That pulls the train. Electric trains. features of their work and design. Long distance train is
My work experience as a subway driver is almost twenty years. I used to work as a conductor and every month I was away for a week or two. When I got married, my daughter was born, I wanted to spend more time at home. I decided to take a subway driver's course. They checked my eyesight, hearing, blood pressure, drinker-non-drinker, whether morally stable, whether there were no police officers - everything was fine with me. Although these checks were formal, they took just anyone. Some were outright booze, and one was that we knew right away: a guy with a shift. I don't know how he got through the medical examination, but he worked for five years until he was imprisoned for murder.
As for the courses themselves, practice has shown that a tenth of all the knowledge that we have received is enough to control a train. By the end of our studies, we could probably disassemble and assemble the entire staff. They knew where what was screwed, the details and the device of all the nodes. There were lectures five times a week, they just read the material to us, like at the university.
The drivers were mostly children from the suburbs. If the people of Kiev, then mainly from Obolon - so that they live near the depot. For some reason, women were not taken. I only remember one. They didn't take it, probably because women need to be given a separate room so that they could sleep after the night shift, and to have a separate shower room. And we had everything in common, like in the army.
In general, to work as a machinist, you need to be phlegmatic. Or rather, even a naught, not to take everything to heart. The work is generally monotonous, but stressful situations also happen.
About passengers
Fall on the rails quite often. When I first got a job, there was a case: an AWOL soldier, apparently, was running away from the patrol. The train has already started, and the guy decided to catch on to the last carriage. He grabbed the handrails, held out for a while, and then fell off - flew over the sleepers. As far as I remember, it all ended sadly there.
Most often, passengers fall from the platform at Vokzalnaya. I myself did not knock down anyone, once I only touched a drunk with a mirror, but he, thank God, did not fall under the train. And other guys had cases. If you hit a passenger, you are immediately given three days to recover. Some take a week or even a month.
When a person falls on the rails, the driver immediately brakes, since the brakes are brutal. After that, he should not move the train a single centimeter so as not to crush it.
We had a "champion" in terms of the number of downed passengers - four, it seems, are on his account
Under the platform there is a third, contact, rail with 825 volts voltage. Usually, if a person falls, he finds himself between this rail and the car, that is, he simply gets stuck there. The tension, of course, is immediately cut off.
Once I helped pull out a fallen passenger at Teatralnaya. He suffered for an hour and a half: the clamp was tight. Then the driver broke the rule: he drove off a little, and we pulled the man out. After such a shock, some scream, while others, on the contrary, cannot utter a word.
We had a "champion" in terms of the number of downed passengers - four, it seems, on his account. He is a hero father, with many children, so according to the law he could not be fired. He will run over someone, and then he goes to sick leave for six months - to look after the children.
There was also a time when the fashion appeared to walk on sleepers in open areas. I remember driving at midnight, I see a man walking. In such a decent black suit, but for some reason barefoot. The interval between trains is long, and he almost managed to get from Hydropark to Levoberezhnaya. I stopped and dragged him into the cockpit. “Well, finally,” he says, “I waited. It's hard to go. " I ask why barefoot. He explained that the sleepers were slippery, and it was uncomfortable to wear shoes. I drove with this "passenger" to the station, handed him over to the dispatcher, and that one - already to the police.
About train driving
The train turns itself. Rather, what everyone calls "turns" - we have these "curves". The train passes them without turning the wheels, due to the slope of the tracks. But the driver has a job: open and close doors, brake, accelerate, monitor the instruments.
Usually we drive at a speed of 40-50 km / h. The maximum train speed is 80 km / h. More is possible, but risky, since some cars are more than 50 years old. In Moscow and St. Petersburg there is no such junk - they handed it over for scrap. Our cars, which were going to be written off back in 1990, are still running.
Average normal distance between trains is 600-800 meters. When some train gets out of schedule, is delayed at the station, the next one is forced to stop in the tunnel and wait. In such cases, it seems to passengers that the train has stopped between stations, but in fact, I see the tail of the train in front, between us from the force of 150 meters. This happens, because, for example, on the same "Vokzalnaya" the crowd cannot squeeze into the carriage, and the train stands 10-20 seconds longer than it should be. When the distance between the trains is reduced, the train that follows is triggered by automation and it itself brakes.
In addition, a special device every 50 meters shows with what maximum speed I can go (it depends on how far the ahead train is). It happens that you drive 80 km / h, and the device suddenly shows that the permissible maximum is 40. If you do not have time to slow down smoothly yourself, the train automatically slows down. It is at such moments that the train jerks and it seems that all passengers should fly into the first carriage by inertia.
About the work schedule and salary
From 06:15 to 07:00 - morning rush, at this time almost all drivers go to work. In 10 minutes we pass the medical examination and leave. Lunch break - half an hour. If you are impatient to use the toilet, then you need to endure it until the depot. One day off per week, only four days off per month. So little because we have a six-hour day. There are, however, and fat weekends: on Friday morning I finished work, and left already at 6 pm on Sunday.
