Traveling by train

Riding the rails in Ukraine is quite common. The network of trains running throughout Eastern and Western Europe is quite substantial, and Ukraine has approximately 22,800 km (that's 15,000 miles) of railroad line. Since I've been here, I've heard people talk about their train travel with a badge of honor. The former Peace Corps types are especially quick to share their stories of riding in "platskartny" (third class), which is essentially a dormitory squeezed into a train car. Those with a bit more dough can ride "coupe" (second class), where four people share a small compartment. Those willing to shell out the extra money can go "SV" (first class), with a compartment with two beds. Those misanthropes plush with hryvna (or with sweet, USG jobs) purchase the whole compartment so they can ride solo. Here's what my firs train ride looked like: