Journey to Warsaw
A visit to Warsaw, Poland, by train from the UK in the spring of 1995.
The Ost-West express sleeper train was used to travel between Brussels and Warsaw.
Ost-West Express Sleeper Train - Brussels to Moscow
Belgian locomotive no. 2733 awaits departure from Brussels Midi with the 15.55 Ost-West express to Moscow on 5 May 1995. Arrival in Moscow is on day 3 at 12.06.
The train carried sleeper cars every night for Moscow and Warsaw. Twice a week there was a sleeper car for St. Petersburg in Russia and once a week a sleeper car was provided for Kyiv in Ukraine according to the April 1995 edition of the Thomas Cook European rail timetable.
05 May 1995
Ost-West Express - Dortmund, Germany
An on time departure of the Ost-West express in Dortmund at 20.40. The electronic notice board tells us that the train is bound for Moscow, that it also has a sleeping car for St Petersburg, and gives the stations it will be calling at in Poland and Belarus.
05 May 1995
Thomas Cook European Railway Timetable April 1995 - Ost-West Train
The April 1995 Thomas Cook European Railway timetable for the 15.55 Ost-West express train from Brussels to Warsaw, Kyiv, Minsk, St Petersburg and Moscow.
Ost-West Express Sleeper Train - Brussels to Moscow
Belgian locomotive no. 2727 gets ready to leave Brussels Midi with the 15.55 Ost-West express to Moscow on 11 May 1995. The train on this day included sleeper cars for Moscow, Warsaw and Kyiv.
11 May 1995
WARS Polish sleeper car - Brussels
A WARS Polish sleeper car in the 15.55 Ost-West express which would arrive in Warsaw Central on day 2 at 10.15. The compartments in the sleeper car each contained three berths but could be booked for single use.
11 May 1995
Ukrainian Sleeper Car - Brussels
The Ukrainian sleeping car in the Ost-West express which would arrive in Kyiv on day 3 at 11.20.
The April 1995 Thomas Cook European rail timetable suggests that the sleeper car to Ukraine ran once a week from Brussels on a Sunday. However, the Ukrainian sleeping car shown here was departing in the Ost-West express on Thursday 11 May 1995.
11 May 1995
Ukrainian Sleeper Car Conductor - Brussels
The conductor of the Ukrainian sleeping car, bound for Kyiv, awaits the departure of the Ost-West express train from Brussels.
He had asked me: "Are you British?" I replied "Yes".
He then said: "Are you coming with us to Ukraine?" I explained I had got off the incoming Ost-West express service from Poland and unfortunately wouldn't be travelling with him to Ukraine, tempting though it was.
11 May 1995
Ost-West Express Departure - Brussels
The 15.55 Ost-West express train leaves Brussels Midi behind locomotive no. 2727 bound for Moscow, Kyiv, Minsk and Warsaw. The first car in the train is a RZD Russian sleeping car.
11 May 1995
Departure of Ost-West Express - Brussels
The 15.55 Ost-West express train makes its way out of Brussels Midi. The Polish railways sleeping car is situated behind the Ukrainian sleeping car.
11 May 1995