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"I’d arrive in a new city each morning feeling refreshed because of the train’s sleeping accommodations." Aeh, where were you travelling? Many countries did no

"I’d arrive in a new city each morning feeling refreshed because of the train’s sleeping accommodations." Aeh, where were you travelling? Many countries did not have sleeper trains. Don't get me wrong. I did the same, travelling at night in trains, and it saved me a night in a hotel. But I did not arrive well rested, I arrived train wrecked.

airstrike 2y ago
20 years ago?
- Beijinger 2y ago
  Yes. It was called Interrail. You had to have an EU Passport to buy this ticket. And be below 26 years of age. I think it still exits.
  - brabel 2y ago
    I travelled Europe on night trains almost exactly 20 years ago as well, and I was not an EU citizen back then... I guess I just paid more than with interrail? Just wanted to mention it was possible, and must've been pretty cheap as I was broke as hell at the time.
    - rconti 2y ago
      Eurail passes (for non-EU citizens) were cheaper than interrail passes. You needed a non-EU passport, and a non-EU address. I ordered one to my parents' house in the US and had them FexEx it to me in Europe.
  - ben_w 2y ago
    It's still around, I used it in 2016 aged 32. I've not heard of any age requirements. https://www.interrail.eu/en https://www.interrail.eu/en
    - bpye 2y ago
      There is a cheaper ticket for 12-27.
  - GuB-42 2y ago
    It still exists: https://www.interrail.eu/ https://www.interrail.eu/ You don't have to be younger than 26 to buy one, not anymore, but it is cheaper if you are. If you are a EU citizen, it gets you free, unlimited travel by train in most European countries. If you are not a EU citizen, there is the Eurail pass that is similar. But that's the theory. In practice there are important limitations: - You can't use it in your home country, except for a single round trip: in and out. - If you make a reservation, you will have to pay reservation fees, and many long-distance and high-speed trains only have reserved seats. - Not all seats are available to pass owners, if you want to travel in these seats, you will have to pay full price. And considering that the pass itself is not that cheap, you really have some planning to do to see if it is worth it. In many cases, it isn't.
    - sourcepluck 2y ago
      The word "free" is being ruthlessly abused here, surely... If I follow the link there, it costs 239E for a 5-day pass, where each of the 5 days must be used in a 1 month period. That's not "gratis", that's 47.8E per day the train is used?
    - sazor 2y ago
      Not citizen but resident of EU country. Last summer Spain’s Renfe offered huge discount for a pass for people under 31. Only for paper version though which is slightly less convenient but worth it anyway. I guess other eu countries could have similar seasonal discounts.
      - bpye 2y ago
        And to nit pick, it's not just the EU, for example the UK is still included post Brexit.
    - sakjur 2y ago
      For non-Europeans: https://www.eurail.com/en https://www.eurail.com/en There are some home country limitations for Interrail, but I’m not really sure why the passes are still kept separate beyond that. It seems Eurail and Interrail are mostly identical beyond the residency/anti-residency requirements.
caseyy 2y ago
I thought the same as I was reading the comment you're responding to. Arriving rested after public transport? Get a load of that guy :) Not sure how anyone does that, but of course it would be nice to learn this dark magic.
- donalhunt 2y ago
  First class sleeper cabins would count. Definitely not equivalent to a hotel room but better than a couchette. The definitely ran between Germany and the Netherlands in the 00s because I took at least one trip that way.
  - Tijdreiziger 2y ago
    IIUC you have these options: * couchette (6 couchettes per cabin, less comfort) * 2nd class bed (3 beds per cabin) * 1st class bed (same as 2nd class, but 2 beds per cabin) * 1st class private bed (same as above, but without roommate)
- bialpio 2y ago
  "sleeper train" is the key here. Another keyword to search for is "couchette", I think that's how it's called in some places. See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couchette_car https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couchette_car and the map.
  - Beijinger 2y ago
    Sleeper train can be a great experience. Unfortunately, this was not an option when I was young either due to pricing or due to availability. At least in Europe with the InterRail ticket.
  - VBprogrammer 2y ago
    I've used the Caledonian Sleeper a couple of times. The first time it worked reasonably well, I got a reasonable amount of sleep. The second time not so much, not really any fault of the train, I just didn't relax enough to get a reasonable amount of sleep. Both times I'd say well rested would be a stretch. The first time felt a bit like a magic carpet in that I got somewhere while using up no useful hours but it still wasn't perfect.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
TomK32 2y ago
There's a map to prove you wrong. I counted 26 from the UK to Turkey and from that bit of Spain to Ukraine (a different gauge doesn't mean you can have nighttrains). The solid lines have sleeper wagons. Which are useless anyways if you are taller than 190cm. https://back-on-track.eu/night-train-map/ https://back-on-track.eu/night-train-map/ Actually Spain seems to have more to offer according to this map http://www.night-trains.com/europe/ http://www.night-trains.com/europe/ edit: Nope, Spain is pretty almost void of night trains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenhotel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenhotel
- freetanga 2y ago
  20 years ago was quite a different story. Before low cost airlines, mobiles, and almost before the euro… I did a similar trip in the late 90s. Not 20 stays in train, but well above 10. Paris-Madrid, Rome-Paris, Bordeaux-Paris, to name a few.
bpye 2y ago
I spent a couple weeks travelling by train across Europe a few years ago on an Interrail pass. I found sleeper cabins were generally pretty comfortable, though you do have to pay extra for them. If you were just sleeping in a seat then yes I can believe you felt awful the next day.
- dspillett 2y ago
  I travel by train regularly in the UK and it isn't unusual to take up to 8 hours to get anywhere :) The closest I've been to a sleeper in recent decades has been five hours on a cold station because cancellations & delays have meant missing the last onward connection of the day so waiting for the first morning service (there are supposed to be provisions for that by way of providing accommodation or replacement taxi service, which do sometimes work, but at that time of night there isn't always someone available & reachable to enact such policies).
  - Moru 2y ago
    8 hours won't even get me out of Sweden from where I live.
    - FartinMowler 2y ago
      30 hours and I still haven't left the province of Ontario (Canada).
      - Moru 2y ago
        Canada not in Europe :-)
  - bpye 2y ago
    I’ve had my fair share of poor UK rail experiences, especially during holiday periods. Standing on the train from London Paddington most of the way towards Exeter is never fun. In the case you couldn’t reach someone, doesn’t every platform have a phone as well?
s1artibartfast 2y ago
I traveled by sleeper train in india, around 2010. They had beds, but every time I woke up, there were 3-4 Indian dudes that had come into our cabin and climbed on my bed to get some shut eye. It wasn't threatening or anything, just a wild experience and insightful lesson in cultural differences
- bowmessage 2y ago
  Strange men climbing into one’s bed sounds very threatening to me..?
  - s1artibartfast 2y ago
    Yeah, that's the trippy part right. really highlights cultural assumptions.
  - caminante 2y ago
    It's less invasive, but still crazier than it sounds. Indian railways changed the base sleeper cars into free-for-alls by changing sleeper cabin classifications and stopping verifying tickets. Now you have people buying the cheapest tickets (unreserved general) and swarming the "reserved" sleeper cabin berths. [0] They're just over-cramming the trains. [0] https://www.tripsavvy.com/indian-railways-trains-travel-classes-1539646 https://www.tripsavvy.com/indian-railways-trains-travel-clas...

