Being confined to a train, and often just to a small bed, for days and days sounds daunting and boring, but usually twice a day the train has a longer stop at a station.
So, for about 25 minutes, it is possible to get out, breath in the gelid fresh air, walk around and buy some food and water.

It doesn’t sound like much but it is truly refreshing and each station tends to have its own personality: either because of the style of the station or just thanks to the presence (or lack) of babushkas (grandmas) who sell homemade meals to the hungry travelers.
Given the long distance, after a few stops, faces become familiar, exchanging a smile or chit-chatting about the ongoing experience.
At some stations, one can feel a bit more adventurous and try to explore a bit farther than usual but that needs to be done cautiously as the train waits for no one. As promptly as it stopped, the train departs once more into the endless frozen land.