The sleeping compartment is especially clean. There are four bunks, a little table and ample storage in the 6 x 5 sq. A large window affords a view of passing villages, forests, farmland, all frozen and covered with heavy snow. A new red carpet with gold, black and white decorative trim covers the corridor and sleeping compartment floors. A linen runner protects the carpet and is replaced periodically.
Russian passengers take off their shoes and walk about in bedroom slippers and sweat pants.
Ours is a 40 year old woman named Marina and she has a pleasant disposition. She checks our passports, serves us tea and coffee, sells lottery tickets, vacuums the carpets, replaces the linen runners and during stops, knocks the snow and ice from the underside of our train car. We can get off the train for 15-20 minutes at each stop. Maxime is now retired. In addition to seeing his family, he hopes to visit the old factory where he once worked.