There is a plan to rent a bus for travel to St Petersburg Go Congress 2003. Most likely we will depart Saturday morning July 19 and return Sunday morning, on 3rd August. Here is a list of those Finnish persons who are interested to go as well. Add your name below if you are interested.
-- Matti_Siivola 2.12.2002
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Steve Bailey | |
| Pauline Bailey | |
| Ruurd Wiersma <ruurd.wiersma@raketnet.nl> | |
| peter zandveld <paard@xs4all.nl> |
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I have got an offer from a bus company for a bus of 30 places return trip with a total of 2125 euro. That would go from Helsinki to the congress site directly. Departure would be on Saturday 19th July and return to Helsinki on Sunday 3rd August. A return train ticket from Helsinki to St Petersburg in the second class will cost 95,30 euro. A group of 6 -24 persons will get a 40% discount. It is possible that a bus will pick us at the railway station in St. Petersburg if we come by train. If a group by train is gathered we would depart by a Finnish train "Sibelius" on Saturday morning 7.42. For us finns to return the "Sibelius" train on Sunday 16.50 would be convenient, but you may state your preferences. Other options are 16.50 on saturday and train "Repin" 7.50 on Sunday morning.
So, we have options: rent a bus, take a bus line to St. Petersburg Center (84 Euro return) or go by train.
Are you interested in travelling in a group?
Confirmed entries:#
| Name | train group ~60 euro (G1) | train return (G) | visa status | personal data received by Matti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matti Siivola | yes | 3.8. 16.50 (G2) | received | yes |
| Sinikka Siivola | yes | 3.8. 16.50 (G2) | invitation received | yes |
| Antti Holappa | yes | 3.8. 16:50 (G2) | waiting for visa | yes |
| Ruurd Wiersma | yes | 3.8. 16.50 (G2) | received | yes |
| Tuomo Salo | yes | 3.8. 16:50 (G2) | applied | yes |
| Arend Van Oosten | yes | 3.8. 16.50 (G2?) | - | yes |
| Markku Jantunen | group yes, return only | 3.8. 16.50 (G2?) | waiting for invitation | no |
| JanneJalkanen | yes | 28.7. | applied | yes |
| Peter Zandveld | yes | ? | - | yes |
| Steve Bailey | yes | 3.8. 7.50 | received | yes |
| Pauline Bailey | yes | 3.8. 7.50 | received | yes |
| Thomas Gaebler | yes | 27.7. klo 16.50 | waiting for visa | yes |
| Markus Runonen | yes | 28.7 | applied | yse |
| Jouni Kärkkäinen | yes | 28.7 | applied | no |
| Olli Lounela | yes | about 28.7. | applied | no |
| Vesa Laatikainen | no | 27.-28.7. | invitation received | - |
| Sari Kohonen | no | 27-28.7. | invitation received | - |
| Jan Hlinovsky | one way | (31.7.) | waiting for invitation | yes |
| Mauri Torikka | yes | 3.8. 7.50 | invitation received | yes |
| Niklas Möller | yes | 3.8. 7.50 | waiting for invitation | yse |
Non confirmed entries #
| Name | train group ~60 euro | train return | visa status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timo Puha | yes? | ? | - | euro? |
Matti Siivola 23.5.2003
It would seem that there are few of us who are planning to return on the 27th as well. Does a group have to return back on the same train to qualify for the discount or should we gather 6 persons to return on the 27th?
I'd prefer train over bus, because train has (atleast the russian coach) sturdy tables which should be very suitable for playing and the travel by train is more comfortable too. However the fallback is the need to change to bus or another train at St. Petersburg central station.
If one goes there for the first week, it is well worth noting that participating also in the weekend tournament is an excellent idea. The schedule shows that the weekend tournament finishes around 8 pm on Sunday the 27th.
This suggests return by night train, although train schedules don't really support it. Looks like the realistic choice for direct train is the one called Sibelius, which departs 16.50 and arrives 21.12. Other than that, train to Tallinn and crossing the Baltic from there with fast ferry might be an option, though I don't have the schedules for the Tallinn trains nor time to find out, I'm afraid.
-- DonOlli
Good point. Returning on Monday morning on the 7.50 train would also be okay with me.
-- JanneJalkanen
We have a flight to catch from Helsinki to London on Sunday 3rd evening (17:25 flight, 15:25 check-in(07:50 train arrives Helsinki 12:18)). We would probably prefer the bus as direct door to door.
-- Steve & Pauline Bailey
I got another offer for the bus: 1950 Euro for a bus of 45-50 persons. If we only could get that many...
-- Matti Siivola
I'm planning on taking the first train Sunday, July 20th from Helsinki to SPb. I used to live in SPb, so I'll have no problem getting from the train station to the University. If anyone else wants to go Sunday morning, I'd be happy to have company for the trip. It'd be REALLY cool if we had six Igo-niki so we could get the discount. Interested, email me at james@bluedash.com.
-- James Acres
Don't forget to get visa to Russia early enough. It may take six to twelve working day at your local embassy.
-- VeT
We do not have enough persons for a bus, so the group travel will be arranged by train. One group ticket from Helsinki St Petersburg on 19th July will be purchased. If we find six persons or more returning on a same train a group ticket for that group can also be arranged. Please insert information on your return plans! Indicate also whether you have applied or received your visa. I will soon need personal data of the people who will join the group ticket.
-- Matti Siivola 10.6.2003
I made reservation for a group ticket for the 13 confirmed entries on the list from Helsinki to St Petersburg. The following personal data is needed in the reservation: Name, nationality, date of birth and passport number. Please send those to me: mailto:Matti.Siivola@Helsinki.fi.
I can still add person to the reservation until I get the ticket from the office.
-- Matti Siivola 11.6.2003
I removed myself from the list, because of unexpected money shortage.
-- Jukka Lindström 13.6.2003
I will arrive to Helsinky by plane the 20th jully 14:50. Could you tell me if i can catch a train to St petersbourg ? What time ? returning sunday 3rd whatever time Geraldine.paget@orsem-hybrides.fr
The train leaves from Pasila 15.49. It is possible to catch it as it is 15-20 minutes drive from the airport, but if ypur plane is late then you have trouble. Anyway it is possible, but expensive to catch the train by taxi.
-- Matti Siivola 1.7.2003
I changed the column about bus ride to indicate whether I have received the personal data for the group ticket. I intend to buy the Helsinki St. Petersburg group ticket on 10.th July. If I am missing personal data for a person that time I might not be able to include the person in the group. Be sure that if you leave you passport in the embassy to write down the number.
I made an indication for a group ticket for the trip back from St.Petersburg to Helsinki. on 3.8 on train which departs 16.50 and marked it with G2. Please confirm it by removing the question mark or reject by deleting G2. If six persons are left before we depart I will by a group ticket for that too.
It is possible that players returning after the first week can collect six persons in the same train, but I leave the organising to one of those.
-- Matti Siivola 1.7.2003
Request for bed, RFB: I'm travelling from Stockholm to Helsinki the day before the train is leaving (since there is no way for me to arrive early enough in the morning), and I would be very happy if any of my fellow travellers may give me roof and shelter for the night. Since we are leaving together, I guess the inconvenience will not be too big. I don’t even snore.
Grateful for help, please e-mail me at: niklas.moller@infra.kth.se
Regards, Niklas
--- Niklas Möller, Stockholm GO Club, 2.7.2003
It's probably worth organizing a return trip for those returning after the middle weekend, so here goes.
-- DonOlli, 5.7