Railroad through a country that doesn’t exist anymore
In December 1991, the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR) ceased to exist as a more or less unitary state. As a result of that event the 15 former soviet-republics became independent and formed their own sovereign states. Russia declared itself and was recognized as the successor-state of the former USSR. Twenty years later Trans-Siberia Railroad is the pride but now the pride of a country that doesn’t exist anymore. From Vladivostok to Moscow is 9302 kilometers long and it’s the longest railway in the world. It passes through the two continents of the world.
A passenger train from Vladivostok — Marina Ivanova (Lawyer, 48) say: «The effect of traveling in a compartment on a train is that you can tell a stranger that you wouldn’t say to no one… In our country, a revolution took place».
She recalls what happened with her in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and what has changed since then in the country: «My husband (military officer) died in September, after the August Coup… after that I worked as a char in the military garrison — I was cleaning the toilets…» About the present time, she say: «The people has changed very much in those 20 years. All became richer, the attitude to poor people is bad… we have this capitalism in Russia now in a perverted form…»
Another passenger — Andrew (27) in sure that: «Russia as a matter of fact is a martyr…The USSR, by and large it has been an experiment with brotherhood, which in future will be properly realized… Russia will blossom.» In the cheapest wagons of the Trans-Siberian Railroad passengers ride from all the former Soviet Republics. They speak to each other, disputes, drink alcohol and dance.. They continue to live in a country that doesn’t exist anymore but they are happy together just during moving the train from Vladivostok to Moscow — the travel time is 7 days, 9 hours and a few more minutes… Take a look:
