΡΠΎΡΠ° service was definitely a luxury experience, the staff was very helpful with my spontaneous reschedule and helped me with everything despite no common language.
The railway station in Bologoe has a weird layout : The station building is located in the middle of a field of tracks, there are two main tracks where most trains depart and the other platforms are scrambled over the area. Access via a tunnel only.
I'm looking forwards for a comfy sleeper and finally some time to rest without any hurry for two days.
Braid in trains 
- solidarity with 
Eva
Maartje
Albert πΈ
tops
MisterMaker
Askold
Mario Restuccia
(LTE_)Max π³οΈβπ #39c3 π36797
joe
Martijn 
Ag
Wrzlbrnft
JTW
Tachibana Kanade
UnlistedStepInside
SaareMartha
cmeerbeek
V02460
Ignas Kiela
char