Train Ride

Hello folks,

I decided to write a short post about our preferred mode of transport during the last weeks: “hard-sleeper” trains.

During the last weeks, we covered more than 3500 kilometres. The major part of this was done by train, in three etappes of 16, 24 and 26 hours.

Click here to see a map!

The trains are really long, each consists of more than 14 compartments. Every compartments is divided into ca. 10 segments, and every segment consists of six beds, three to each side.

This means that every train carries roughly 1000 passengers, so just imagine how crowded the train stations are!!!

I thought the beds were quite comfortable, they were about 70 cm wide and long enough for a stout fellow like me to lie stretched out. The mattress was about as soft (or hard) as my mattress at home, so no reason to complain about that, either. I really wonder how comfortable the more expensive softsleepers are.

We always chose the top beds, and this proved to be a very wise choice: No matter what was going on downstairs, we could sleep/drink or chat in relative peace. After the first trip I started looking forward to the next ones, it was great to relax and read in there. After 24 hours, however, I couldn’t help but feel locked up and I yearned for some movement and fresh air.

Here are some impressions from the inside of the train.

I will post another post with lots of cute pictures very soon, so stay tuned!

Greetings from afar,