Hi all, quick question.

Do all stations in Moscow & St Petersburgh have lifts & stairs, rather than just escalators?

One of my party is terrified of them! (escalators)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trips,

Hi Trips,
I havent been to these cities yet but will be going at the end of June. When are you booked to go?
I did a search and the actual web sites for transport doesnt talk about getting around the stations themselves, just ticket info, where they are etc.

However when I searched further You Tube has a lot of footage of people actually in the stations moving around so you can watch the videos to gauge the atmosphere.
The bad news is there are a lot of escalators, Some of them are quite long and steep. (But you think there would have to be lifts to enable transfers of large parcels, pushers etc.?)
Moscow escalator
St Petersburg metro entry
There are others to explore if you wish.

Now we just need some one else from the BB who has been to these cities on the Northern capitals and Russia tour etc to let you know if they only saw escalators.

I hope the person in your party can hold on to you and close their eyes? I too have a friend who hates them. Good luck and have a wonderful holiday anyway.

Hi Eve777,

We are going in June too, perhaps the same trip?!

I too have looked on travel sites etc but found the same. I suppose its not really something most people feel the need to comment on!

I have been in touch with a Russian national who said:

"mainly escalators, rarely stairs"

They also have a great lack of lifts!

Hi back Trips,
Which tour are you actually on? My husband and I are on the Easy Pace Russia leaving on June 28th.
It was interesting that the Russian National had said "mainly escalators" as that it certainly what it looked like on YouTube.

Have you been busy working out all the details? I have found the Insight BB very useful as some of the other tours can still go to St Petersburgh and Moscow and there are Tour Tales that discuss these. I have been busy going through the old tales and photos of the area.
For example:
Northern capitals and Russia part 3 by Colrose
Russia, Warsaw and the Baltic States part 2 by Tuppence
Northern capitals and Russia by Dragon

Did you know that you can put your trip details on the BB under Who is Going Where in 2009?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eve777,

You two are going to have a great time in Russia, we did everything on our tour. I have a strong interest in Russian history and by going there it all fell into place.

About the metro...I have been waiting to see if any body could answer the question. I only went on the Moscow one with out tour leader. Now I am not fond on going down escalators ( feel like I am going to fall or be pushed) but I had no problems at all just went with the flow. I had to, had no other choices. Once I was on it was great and as you have found out they are very steep and long. There are some stairs but it will be a hassle as I didn't even see them and you need to be with your group. The metro is a very busy place and you dont want to get lost.

One other thing you will enjoy the train ride it takes just over 4 hours, toilets were terrible but the seating in the carriage was very comfortable. They even gave us a snack box,which we were not expecting. Also the conductor was going up and down the aisle with caviar on bread...not sure if he was selling it ...no one was taking any...also didn't know where his hands have been

Tupps

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tuppence,

Hi Tuppence,
Yours was one of the first tour tales I read when I logged on to the BB. I enjoyed it very much. It is wonderful to have first hand experience to help with the planning. I had originally looked to do the tour your went on but then changed to Easy Pace so we could also do the scenery in Norway. But it is very hard to decide when so many tours look really good.
I want to do most of them!!

It will be interesting to see how much things may have changed if at all between 2005 and 2009. I am really looking forward to the Hermitage even though I know we could do with days to do it justice. Eve

Hi Eve

I was surprised how modern Moscow was when we drove in and the traffic, they drive like idiots. So I am thinking Moscow will have developed more don't think St. Petersburg would have change much I hope not. You don't have much free time visiting the Hermitage I think we only had 30 minutes. If there was something special that you wanted to see do it your self.

Tupps

Wow - 30 minutes?!!

We will have to think about the options carefully then to see when we can go back for awhile. I am a secondary Art teacher so have a real interest in lots of things found in there, so know it will be a bit like running around the Lourve, but was hoping for couple hours anyway.

Yes, St Petersburgh should be similiar - ah - the Venice of the North!!

Try the Lonely Planet website for information on lifts. Someone should answer your query quite quickly.
Even if there are lifts or stairs staying with the group would be my preference.
The escalators at these stations are the fastest and steepest I've ever been on...can someone hold your hand getting on and off and you have your eyes closed the rest of the time..or try some hypnosis before the trip!(seriously)

quote:

Originally posted by Eve777:
Which tour are you actually on? My husband and I are on the Easy Pace Russia leaving on June 28th.
It was interesting that the Russian National had said "mainly escalators" as that it certainly what it looked like on YouTube.

Have you been busy working out all the details? I have found the Insight BB very useful as some of the other tours can still go to St Petersburgh and Moscow and there are Tour Tales that discuss these. I have been busy going through the old tales and photos of the area.
For example:
Northern capitals and Russia part 3 by Colrose
Russia, Warsaw and the Baltic States part 2 by Tuppence
Northern capitals and Russia by Dragon

Did you know that you can put your trip details on the BB under Who is Going Where in 2009?

Eve, we are on the Walsall & Baltic States trip, which passes through Latvia, Lithuania etc before St Petersburg.

I always like to do some research before going anywhere, as I like a bit of culture rather than a boring beach holiday somewhere!

Tupps, yes my friend has the problem 'the falling feeling' from the escalator. There is no way she would get on them even if I dragged her so I think the Metro is going to be a no go!