Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)

Name: Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)
Brand: Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)

Up to date as of October 12, 2026

The Mongolian railway company, whose e-ticket website sells seats on domestic trains and on international trains between Ulaanbaatar and Beijing or Irkutsk, best booked about two months ahead for summer travel.

About Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)

Ulaanbaatar Railway, known as UBTZ, runs Mongolia's main railway line, part of the Trans-Mongolian route between Russia and China. Tickets can be bought on its official e-ticket website, eticket.ubtz.mn, usually one to two months before departure. In 2026 the Beijing–Ulaanbaatar train runs weekly in each direction, taking about 30 hours, and the Irkutsk–Ulaanbaatar train runs weekly, more often in summer, taking about 24 hours. The through service between Moscow, Ulaanbaatar and Beijing is suspended with no confirmed restart date.

Key Features

Online Tickets: Buy train tickets on the official e-ticket website.
International Trains: Weekly services to Beijing and Irkutsk.
Domestic Lines: Trains along the main line through Mongolia.
Advance Sales: Tickets go on sale weeks ahead of departure.

How to Get Started

Open eticket.ubtz.mn and search your route and date.
Choose the train, carriage class and seat.
Enter your passport details and pay.
Keep the ticket and bring your passport on board.

Important Notice

Summer trains, especially in July and August, sell out early, so book about two months ahead. Trains to China stop for several hours at the border for the gauge change, and you may need a Chinese visa or transit permission. Card payment on board is unreliable, so carry some cash.

English available

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ) work with a foreign bank card in Mongolia?: Not reliably — a foreign card may be declined. Check the notice above, or plan to use a local payment method.
Is Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ) available in English?: Yes, Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ) has an English-language interface.
Do I need a local phone number to use Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)?: No, an international phone number generally works for Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ).
Do I need local ID or residency for Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ)?: No, Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ) doesn't require local ID or residency for visitors.