Brest is located on the border between Poland and Belarus, part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and
formerly a constituent republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Russia built its railways to a
different gauge from the rest of Europe, settling on 5ft instead of the standard 4ft 8 1/2in. This was primarily for
military reasons, to make it more difficult to invade Russia from the west.
For this reason, it is necessary for trains crossing the border to have their bogies changed. This is done in these
sheds. It takes about 45 minutes to deal with a 10-coach train.
Outside the sheds are bogies of both gauges strewn all over the yard.
The train initially enters Brest station on the standard gauge side. Departing passengers leave the train, and a few
local women board trying to sell beer, vodka and champagne to the remaining passengers. The train is then reversed out and
shunted into the shed. The bogies are changed and the train hauled out to the 5ft gauge side of the station, where additional
passengers bound for Moscow board the train.
For a more detailed description of the bogie changing, see further on in this journey, where the reverse
activity takes place on the border between Mongolia (built to Russian 5ft gauge) and China, which is standard gauge.
