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For all practical purposes, Ulaanbataar (UB) has but one Train Station. The Ulaanbataar Train Station is the largest and most important railway station in all of Mongolia. It is the nodal center for all national,
international traffic and regional train traffic in the enitire Nation. The Trans-Mongolian Railway, connecting between Beijing Main Station in the South and the Ulan Ude Station of the Trans-Siberian railroad in the North, passes through Ulaanbataar (UB) Train Station.
Find the main train station in Bayngol District in the west section of the City situated at some 5 kilometers (2.7 miles) distance from the Center, which is usually identified as Sükhbataar Square. The Train Station is a large square well lit building with a sqaure in front of it, located along the south side of east-to-west boulevard Narnii Zam road. It cannot be missed.
Google Map - Location of Main Train Station of Ulaanbataar (UB)
The ticket offices can be found on the east side of the station.
A large building belonging to the Mongolian Customs Office stands on the west side of the large square in front of the station. The Ulaanbataar Bus Station is situated a short walk up and north of the Ticket Office of the Train Station, on the opposite side of Narnii Zam road. (For full explanation, see: Ulaanbataar (UB) Bus Services (Below)).
HISTORY OF ULAANBATAAR RAILWAY STATION:
The first Trans-Eurasian Railroad, the famous Trans-Siberian Railway (Russian: Транссибирская магистраль) was inaugurated in 1890 AD, connecting Moscow through the far North to Vladivostok on the Sea of Japan.
In China the first railroad developments came in the last few years of the 19Th Century and in the beginning of the 20th century Beijing had its own railroad station (at Qianmen). Economical importance and many geographical obstacles demanded however that the first train connections in East Asia prioritized cities and coastal harbors. Therefor, connections with the hinterland, all destinations within western China and the remote regions of Inner- and Outer Mongolia were delayed for decades.
Railway development came especially late in Mongolia, the traditional realm of nomadic herders and a landscape devout of buildings, let alone entire cities. A country with few roads, it consequently had and has even fewer railroad connections.
Much owing to the growing strategic importance of the buffer-nation of Mongolia at the time, long after the completion and success of its "bigger brother", the Trans-Siberian Railway, the decision was taken to create a side-branch, connecting Irkutsk in Siberia (via Ulan-Ude), through Mongolia and its Capital Ulaanbataar, to the Chinese Capital of Beijing. In essence, the path of the railway was to follow the long existing track of the caravan trading routes between Beijing, Ulaanbataar and Central- and Northern Asia beyond (The "Tea Road"). Hence, Ulaanbataar would become the first and main train station within the Republic of Mongolia.
Construction of the branch line that is the Trans-Mongolian Railroad began shortly after world war 2 in 1947 AD. The railway tracks reached the Capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbataar from the north in 1950. The full connection to the Chinese border station of Ehrenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was completed in 1955 at the highpoint of Sino-Soviet relations providing a huge symbol of unity between the three friendly "socialist" nations.
Before the establishment of the Trans-Mongolian railway there were but two previous railroads in the Republic of Mongolia.
The first of these had been a privately developed line of 43 kilometers opened in 1938 AD and constructed solely for the purpose of connecting the coal mines at Nalaikh to the capital Ulaanbataar.
The coal was needed for heating the Capital and further export.
A second railroad in Mongolia was the Soviet Russian developed 236 kilometer long freight-only branch (completed in 1939) from Borzya on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Bayantumen, in Dornod Aimag (Province) near Choibalsan in far north-eastern Mongolia. Thus, public transport by train was unheard of in Mongolia until the arrival of the Trans-Mongolian Railroad. It was development that literally moved the nation, although at the time Ulaanbataar
Overview Map of relevant parts of East Asia, showing the longstanding road and transport connections between important coastal cities, the Chinese Capital and the Republic of Mongolia. In the North the Tans-Siberian Railroad connects from west to east, through Irkutsk, Ulan Ude and Chita. The Trans-Mongolian side branch connects from Ulan Ude southward to Ulanbaataar and further onward to connect up with the Chinese network. Several side-branches connect to other destinations within Mongolia, with the main node of the sytem at Ulaanbataar.
was still largely a tenting camp rather than a city. The arrival of the railroad, as elsewhere, provided a great new impetus for the further development of the city.
Eversince 1961 the Trans-Mongolian Railroad connects Ulan Ude, on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia, with the Chinese city of Jining (Ulanqab Prefecture, Inner Mongolia), by way of Ulaanbataar in Mongolia and Ehrenhot (Erlin) in Inner Mongolia where the train halts for the border crossing and a gauge-changing station (!). South of Ehrenhot (Erlen) or also: Erleen) station the train enters the Chinese railway network, and travels through various minor stations to its end destination.
The Trans-Mongolian and Chinese route leaves the main Trains-Siberian route at Zaudinskiy, 8 km from Ulan-Ude. The distance between Ulan-Ude and the Russian-Mongolian border is 250 km.
Currently, in most of Mongolia railroads are still single-track. In China railways have drastically modernized and dual-track is the standard for all but remote lines in the nation.
The gauge of the tracks in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Mongolia is 1520 mm in Russia. In China the guage of train tracks is 1435 mm.
# ULAN UDE, Capital Buryatia Republic, Russian Federation - Station of the Trans-Siberian Railway
- Zaudinskiy - intersection Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian RR's.
- Sayantun - 2 minute stop
-------------------------- Selenge River crossing
- Ganzurino
- Ubukun
- Sulfat
# ZAGUSTAY, near Gusinoozersk - 1 to 5 Minute stop
- Gusinoye Ozero - Brief stop
- Selenduma
- Dzhida - 1 to 5 minute stop
- Khuzhir
# NAUSHKI - Customs stop of the Russian Federation 1- 3 hour stop.
Zhan) does check carefully for everyone, no exceptions.
China Report - Map of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty
Satellite image of China and North-East Asia, with a super-imposed schematic Map of the location and Path of the Great Wall as constructed during the Reign of the Ming Dynasty. Included for reference are City names, geographical features of landscape, Names and locations of Passes on the Great Wall of China.
* Trans-Mongolian RR: Moscow to Beijing (and Vice Versa)
SCHEDULE: Once every week. Train leaves every Tuesday night. Directions: Train 4 eastbound to Beijing, train 3 westbound to Moscow)
This world famous variation of the Trans-Siberian railroad journey is a lenghty affair. Most travelers describe the pass through Mongolia as less interesting as the continued journey through Siberia and through the north to Beijing (China North-East Railroad). Altogether, the 7,621 km (4,735 mile) journey from Moscow to Ulaanbataar takes 6 days.
ROUTE: This train crosses through Russia, the Urals and Siberia, then cuts southward to span across Mongolia entire including its many landscapes. In Mongolia the train route passes through the foothills of the Khentii Mountains, cuts across the Selenge River, and after passing through Ulaanbataar heads for the the Gobi desert. After entering China (P.R.C.) and passing through Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the train meets the Great Wall of China at the Fengzhen Pass in north Shanxi Province before reaching Datong Station.
* Moscow to Ulaanbataar (and Vice Versa)
SCHEDULE: Once every week. Day: unknown; Directions: Train 6 eastbound to Ulaanbataar, train 5 westbound to Moscow).
REGIONAL TRAINS / TRAIN DESTINATIONS WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF MONGOLIA:
Ulaanbataar Station serves as the main terminal for Mongolia's domestic routes in the north
and southeast regions. Domestic trains include the Trans-Mongolian Railroad with destination to the north and south of Ulaanbataar.
Trans-Mongolian RR Direction northbound:
Traveling on the Trans-Mongolian railroad one can reach the small town of Züünkharaa and the cities of Darkhan and Sükhbataar in Mongolia, as well as the interesting border town of Naushki and all major towns along the Trans-Siberian Railway between Naushki and Ulan-Ude in the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation.
NOTICE: Make sure your VISA and Passport are in order before attempting a border crossing into the Russian Federation.
Trans-Mongolian RR Direction Southbound:
Traveling south from Ulaanbataar on the Trans-Mongolian railway one can reach Manit, Choir, Khar Arag and Sainshand.
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Map 1A - Geographic Map
A Schematic Map overview of North & North-Eastern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region entire, clearly delineating borders and including sections of all bordering Nations as well as bordering Chinese Provinces and Autonomous Regions of China.
Map and description include Main Cities and Towns, Main Monuments & Landmarks of Inner Mongolia AR and adjacent provinces & regions, the locations of the Great Wall of China inside the Map Area, major highways and road connections, provincial railroads and main railroad-stations, and main waterways, rivers and lakes of Inner Mongolia AR and wider region. This Map further provides links to on site photos and information on Cities, Main Monuments & Sights of Inner Mongolia.