In winter, you don't see the sun for weeks at all. When the shift is in the morning, and you live in the suburbs, like me, you get to work by train. Those who have finished the night shift and the next shift in the morning spend the night in the depot at Darnitsa or Akademgorodok. There, the subway rents apartments for employees in Khrushchev, where you can spend the night.
The speed is low, the devices are in sight, everything is under control. Some train drivers read newspapers and magazines on the road, play on mobile phones, listen to music
Salary with all allowances and bonuses - up to 5,000 thousand hryvnia. If you get out of the schedule for more than 10 seconds, you can be fined (deducted from the bonus). Keeping to a schedule can be difficult. People come in for a long time - the train stopped at the station. And not only are you late, you still have to pick up a little more people from the next station.
But in the evening, when the interval between trains is about 10 minutes, as soon as you do not pass the time. I did push-ups and squats so as not to go crazy with boredom. Right in the cockpit, of course. The speed is low, the devices are in sight, everything is under control. They read some newspapers and magazines, play on mobile phones, listen to music.
About secret tunnels and wallets on the rails
When there was still no Teatralnaya station, the train went from the University directly to Khreshchatyk. Later, a parallel tunnel was built for Teatralnaya, but the old one was left. Garbage from the entire line began to be brought into it. In 1995, the trash caught fire - smoke and stench were on the entire branch.
There are also tunnels from Arsenalnaya towards the Dnieper - there
a whole complex in case of war. Nobody admits what exactly is there. A couple of times I caught a glimpse of a huge metal gate. There is also a small train - a toy train, as we call it. They say that it runs on diesel, not electricity.
Lights are on in the tunnels, so I can see when someone is walking there. While driving I meet a lot of people, mostly electricians. They do not cross paths, they walk along a special path, on the right along the track.
And when you enter Vokzalnaya, a beautiful picture opens up: on the left, in a row, there are purses for every taste! Pickpockets are how they work: he took out his wallet, took out the money, and at the stop he threw it into the slot between the train and the platform.
About the human factor
At all stations of the red line, the doors open on the left side, and only on the Dnieper - on the right. It happened more than once that passengers, despite the warning sign on the doors, leaned back and fell onto the platform. There was a case when he himself was mistaken - he opened the left doors on Dnipro. Fortunately, no one fell out.
The drivers have a rule: you must not leave the cab at intermediate stations. And one jumped out of the cab on "Beresteyskaya": the grandmother with the cart could not squeeze into the car, so he pushed her, the doors slammed shut and the train started. Everything worked out, the train reached Svyatoshino, the automatics worked, the train stopped. The passengers, I think, did not even notice anything. But the driver was fired, although he had about 30 years of experience.
About devices
Everything is so arranged that it is impossible to open both the left and right doors at the same time. Also, you cannot open doors in one car - only in all at once. New trains are more difficult to ride. They brake more sharply, and this is bad - the wheels become "square" and skid. We call the new trains tractors - they have the levers that set the train in motion are designed like a tractor.
There was a case when the driver had already entered the depot, it is not clear how he switched to reverse and drove at a speed of 80 km / h! Fortunately, he braked quickly. After this incident, they made a special button to make the decision to go back more meaningful.
There is also a walkie-talkie. When you talk to the dispatcher, all the drivers on the branch hear you. You need to talk to the dispatcher if someone has fallen, if you are late and in some cases. But it's better when you don't have to talk to him at all.
There is also a button for speakerphone announcements. When I first started working, there was only a recording of station announcements. Everything else had to be yelled into the microphone. Sometimes they shouted obscenely. But, characteristically, none of the passengers complained.
Nowadays, trains are much longer, and faster, and heavier than the first trains that ran 160 years ago. But they still have the same steel wheels with a lug on the edge of the rim and roll on cast-iron rails in the same shape in the form of the Latin letter I. Each train wheel has a 1-inch lug on the inside of the rim.
It is these protrusions that guide the wheels along the rails, be it a straight section or a rounding of a track. The railroad wheel and rail fit together so well, that is, they have such a small coefficient of friction that if a 40-ton carriage is allowed to roll freely on a horizontal track at a speed of 60 miles per hour, it will travel another 5 miles to a stop. Whereas a truck weighing 40 tons with the engine off and the same initial speed will be able to travel to a stop for about 1 mile.
Elastic support for the rail
The rail rests on wooden or concrete sleepers laid in a gravel base. Typically, long bolts through the spring brackets hold the rail in place. This resilient attachment system contributes to a softer ride.
Rail joint
When the rails are docked, there is a small gap between each of the 39 feet. It is he who allows the metal rails to expand without interference when heated. A bolted rail strip holds adjacent rail sections together. Although at present on the main railway lines, all sections on each side of the track are welded into one rail.
