Exactly how many countries does the Trans Siberian Railway pass through?

Question

Need to know precise number of different countries the railway traverses

Answer 1

Trans-Siberian railway (usually called TransSib in Russia) is the world's longest and the most famous train route that goes through Russia. It crosses the whole continent, starts in Moscow, passes through the European Russia, crosses Urals mountains (which separate Europe and Asia), continues into Siberia's taiga and steppes, and finishes in Vladivostok — the Russian Far East coast on the Pacific Ocean.

After crossing Siberia (soon after Irkutsk) the Trans-Siberian route divides into three different routes:

• The Trans-Siberian Route: Moscow - Vladivostok – the original Trans-Siberian railway, which goes all along Siberia and through the Far East (to the Pacific Ocean).

• The Trans-Mongolian Route: Moscow - Ulan-Bataar - Beijing. You will see Siberian plains and forests, Mongolian steppe and even a part of Gobi desert along this route that goes through Mongolia to China.

• The Trans-Manchurian Route: Moscow - Beijing – a direct way from Russia to China that goes around the Eastern border of Mongolia, not crossing it. It can be interesting for those, who are not interested in going to Mongolia, or who can't get tickets for other trains.

http://www.waytorussia.net/TransSiberian...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_...

Here's a link about it's history

http://www.transsib.ru/Eng/history-revie...

Answer 2

There are several trains often mentioned when people talk about the Trans Siberian Railway. But the one with that name travels through one country only, Russia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Siber...

The other trains run through Russia, Mongolia and China, I am sure Wikipedia has a page on that one too.

Added:

I found this link after posting the answer:

http://petestravelsnippets.wordpress.com...

It shows the whole Europe to Beijing and even farther into Asia.

But the lines on the map that are not blue and some that are, are not part of the Trans Siberian Railway.