Has anyone taken the train from Helsinki to St. Petes? And then St. Petes to Warsaw? Is it safe? Where can we get info on schedules and costs?
Haven't done it myself but as a reminder you will need a Russian travel visa (a nightmare in itself for independent travelers). Check the web for details and cost.
I've traveled from St. Petersburg to Warsaw by way of Vilnius. St. Petersburg to Vilnius was a night train, and Vilnius to Warsaw took all day. If you're considering independent travel through Russia, you may want to consider using a travel agency that specializes in the country to help arrange it. To put it mildly, the Russian visa process is confusing...