Traction force
The railway train with all its weight (through the wheels) presses on the rails. The rolling wheel, due to friction, adheres to the rail and from this, in the place of their contact, a traction force arises, which moves the train forward both on flat areas and on ascents. The weight plus the friction between the rail and the rolling wheel behaves in a way that pulls the train forward.
c - coefficient of friction
F - friction force
Overtaking tracks
In order for a moving train to change from one track to another, its wheels must make such a transition. And in this they are assisted by transfer switches. The guide rails allow the wheels to traverse the “cross” where both tracks meet. If the train hits the switch moving upwards in the picture, then after the arrow it will continue to move along the straight track drawn on the right.
Movement on the folds of paths
When the train moves along a bend in the track, it is acted upon by the so-called centrifugal force, which tends to push the train out of its track. To counteract this lateral force, the outer rail is positioned higher than the inner rail. This elevation of one rail over another is called a superelevation. It allows trains to overcome rounded sections of track without slowing down.
Sag
The distance between the rails on the bends of the track is made larger than on straight sections. As a result, the friction force that acts on the wheels is reduced when the centrifugal force pulls the car to the side, and at the same time the wear of the rails is reduced.
Carts on wheels
The wheels of the cars are attached to bogies, that is, mobile platforms, on which the suspension system is also located. Two pairs of wheels are attached to each cart. And the carts themselves, on which the carriage is placed, can turn right and left under it using a special device - a thrust bearing. This gives the carriage smooth movement when the train passes the rounded sections of the track. The independent suspension system helps ensure a smooth ride.
Because this is not easy for everyone. Many remain “dummies” even after five trips, because the “sort out on the spot” method is not for them. It is better for them to have clear and understandable ready-made schemes.
Buying a ticket
A ticket can be bought at the ticket office of the station of the desired direction, at the terminal at the station and via the Internet. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. In any case, you should register on the Russian Railways website, as well as buy tickets in advance: firstly, until the cheaper ones are sold out, and secondly, if in two months, then the tickets themselves are cheaper.
If you are wealthy enough not to think about the price of tickets, find yourself a student for 500 rubles who will help you deal with tickets and save yourself some nerves.
The Russian Railways website is good because, wherever you buy tickets, you can quickly see what trains and what seats they have, this will reduce the annoying fuss at the ticket office or at the terminal.
It is a little more expensive to buy through the site and you have to pay with a bank card, but on the other hand, you will not have to worry about the crowd behind your back and from attempts to formulate what you need.
At the terminal, payment is also made by card, and there will probably be a line to it, but you will not have to talk to anyone, just press the buttons.
With the cash register, everything is probably clear. There you can pay in cash or by card, the cashier answers any questions related to tickets, the main thing is to say on what date and in which direction you need trains.
The site also allows you to keep track of promotions and discounts, which usually occur on Tuesday. Do not be too lazy to look at the corresponding menu, if you are always pleased to save money.
When you look at the train schedule, remember that the day starts at midnight and ends at midnight. Sometimes it may seem that there are no tickets for the desired evening, but it is worth putting the next day as the date, and you will find out that at 00.05 at night there is just a place on the train of the desired direction.
Also remember that the Russian Railways time in any part of Russia is identical to Moscow time, and according to the schedule, a train in your city can leave at four in the morning local time.
Some e-tickets need to be printed at the terminals. Take a look at the png or pdf file that is attached to your ticket description.
Remember that the ticket must be for the document that you 100% take on the trip. There were times when they bought a ticket for an ordinary passport, and tried to sit down using a passport.
By the way, with a ticket, including a printed one, you can visit the toilet at the station for free in the last hour before the train leaves and within an hour after arrival.
Seat selection
Most of the passengers travel in ordinary compartments, in a reserved seat carriage or in seats. The first is more expensive than the second, as for the third, it all depends on the train. In express trains like "Sapsan" there are very expensive places, but they get there in four hours: in the morning they sat down, in the afternoon on the spot.
There will be no more than three adults in a compartment with you (although a couple of preschool children are possible to them), but it is impossible to guess what kind of adults they will be and how unsafe it is with them in the same room. Sometimes you get lucky and you go in a compartment all alone.
In a reserved seat car, the most secluded places are the side ones, especially the upper ones. On the lower ones, according to the rules of courtesy, before the lights out and after the rise, you will have to let the neighbors from above. But in order to feel comfortable on the top shelf, a certain dexterity and small dimensions are required. However, tall people often also prefer the upper bunks, so that when they lie down, people notice their legs in the aisle, and do not bump into them.
The cheapest places, of course, are by the toilet, but from time to time people start pushing and the door slams over the ear all the time. And sometimes smells come through.
In a seated carriage, sometimes it is possible to lie across two seats, but do not really hope for it. And the ride in it will be a real torment if you have problems with the spine.
Sometimes you can buy tickets for express or luxury trains at the price of reserved seats. These trains have enough sockets, you can watch a movie on TV, sometimes they give out lunch and there may be coffee machines.
Ah, yes, take night tickets with linen, otherwise you will have to buy on the spot.
