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travel overnight on a sleeper train

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angelofporcelain

rwb99Fun, but probably not worth a second try

I finally got my sleeper ride; the train was the City Night Line train from Frankfurt, Germany to Milan, Italy. Train leaves at 11 pm, and reaches Milan around 8 am. The train is standard old-ish european compartment sleepers – a 3 seat compartment (3 seats facing a wall) changes into three beds stacked above each other.

What kept this from being as much fun as I hoped? It’s a short trip, the Italian customs guys wake you at 6:30 am to search the train. There’s no space for luggage larger than a standard rollaboard except in the middle of your small compartment. I found the motion of the train made it surprisingly hard to sleep.

Good points? It was still nice to have a bit of privacy and quiet when riding the train. I’d forgotten how much of travel involves not having a place of your own – no real home, no work place, just trying to grab privacy at the hotel, or hanging out in a quiet cafe, or finding the emptier end of the steps in front of the cathedral, or letting your iPod wall you off from the packed car on the train. After a day of wandering around the big city and a four hour train ride, just having a compartment was a nice change. We also enjoyed waking up and opening the curtains a bit so we could see Lake Como roll by. 5 years ago


Peggy HillIn Russia and Ukraine

I did this in Russia and Ukraine. The bathrooms were disgusting and it was actually scary due to the seedy characters onboard and the lack of security. 5 years ago


JessicaGreat idea !

I have always thought that would b cool ! 5 years ago


mskoglyBarely

It’s not exactly what I would call a good nights sleep, but I suppose almost everything is worth doing once. 5 years ago


TinkBetween Moscow and St. Petersburg

Best. Spring. Break. Ever.

I was 16 years old, on a tour with some 150 other Canadian kids. We’d spent 3 days in cold, grey Moscow. By that time, the jet lag and a bit of the culture shock had worn off, and we were positively giddy with the romance of boarding the overnight train to what was then called Leningrad.

To add to our excitement, a gentle snow began to fall as our train pulled out of the station. The view from the windows was breathtakingly lovely, like something out of Dr. Zhivago.

Of course, because we were teenagers (or, in my mother’s parlance, “hormones with feet”), few of us got much actual rest on that so-called “sleeper” train. Many were far too busy guzzling vodka and falling in and out of one another’s arms and/or curtained-off berths.

Me, I didn’t drink, and I was deeply involved with a fellow who wasn’t on the trip, so I remained relatively virtuous. Nevertheless, that magical evening remains one of my fondest high-school memories.

Now I dream of travelling across Canada aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian (“Silver & Blue Class,” of course), and enjoying what’s been called “a cruise on rails.” 5 years ago


RobinCanada and Europe

I did this in 1981 when I first came to Canada aged 23. Not having much money, I couldn’t afford an actual berth, so I had a chair seat that reclined. From Toronto to Edmonton, 2 nights on the train IIRC. Great experience, but nowadays I’d want an real bed!

Did this more recently in 1999 when I was travelling in Europe with my cousin and daughter when we went from Venice to Hamburg. Having had several rather tangled and confusing experiences with Italian trains, we were relieved to find our sleeper train was German, and very clean and efficiently run. We had a 3-berth compartment (3 beds stacked one on top of the other) and I slept like a baby the whole time, the rocking of the train was very soothing. 5 years ago


delicious colorsfrance

sleeper train from france to spain. couldn’t sleep much because of the intense rattling and noise. but it was fun. 6 years ago


paige25Sleeper Trains

I’ve done this five times now, three times in Russia and twice in Finland. It’s always an adventure!

I would suggest that if you’re travelling alone and are female you book a single compartment, as you could end up stuck in a compartment with a load of strange men and feel quite uncomfortable. 6 years ago


smee1103Done in style!

This was completed together with the orient express entry on my list. Well worth it!
The first night was a bit strange and took a bit of getting used to the noise and movement as you sleep but the second night was much better and quite soothing! 6 years ago


littlebudUntitled

India had my favourite overnight sleeper trains! 6 years ago


TheHotPinkLadyNo better way to sleep

Sleeper cars are SO neat. The way the train rocks you to sleep at night and the sound of it running over the tracks…so relaxing and fun! 6 years ago


NikitaI'll save this one for later

I just don’t have the time or money right now. 6 years ago


melissahI did this in 1987...

...from Paris to Munich.

All I can say is, definitely do this with people you know. Mine slept six to a car, with open berths, so complete strangers as bunkmates would certainly have caused me to sleep with one eye open.

I also got motion sick, since you’re lying sideways (head and feet pointing to the left and right sides of the train) so if that’s an issue for you, use accupressure wrist bands (or just get drunk like I did.) 6 years ago


skydivaunexpected pleasant surprise

Cairo to Aswan on my 2nd trip to Egypt. Had been on a similar tour before and expected it to be a long long trip in an upright stinky seat but in the 4 years since I had been the last time they had upgraded the train trip to a sleeper!! Yay !!! Was so excited I got all worked up on the train and ran up and down the carriage taking photos of everyone’s sleeper cabins :-)
Gotta do it. Train trips of any kind are awesome but sleeper trips are the best :-) 6 years ago


AuntieThorneQuite romantic.

I’d love to do it more often…with my GirlyBoi. 6 years ago


NielUitklaar

It was in 1989, from Alicedale (near Grahamstown) to Johannesburg. Second class, six to a compartment with my army buddies. It was very nice, the lap of luxury after months in camp on operations. 6 years ago


bookbabeThis was in the 80's -

1983, I think. I had my Sony Walkman with me, and remember listening to New Order and Visage. The track “Night Train” played as I crossed the Arctic Circle, groggy on painkillers in the half-dark of a summer, Scandinavian night. 6 years ago


EmilyIn 2003...

From Paris to Zurich. It was cramped for everyone else, but I’m pretty short, so I was comfy. 7 years ago


cranberrygoddessin Thailand

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I actually got a good night’s sleep, I couldn’t believe it! 7 years ago


TaylorAmtrak rocks

A sleeper is much better than sleeping in your seat, but I’d recommend both to anybody. 7 years ago


yoyomaYEAH!

I’m so cheap I always ask for the reclining seat… But just my luck, Geneva to Venice, there was no such option! So I shared a “couchette” chamber with 5 other people (bunk beds with three layers)...

I was shocked, we even got breakfast! This nice man came around to give us croissants and juice, and he made coffee. In the morning it was this really cool “chill” atmosphere, as we were all eating breakfast waiting to arrive in Venice.

An excellent goal! 7 years ago


catherine's daughterI used to work for Amtrak

and in order for us to be familiar with the amenities we experienced overnight travel on the train. Our class went from Chicago to DC. Half of us traveled coach one way and a sleeper the other. Sleeper is definitely the way to go. I travelled twice on “The City of New Orleans”, it was coach but fun!! Spent time in the club car. 7 years ago


EimearWhat an experience

but not much sleep. It was in China, the beds were three high, 6 to an alcove and my first problem was getting up there…. managed to make it to level two having had several near death experiences broght on by fits of giggles… unfortunate Chinese people trying to sleep while hysterical tourists fell all over the carriage. Any kind of noodle reminds me of this experience now. But the evening noodle supper queue requires a whole new entry!!! 7 years ago


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