It’s the legendary Trans-Siberian, the pride of the Russian railway company. The provodnitsa, carriage attendants in navy uniforms, welcome passenger aboard at the entrance of each car.

The Middle Corridor trade route is filling out. China and Kazakhstan have announced the launch of a new freight rail transit line that will deliver Chinese goods to Europe while bypassing Russia.

Yet ten red, blue and white train cars marked with a red cross await. It’s Akademik Fyodor Uglov, the Russian train company’s rail hospital. The hospital on rails started as a way to provide ...