OREANDA-NEWS. The retro tours on steam trains built between 1903 and 1947 began in 1991 as a joint project between Oktober Railways and Okdial, which leased the rolling stock to Oktober Railways.

Since then, 17,000 passengers have travelled on 190 trips. In the last three years, over 3,000 people have gone on 28 retro trips.

The steam-powered train departs from St. Petersburg’s Vitebsk Station, the oldest in Russia and passes through Tsarskoe Selo before reaching Pavlovsk, its final destination. The train includes restaurant and buffet cars (on the branded train the Nikolaevsk Express) and saloon coaches. The interiors and exteriors are done in the style of the Nikolaevsk Express.

All the rolling stock in done in the style of the beginning of the last century, but offers modern levels of comfort. The coaches are fitted with modern air conditioning, comfortable compartments, a kitchen with modern equipment, audio and video systems with karaoke and a large saloon. The staff are dressed in uniforms which are also from that period. The departure time varies according to the organisers and the journey takes 40-50 minutes.

In 2007, it is planned to begin regular services from Vitebsk Station to Tsarskoe Selo on the following Saturdays: 2, 16 and 30 June, 14 and 28 July and 11 and 25 August, departing from St. Petersburg at 10:30 and returning to Vitebsk Station at 17:30.