Collecting things
It is very inconvenient to change clothes on trains. What replaces your pajamas can be worn under your regular clothes. Some find it easier to sleep without changing their clothes, especially if a shower is available on site shortly after arrival.
Take an extra sheet or a large shawl if you want to curtain your seat and feel more intimate.
Traveling in a seated carriage will be facilitated by an inflatable travel pillow and something that can be slipped under the lower back. A thin, compactly rolled blanket will also make travel more comfortable.
In winter, it might make sense to bring slippers with you to go to the bathroom without wearing your boots every time. Disposable or washable plastic are best. Take a bag, too, to pack the slippers, not to put them on clean things.
Wet wipes or a combination of a bottle of water and a towel (if you took a ticket with linen, the towel is included there) will help you to put yourself in order in the morning quickly, without waiting in line to the toilet. In addition, it can be stuffy on the upper shelves, if you wipe your face and neck, it will be easier.
In a hot summer in a car without air conditioning, a simple cheap fan from a kiosk can save you. It weighs practically nothing and does not take up space.
Handkerchiefs can be very useful too. Not only for its intended purpose, but also in order, for example, to quickly wipe up spills on the table or on yourself.
There are people who would prefer to sleep in a lightweight hoodie in case the air conditioner is working too hard. It is worth taking socks with you, even if you are traveling on the hottest day. It can be colder in the evening.
Powerbank and headphones are a great idea. And also a notebook and a pen.
A bottle or two of drinking water, always small. Familiar food, if you want to save money or are afraid to find yourself in a situation of choosing between cookies and chips.
Don't forget about your toothbrush and toothpaste. Even if you disdain to brush your teeth in the train toilet, but the trip will last no more than a day, you can brush your teeth in a cafe on the spot, for example, it is usually cleaner there.
Hairbrush, spare hair bands. In general, try to think about what little things you need to achieve comfort and put yourself in order.
An analgesic, an antihistamine, an adhesive plaster, hydrogen peroxide and a remedy for diarrhea are loyal friends of the traveler.
And, of course, don't forget your passport and policy.
Stacking things
The number of things should be such that you can carry them yourself, even if you are sure that they will put you here, and there they will meet you.
It is better to put clothes, winding up in dense rolls, and not folding, as in a closet. By the way, it crumples less in rolls.
What you will be taking out on the train, put on top of your suitcase or backpack, or even better - in a separate small bag. Inside the bag, things are best distributed in several different-looking, voluminous cosmetic bags. For men it will also be convenient, cosmetic bags can be very neutral in appearance.
Boarding the train
On the ticket, electronic or regular, the carriage and train number are indicated. In the station building, at the exit to the trains, there is a board, on the part dedicated to departing trains, opposite the number of your train will be the platform number. If not yet, then the train has not arrived either.
If your eyesight and speech understanding deteriorate from excitement, take a picture of the arrival board on your smartphone and see the necessary information by bringing the picture closer to your screen.
The number of the carriage is most often indicated on a plate in the carriage window closest to one of the doors.
Try to arrive at the train no later than 10 minutes before it leaves. No trains are waiting.
If the ticket is paper and in your hands, and the train is about to leave, do not run to your carriage, ask the conductor closest to you to let in, and then reach the desired carriage inside the train. This is almost always possible.
Approaching your carriage, prepare your passport and ticket (if it is not electronic) in advance.
The top places have even numbers.
Having passed to your place, sit quietly and sit until everyone enters, otherwise you will interfere with people or you will have to twitch all the time. If, of course, you have a bulky suitcase, you should immediately remove it. If your seat is up and you don't know how to lower it, find someone who has successfully lowered his seat next to him and ask permission to sit there for a while.
It will be more convenient for you to navigate if you look at the carriage diagram on the Internet in advance and understand where your place is approximately: near the toilet, near the conductor or in the middle.
Small plaques with seat numbers are located either to the left of the compartment doors, or on the partitions in the reserved seat carriage near the lower seats. In seated cars, they can be near overhead racks or on seat backs.
You can try lowering your shelf yourself if it is up. The upper shelf in the reserved seat is held by small metal things sticking out of the wall. If you gently press on such, it folds, and the shelf can pass by it. In the compartment, the lower shelf is held by an unfolded staircase near the door; while holding the edge of the seat, fold down the ladder and gently lower the seat into place.
The lower side seat in a reserved seat carriage is a folding table and two armchairs. To turn the table into a bed by attaching it to the chairs, lift the edge of the table and slide it towards the window, then turn the soft side up. To turn the middle of the bed back into a table, hook a soft tongue near the wall and lift the table behind it, turn it over with the hard side up and try to hit the special clips with the edge at the window.
Unfolding things
If you do not have anything particularly heavy with you, then usually the passengers in the lower seats take up space under their seat with luggage, and the upper ones - shelves for things (there are still blankets there). If you have a heavy suitcase, you shouldn't drag it upstairs anyway. If the space under the lower seat is already occupied by a neighbor, ask permission to put the suitcase under the seat of the neighbor opposite.
