Russian Trains Offer Unique Shopping Experience
Russian trains offer unique shopping experience
Ancient monasteries and country estates outside Moscow may characterize Russian history and culture, but the train trips to reach those places offer a glimpse of what the country is like today.
The Soviet-era trains, called elektrichkas, are crowded, dirty, and lacking in amenities apart from benches, some of which are still made of wood.
When the train leaves Moscow, vendors, beggars and musicians begin moving through the cars, shouting or singing seemingly in competition with the pounding train wheels. Their activities are illegal but railway officials pretend that they do not exist.
Train hawkers peddle a multitude of items, ranging from toys, flashlights, fishing rods, tasers, to bandages, socks, and books. A BBC documentary about oceans has been a hot item this summer.
One selling a Rubik's cube claimed he had a “unique technology” allowing the cube to spin on its own. A couple of Gypsy girls sang songs about being poor.
Most of the commuters are residents of Moscow's bedroom communities, but during summer weekends the passengers head to their dachas in the countryside, sitting on wooden benches with their bags and belongings around them.
Some passengers just ignore the vendors but some get annoyed by them. “They sell all kinds of junk,” said Vera Kuzisuyeva, a nurse. They bother me, they get on my nerves.”
But she admits to buying small items from them from time to time.
Moscow train officials deny the operations of vendors aboard their trains.
“We do not have sales on the elektrichkas, God forbid,” said one officer who wished to remain anonymous.
Russian Railways, the state-owned train authority who runs the trains, has hired a few vendors to sell limited food items such as ice cream and other snacks on the trains.
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on Saturday August 28 2010, 8:44 AM EST.
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