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On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train

On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train

Kaliningrad has long been a politically sensitive region. The Russian territory used to be German East Prussia but was annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Kaliningrad became separated from the rest of Russia. Since 2004, it has existed as a Russian enclave completed surrounded by the EU.

It was difficult for the Kremlin and for many ordinary Russians to accept the fact that they needed transit visas to get to Kaliningrad. Some considered it another act of national humiliation. In July 2003, Russian, Lithuania and the EU signed an agreement on Russian transit through Lithuania. The agreement has remained in force until now and despite initial gloomy predictions -- it seems to be working.

RFE/RL correspondent Valentinas Mite hopped aboard the Moscow to Kaliningrad train in Vilnius, for the last leg of the trip to the Russian exclave. Here is his photo essay.
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On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Three passengers have already passed Lithuanian customs control and are about to board the Moscow – Kaliningrad train in Vilnius
1 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Three passengers have already passed Lithuanian customs control and are about to board the Moscow – Kaliningrad train in Vilnius
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - The Moscow-Kaliningrad train
2 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - The Moscow-Kaliningrad train
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Inside a train car
3 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Inside a train car
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Ludmila Chernakova from Kaliningrad shows off her FRTD. She is traveling from Moscow to Kaliningrad with several huge bags full of clothes. She says clothes are cheaper in Moscow than in Kaliningrad and she makes ends meet by selling them in local markets
4 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Ludmila Chernakova from Kaliningrad shows off her FRTD. She is traveling from Moscow to Kaliningrad with several huge bags full of clothes. She says clothes are cheaper in Moscow than in Kaliningrad and she makes ends meet by selling them in local markets
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Tanya from Kaliningrad has spent several days with her relatives in Moscow and says she did not have problems either coming to Moscow, or coming back
5 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Tanya from Kaliningrad has spent several days with her relatives in Moscow and says she did not have problems either coming to Moscow, or coming back
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Dima from Kaliningrad says he had problems with getting a Lithuanian visa and had to wait for three weeks
6 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Dima from Kaliningrad says he had problems with getting a Lithuanian visa and had to wait for three weeks
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Sergei disagrees and says he had no problems of this kind
7 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Sergei disagrees and says he had no problems of this kind
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Ruslan lives in Moscow and is coming to Kaliningrad for the first time in his life
8 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Ruslan lives in Moscow and is coming to Kaliningrad for the first time in his life
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Diana from Kaliningrad comforts her daughter Arina
9 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Diana from Kaliningrad comforts her daughter Arina
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Olga also went to Moscow to get things for sale in Kaliningrad. She says she feels relaxed after passing both Lithuanian and Russian customs officials at the border crossing in Kybartai on the Russian Lithuanian border
10 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Olga also went to Moscow to get things for sale in Kaliningrad. She says she feels relaxed after passing both Lithuanian and Russian customs officials at the border crossing in Kybartai on the Russian Lithuanian border
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Liutauras Barila is a Lithuanian consular official on the train. He travels all the way from Kaliningrad to Moscow and back, dealing with problems on the spot. He says people have already reconciled with the fact that they have to cross EU territory while traveling from the Russian region of Kaliningrad to Russia proper
11 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Liutauras Barila is a Lithuanian consular official on the train. He travels all the way from Kaliningrad to Moscow and back, dealing with problems on the spot. He says people have already reconciled with the fact that they have to cross EU territory while traveling from the Russian region of Kaliningrad to Russia proper
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - For two years, Veronika Toropova, a conductor, has traveled from Kaliningrad to Moscow and back. She says she never had an incident because of a transit. "Sometimes passengers drink too much and quarrel but it has absolutely nothing to do with the transit," she says
12 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - For two years, Veronika Toropova, a conductor, has traveled from Kaliningrad to Moscow and back. She says she never had an incident because of a transit. "Sometimes passengers drink too much and quarrel but it has absolutely nothing to do with the transit," she says
On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Kaliningrad railway station- the final destination
13 On Board The Moscow-Kaliningrad Train - Kaliningrad railway station- the final destination
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