Shoes are left under the lower seat so that they do not interfere with the neighbor and do not protrude into the aisle.
The shelf in the heads or above the middle of your seat is very convenient for folding small things, but refrain if you know that you can in a hurry to forget something or in general the person is absent-minded. Glasses, hairbrushes, smartphones and cosmetic bags are constantly rake from these shelves in the depot.
Immediately distribute the bags that you do not intend to climb into, and fold them so that it would be inconvenient to climb inside without pulling out the bag. Hang the bag with what you will take out during the trip on a hook, then you can put it behind the pillow when you make the bed. Hang your outerwear on the same hook and don't leave anything of value in your pockets.
Bed
Usually in the upper place there are two mattresses rolled around the pillows and two bags of linen, and on the shelves for things under the very ceiling there are blankets.
If you intend to lie down immediately (but, by the way, wait while the guide checks everyone's tickets), then take one of the mattresses down. If you are traveling in the upper seat, in a reserved seat carriage on the side, put it upright on one of the seats in the lower seat, otherwise, put it flat. Move your mattress to the end of the bed so that it is convenient for you to roll it out, as if unfolding a pillow. The mattress roller in the initial position lies on its edge, with this edge turned to the wall. Before rolling it out, if it is on the top shelf, find the iron brace at the edge of the bed and lift it upright. She will hold the mattress so that it does not crawl and curl down with you.
Open your underwear set. Immediately find and put a towel on the shelf in your heads, take out a pillowcase and put it on the pillow. That leaves a sheet and a duvet cover or two sheets. You neatly lay out one on the mattress, filling first from the outside, then from the inside. If in the top place, it will be more convenient to fill the far edge when you already climb up. You spread the second one on top and put a blanket, if necessary. If you feel uncomfortable with stuffing it into your duvet cover, then you don't have to.
If the laundry in the bag is wet (this is very rare), go to the conductor or, if there is no neighbor, open another bag.
If your upstairs or downstairs neighbor starts to make the bed before you, do not push with him, but wait until he finishes. According to the rules of politeness, the one who rides on top first creeps, but not everyone knows this.
To get into the bed on the upper seat, the compartment has special small ladders for the legs and a brace on top to grab the hand. There is also a bracket in the reserved seat at the top, by the window, and you need to climb up the tiny iron steps on both sides of the passage through the car.
Food and drink
The most expensive way to buy them is at the train station, a little cheaper - on the train itself. Experienced travelers take lunch boxes with ready-made food, preferably one that is difficult to scatter throughout the carriage, for example, sandwiches and whole vegetables. It would be nice if the food is not very dirty. It is better to take drinks in small bottles, with a large one it can be inconvenient to tinker with, especially in the upper place. If you are afraid to pour tea from an ordinary glass, but would like to drink hotter on the train, take a thermo mug.
Boiling water is free, it doesn't matter if you bought something from the guide. These are the rules of Russian Railways!
An expensive ticket may or may not include lunch or breakfast. In "Sapsan" food is sold from carts, which the conductors carry around the wagons, and this, of course, is not cheap. Most regular trains have a dining car, you can ask the conductor about its availability and location. In addition, you can buy bagged coffee, bagged tea, instant noodles and all sorts of snacks from the guides themselves. On double-decker trains, coffee and snacks can be bought on the ground floor from the vending machine.
If the conductor did not pour you tea himself, but only gave you a glass and a bag, you can ask him to pour boiling water, usually they do not refuse, or try to find a faucet yourself near a large iron thing with boiling water inside - you will see this, you will immediately recognize it without additional descriptions.
By the way, if you are embarrassed to talk to the guide, write him questions on a piece of paper. Do not be afraid to look strange, he will decide that you have either laryngitis or you are mute. What difference does it make to him, in the end, in what form he receives the question - he will still answer.
Sometimes the train makes long stops at intermediate stations. They are usually indicated on the individual train schedule on the website or on a plate near the conductor's door. There you can go out and buy hot food. The main thing is to keep track of the time and return on time.
Restroom
Toilets are usually located on both sides of the car, if only one - you can sort it out on the spot.
The best toilets are in "Sapsan" and similar new express trains, in reserved seats and ordinary seated carriages, there are two types of options: a dry closet or a toilet with a hole on the street. The toilet will be made of iron there and there. The difference will be that you cannot throw used paper into the first one and the flush is done with a special button, and in the second - with a pedal, which is easy to find with your foot to the right of the toilet near the floor. It is necessary to press with the sole on its very edge, so it rinses off better.
Do not try to go to the toilet without shoes, open the door and realize that you have to run back to put on your shoes. Be sure to take your purse with you to the toilet, in which you have your passport, wallet and devices. Theft doesn't happen as often as it scares, but it's not worth playing the lottery.
