The train journey between Russia’s capital and its eastern extreme is considered the world’s most scenic and time consuming. It is also commonly viewed as a journey in time and a way to explore oneself. Today I joined on a tiny stretch of the Transsiberian rail route.
For a week (or less for those getting on and off) complete strangers, sleep, express emotions, play checkers, drink home made alcohol, reveal their underwear, sleep in uncomfortable positions and generate a whole myriad of temporary relations one would struggle to depict accurately.
The travellers share their family stories, musical talents, dreams and emotions, whilst packed in a series of 54-person carriages (standard ‘Platskart’ class – forget social distancing), nevertheless equipped with a restaurant, showers and recycling points.
A piece of theatrical research ‘Trans-sib’ by the MHAT studio vividly illustrates some of the touching narratives told along the longest train journey. The stories of a drunkard isolated from his family, a financially and emotionally drained architectural student, a starting rap artist, a well-travelled Taiwanese tourist and other distinct characters are distilled, condensed and intertwined in the slow-paced internal environment of the fast-moving time-capsule.
Moscow-Vladivostok train, stop at Kostroma 
Bedding as the essential element 
Melancholy of the spring birch trees 
Home for a week 
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 
Crossing Europe’s longest river 
Transsiberian shower
no.balsa 