With Cathay Pacific's launch of scheduled flights from Hong Kong to Moscow, a luxury rail service from the Russian capital to Nice on the French Riviera, inaugurated last month, may be of interest to local travellers. The train, run by Russian Railways (www.eng.rzd.ru), follows a route that operated before the Russian Revolution, by which time Nice was so popular with holidaying Muscovites that it was (and still is) home to the largest Russian Orthodox church outside Russia. The journey takes 53 hours and passes through Minsk, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy. Fares range from Euro306 (HK$3,250) to Euro1,200, for a luxury compartment with an en-suite shower. The train has two dining cars, three deluxe carriages, six first-class carriages and one second-class carriage. Russian Railways claims carriage attendants have undergone training in 'French and English language proficiency, psychology, ethics and passenger service culture'. The company also advises that passengers not in possession of a Belarus transit visa will be booted off the train at the border, so plan ahead accordingly.