Luxury ride from Tallinn to Moscow and back

A luxury railroad passenger car has been added to the Tallinn-Moscow train in order to bring luxury and prestige back to train traveling.

Dubbed the Emperor's Salon and designed in accordance to the late 19th century tastes and sensibilities, the coach harkens back to czarist times.

Available since Nov. 27, the 3.5-million-kroon (224,000) railway car designed by SW Railway, Estonia's railway service company, the outside is distinguished only by a golden seal in Russian and conductors clad in garb from the era.

On the inside, however, one may find genuine, old-time luxury with modern convenience. Each of the three compartments is equipped with a writing desk, a television, video set and two beds.

There is a dining room for six persons, a shower, and of course, a royal toilet.

Included in the ticket price are a chic menu, free wine, candies and a certain amount of strong spirits.

Tickets on the Emperor's Salon, however, will not be sold on the regular basis. Rather, a client must leave his or her contact number in order to negotiate a final price, reportedly about 5,000 kroons one-way.

The prices for regular car compartments of the Tallinn-Moscow train vary from 700 kroons to 1,400 kroons.

If empty, the luxury coach will not be attached to the train if it is devoid of passengers.

The interior design of the coach and the minor details of the service deserve applause. Everything from complementary slippers for passengers to chocolates was custom designed to resemble olden times. Even the vodka bottles on offer in the coach have acquired a unique conical shape.

According to Neddy Kramer, head of SW Railway's asset management branch, the new coach is a high-end transport option.

A ticket on the Emperor's Salon would be comparable to the business-class airline ticket, he said.

"The basic target group of the coach are people who would like to feel the atmosphere of nobility and take a train ride in a completely different historical milieu," said Kramer.

Kramer added the project is not about profit but the image of railway travel.

"We want to have the old fame back," he said.

One of the main advantages of the Emperor's Salon is that a passenger can spend more time in a luxury environment compared to a businessman seated in the business-class section of an airplane, Kramer noted.

It usually takes about 16 hours to get from Tallinn to Moscow by train.