The toilet is almost always cold, except for very warm summer days. The stool doesn't go down, don't try. You can try to stand on the old toilet with your feet if you are confident in your sense of balance - there are even special extensions for the soles. But you better look around to see if there are disposable paper seats in the booth. Apply two or three at once, then it will be more or less comfortable.
If there are no disposable seats, roll off the toilet paper strips, lay them out neatly on the toilet seat, and try not to brush them off when you sit down. But in general, you can buy seats in advance and take a dozen with you.
To wash your hands, you usually need to press down on the faucet of the sink.
In the case of a dry closet, you may find that the bin is so full that it's scary to add your own. Tear off a lot of paper towels (hanging on the wall), throw them on top of the garbage, and now you’re not afraid to die.
It is much more hygienic to wipe your hands with wet wipes than to use the sink in the train toilet.
Feel free to use an air freshener if you have one in the toilet.
If the toilet is of the old type, then it is closed 40 minutes before the stop. They also open 40 minutes after parking. If you are driving at night, it is better not to wait for the morning, but to get up in the middle of the night and go to the restroom, otherwise in the morning you can stand in a long line and find that you did it in vain.
Conductor
You can ask a guide not only for a cup of tea and a bag of chips. If someone needs an ambulance, this is also for him. If you found an ownerless bag and no one recognized it in the carriage - also to the conductor, and by the way, try not to touch the bag from the very beginning. You can buy disposable slippers from the guides if you didn't bring them with you, and complain to them that the toilet paper has run out. On double-decker trains there is a paid shower, to use it, you must also go to the conductor. But keep in mind, in the early morning the guides sleep, it is difficult to reach them.
The guide will wake you up half an hour before arrival.
The conductor's room is located near the door through which you boarded the train.
Electrical appliances
If you can not take your laptop with you, do not take it. Various kinds of gadgets on trains are stolen more often than wallets. But a charged power bank will never be superfluous.
It is better to keep your phone and everything small and valuable under your pillow when you sleep.
If you are thinking of using an alarm clock, set in advance such a signal to which you will definitely react and which, moreover, will not wake up half of the carriage.
For the most part, there is no connection and the Internet between cities, it makes sense to put the phone in flight mode so that it does not run out of power in vain.
The sockets in the reserved seat and the seated carriage are usually in the toilet (it is impolite to use so as not to detain people), near the toilet, near the conductor's door. Sometimes they are still near the places. The compartment cars have sockets in the corridor, and there are folding seats next to them. In seated cars, more expensive sockets can be found at each seat.
If you want to watch a movie from your phone or tablet, do not forget to take headphones so as not to disturb anyone and not attract attention - because of boredom on the trains, many try to strike up a conversation, and any reason may be considered suitable.
Arrival
Make sure all your belongings are collected 20 minutes before arrival. You should be fully clothed 5 minutes before the stop. If you were traveling in a sit-down car, try to check if something fell under your seat.
If you are traveling in a reserved seat carriage, take the clothes off the bed and take them to the conductor. Don't forget the towel.
If you do not like to push, you become clumsy or insecure in the crowd, wait until those who are farther from the door come out.
Watch your step when you go out. Sometimes there is a great chance of falling into the gap between the train and the platform and you have to walk wider.
You may need a cafe, toilet or storage room at the station to move on with a refreshed, invigorated coffee and light luggage. It is usually not difficult to use a storage chamber, the automatic ones have instructions, in the usual one the employee will explain everything to you. Make sure that the bag with the necessary remains with you, you do not need to take it to the cell either.
That's all in general. Have a nice trip!
Text: Lilith Mazikina
Images: Shutterstock
Since the title is about fuel for trains, and this term, according to the explanatory dictionary of Vladimir Dal, originally included both horse-drawn carts and following each other, in particular during the wedding ceremony, representing a single "wedding train". The meaning of the last word comes from the Russian word trip. In this case, oats were used as fuel for the horses.
With the development of new technology, the same V. Dahl had new definitions of the word "train". Now all the cars that were interconnected and were already a single train driven by a steam locomotive fell under this definition. Efron and Brockhaus, who were: the first Russian, and the second of German origin, publishers, went further. They stipulated one more condition for the word "train" - this is the quantitative and qualitative composition of traction units in such a composition. This is how the same carriages appeared, interconnected, which were necessarily driven by a locomotive installed in the head of such a "caravan".
When horse-drawn transport lost its meaning as an intercity transport and remained only as a transport unit within the city limits, people began to apply the meaning of the word "train composition" only to the railway.
In the future, the meaning of the word was repeatedly changed and supplemented with new technical terms, including in the definition the presence of identification and light signals, listing technical means, stipulating conditions that could fall under this meaning.
Subsequently, there were exceptions that could not be considered and called a "train", starting with road transport.
The onset of the steam locomotive era came to us in the nineteenth century and reigned supreme on the world's railways until the middle of the twentieth century, until the first diesel locomotives appeared on a massive scale, and then electric locomotives.
Based on the name of the first machines of steam locomotives on the railway, the operation of their engine was provided by steam, and fuel was needed for its production, and this was the famous coal. Somewhat later, in areas where oil was being extracted, heavy fuel oil was used for steam locomotives. But still, on the scale of our Russia, on the territory of European countries and on the American continent, initially only coal served as fuel for a steam locomotive. In the hard times of revolutionary days, as well as during the Civil War, wood or peat was burned in locomotive furnaces, sometimes dried fish was used as a completely exotic fuel. On a steam locomotive, a tender served as a storage facility for coal fuel. In such a car, water supplies were also stored. On locomotives that did not have such a tender, all their coal fuel and water were stored on the locomotive itself. For this reason, such a modification of the locomotive was named "locomotive tank".
Solid fuel was burnt in a boiler furnace. To ensure its combustion, a grate was used. Waste in the form of slag and ash was collected in the so-called ash pan, having previously passed through a sieve of a special grid.
With the help of a large number of flame and smoke tubes, heat exchange took place and water was heated in the boiler, forming the very steam that was sent directly to the steam engine, which ensure the movement of the locomotive, activating the crank mechanism, which ultimately transformed into the rotational movement of the locomotive wheels.
It should be noted that the engineers-creators of the locomotive miracle followed a very difficult path, inventing their own machine. Initially, they relied more on their intuition than on specific calculations.
The technique that was being improved could serve people for a long time. In this case, engineers were on the right track, being in constant creative and technical search, including new types of fuel. For these purposes, enthusiasts suggested learning how to properly burn coal dust, which could greatly increase the efficiency of the charcoal used. At the same time, the furnace volumes could not increase. But all these proposals were only theoretical calculations, not having solid practical ground. As a result, coal dust did not serve as a fuel, since the inventors did not achieve the operational reliability of the pulverized coal units of steam locomotives. It was not possible to curb the combustion of coal mass, including coal dust, precisely at high temperatures. Therefore, this type of fuel was abandoned.
After that, the era of search and creation of additional equipment to increase the efficiency of the used coal fuel began. This is how the first stokers "Duplexes" appeared, which ensured a two-way supply of solid fuel to the furnace mouth. In the SSR, a similar one was installed on the IS and FD locomotive modifications.
American inventors offered steam engines so-called mechanical devices: “pushers”, which successfully loosened frozen coal directly in a tender. As a result, the already loosened fuel through the conveyor was fed directly to the stoker.
In the twentieth century, transport units appeared in the form of diesel locomotives, which already used diesel fuel for power plants. It could be a diesel engine directly or a gas turbine was installed. True, the train carriages continued to be heated with coal for a long time.
Then the first electric locomotives appeared, which were originally consumed as fuel.
DC electrical energy. Subsequently, they gradually began to switch to the use of alternating current. This type of transport unit has established itself as environmentally friendly transport. The emission of harmful substances has been significantly reduced.
Study the question
RAO Russian Railways is a monopolist providing passenger transportation services by rail. Therefore, the basic conditions and requirements for passengers are based on the rules of this company.
One of the main amenities of a train journey is the location of the train stations. Unlike airports, they are located within the city and can be reached using public transport.
The stations are also provided with the necessary infrastructure:
- Cafes, shops
- Police and medical stations
- Toilets, etc.
In addition to its main function - transportation, for a comfortable stay on the train, passengers are provided with:
- Drinking water (cold and hot), crockery and cutlery
- Linens
- Wet cleaning in the car (at least 2 times a day)
- First aid
- Train library and available board games (checkers, chess)
- 220 volt sockets for charging mobile phones and laptops
- Preparing a bed for the disabled, sick and passengers with small children (if necessary)
Buy tickets
Tickets can be purchased both at train stations and on the Russian Railways website.
Sale starts 45 days before train departure (in some cases over 60).
Ticket offices usually open at 8:00 and close according to station opening hours.
To buy a ticket, you must have an identity document with you.
When registering, be sure to check the correctness of filling out the questionnaire (personal data, departure date, etc.)... If there is an error, it will have to be corrected immediately.
You can also clarify what services are included in the ticket price (shower, air conditioning, set meals, etc.).
If there are free compartments in deluxe cars, the passenger can purchase a ticket from the head of the train while driving and change seats. (in this case only the difference in cost will be paid).
Important: a fee is charged for ticket reissuance.
Discounts and discounts on tickets
- For children from 4 to 12 years old - 50%
- For persons from 12 to 26 years old - 30%
- For people over 60 years old - 30%
- Birthday - 35% (valid for a week from the date of birth)
- Newlyweds - 35% (valid for a month from the wedding day)
- When buying a ticket 60 - 45 days before departure - 10%
In addition to the requested data (full name ande-mail) it is recommended to indicate in the application:
- FULL NAME. conductor
- Carriage number
- Train number
- Direction
Public order protection
All Moscow railway stations are equipped with technical security equipment: video cameras, metal detector frames, etc.
In addition, each of them also has points for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, thus, the police are involved in resolving all conflicts.
There are slightly different rules on the train, according to which the passenger can be dropped off if he:
- Violates internal train rules
- Violates public order
- Disturbing the peace of mind of other passengers
In the event of a conflict, a fight or a crime, the conductors act according to internal instructions and contact the head of the train, who, in turn, calls the police squad to the nearest station at which the train can stop.
Health care
If a passenger feels unwell while driving, it is necessary to immediately contact the conductor, who, in turn, will call the head of the train.
Then the following measures will be taken:
- A doctor is sought among the passengers
- An ambulance is called to the nearest station
- The conductor provides first aid to the person
- Bandage, plaster
- Tourniquet for stopping bleeding, dressings
- "Bag" for artificial respiration
- Splints for different parts of the body (neck, arms, legs, etc.)
- Isothermal blanket
- Scissors, napkins, etc.
- Stretcher
In this case, the ticket is marked with a stop along the route and the extension of the ticket validity period for the duration of illness.
Rules for the carriage of children
A passenger can take one child under 6 years old free of charge, provided that he does not occupy a separate seat.
In all other cases, you will have to issue a separate ticket for it.
Also, children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Important: the age of the child is determined by the day of the start of the trip, so if he turns 6 on the road, he can still travel for free.
If a child turns 14 on the way, but at the time of purchasing the tickets, he was 13, he can prove his identity with a birth certificate.
Rules for the carriage of animals
1. Small (indoor) pets, dogs and birds:
- They are transported in boxes, cages, containers, etc. size 180 cm (total of 3 sides)at places where hand luggage is placed
- No more than one seat for one issued ticket
- No more than two animals per seat
- In a separate compartment of a hard carriage Besides :
- Wagons with 2-seater compartments (SV)
- Luxury carriages
2. Large dogs:
- On a leash and in a muzzle
- On a leash and in a muzzle
- In all types of wagons
- No additional charge for transporting an animal
- On a leash and in a muzzle
- In a separate compartment of a compartment carriage (except for luxury cars) with full payment of all seats in the compartment
- No additional charge for transporting an animal
Bulky baggage rules
The baggage carried on the train is divided into:
- Usual
- No more than 3 pieces of baggage per ticket
- The size of each baggage must not exceed 180 cm (sum of three sides)
- The weight of one baggage must not exceed 75 kg
- Total weight should not exceed 200 kg
- Cargo luggage
- Fits in the baggage car
- The size of each item should not exceed 300 cm (in one of three sides)
- Items weighing at least 5 kg and not more than 75 kg
When removing a passenger from a train (for medical reasons, in connection with a violation of public order, etc.), he must also collect his carry-on baggage.
The issue with his baggage is solved in one of the following ways:
- Follows to the final station
- Issued to the passenger
Important: if a person got off the train due to illness, the baggage will be returned to him free of charge.
Hand baggage rules
- No more than 36 kg (for SV - 50 kg) per ticket
- Carry-on baggage must not exceed 180 cm (sum of three sides)
- No more than 50 kg per ticket
- Baby stroller
- Wheelchair and technical means of rehabilitation
Forgotten things
Forgotten things are transferred to the head of the station at which (or next to which) they were discovered. They can also be sent to the terminal station (or ferry line) if they were left directly in the carriage.
For each item found, a label is hung with the designation of the station (or train station) and the serial number assigned to it after the description and entry into the register.
Important: suitcases, bags, etc. are opened by officers of the internal affairs bodies, and then sealed or sealed.
In order to receive your luggage, you must contact the head of the station (or station) at which the passenger discovered the loss.
The head of the station, in turn, will send a memo to the head of the train, which will indicate:
- Description of forgotten things
- Carriage number
- Passenger seat
Important: this does not apply to items that are carried in the hold, where a different compensation procedure applies.
Delayed train departure
In accordance with the "Charter of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation", the carrier must pay the passenger a fine of 3% of the ticket price for each hour of delay (but not more than the fare).
Compensation will not be paid if the delay is due to:
- Force majeure circumstances:
- War activities
- Act of terrorism
- Natural disasters
- Elimination of a train malfunction that threatens the life of passengers (not caused by the carrier)
- Other circumstances (also independent of the carrier)
- Get a certificate from the station attendant confirming the delay of the train
- Submit a written application (in free form) to the Claims Department of the Railway Administration, attaching the originals of tickets and the above certificate (this can be done at any station)
Important: if through the fault of the carrier you incurred material losses, for example, you missed another train, you can go to court for compensation.
Life insurance
The ticket price automatically includes the cost of standard insurance.
Depending on the damage caused, the carrier must pay the following amounts:
- Harm to life - 2,500,000 rubles
- Harm to health - 2,000,000 rubles
- Damage to property - 23,000 rubles
Immediately after the accident, an act is drawn up, which is transferred to the insurance company.
To receive compensation, you must:
- Collect documents (with a list of which the passenger must be familiarized when drawing up the act)
- To write an application (in free form)and send to the carrier (at the legal address, unless other contacts are indicated).