airstrike 2y ago

20 years ago?

Beijinger 2y ago
Yes. It was called Interrail. You had to have an EU Passport to buy this ticket. And be below 26 years of age. I think it still exits.
- brabel 2y ago
  I travelled Europe on night trains almost exactly 20 years ago as well, and I was not an EU citizen back then... I guess I just paid more than with interrail? Just wanted to mention it was possible, and must've been pretty cheap as I was broke as hell at the time.
  - rconti 2y ago
    Eurail passes (for non-EU citizens) were cheaper than interrail passes. You needed a non-EU passport, and a non-EU address. I ordered one to my parents' house in the US and had them FexEx it to me in Europe.
- ben_w 2y ago
  It's still around, I used it in 2016 aged 32. I've not heard of any age requirements. https://www.interrail.eu/en https://www.interrail.eu/en
  - bpye 2y ago
    There is a cheaper ticket for 12-27.
- GuB-42 2y ago
  It still exists: https://www.interrail.eu/ https://www.interrail.eu/ You don't have to be younger than 26 to buy one, not anymore, but it is cheaper if you are. If you are a EU citizen, it gets you free, unlimited travel by train in most European countries. If you are not a EU citizen, there is the Eurail pass that is similar. But that's the theory. In practice there are important limitations: - You can't use it in your home country, except for a single round trip: in and out. - If you make a reservation, you will have to pay reservation fees, and many long-distance and high-speed trains only have reserved seats. - Not all seats are available to pass owners, if you want to travel in these seats, you will have to pay full price. And considering that the pass itself is not that cheap, you really have some planning to do to see if it is worth it. In many cases, it isn't.
  - sourcepluck 2y ago
    The word "free" is being ruthlessly abused here, surely... If I follow the link there, it costs 239E for a 5-day pass, where each of the 5 days must be used in a 1 month period. That's not "gratis", that's 47.8E per day the train is used?
  - sazor 2y ago
    Not citizen but resident of EU country. Last summer Spain’s Renfe offered huge discount for a pass for people under 31. Only for paper version though which is slightly less convenient but worth it anyway. I guess other eu countries could have similar seasonal discounts.
    - bpye 2y ago
      And to nit pick, it's not just the EU, for example the UK is still included post Brexit.
  - sakjur 2y ago
    For non-Europeans: https://www.eurail.com/en https://www.eurail.com/en There are some home country limitations for Interrail, but I’m not really sure why the passes are still kept separate beyond that. It seems Eurail and Interrail are mostly identical beyond the residency/anti-residency requirements.

caseyy 2y ago

I thought the same as I was reading the comment you're responding to. Arriving rested after public transport? Get a load of that guy :) Not sure how anyone does that, but of course it would be nice to learn this dark magic.

donalhunt 2y ago
First class sleeper cabins would count. Definitely not equivalent to a hotel room but better than a couchette. The definitely ran between Germany and the Netherlands in the 00s because I took at least one trip that way.
- Tijdreiziger 2y ago
  IIUC you have these options: * couchette (6 couchettes per cabin, less comfort) * 2nd class bed (3 beds per cabin) * 1st class bed (same as 2nd class, but 2 beds per cabin) * 1st class private bed (same as above, but without roommate)
bialpio 2y ago
"sleeper train" is the key here. Another keyword to search for is "couchette", I think that's how it's called in some places. See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couchette_car https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couchette_car and the map.
- Beijinger 2y ago
  Sleeper train can be a great experience. Unfortunately, this was not an option when I was young either due to pricing or due to availability. At least in Europe with the InterRail ticket.
- VBprogrammer 2y ago
  I've used the Caledonian Sleeper a couple of times. The first time it worked reasonably well, I got a reasonable amount of sleep. The second time not so much, not really any fault of the train, I just didn't relax enough to get a reasonable amount of sleep. Both times I'd say well rested would be a stretch. The first time felt a bit like a magic carpet in that I got somewhere while using up no useful hours but it still wasn't perfect.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

TomK32 2y ago

There's a map to prove you wrong. I counted 26 from the UK to Turkey and from that bit of Spain to Ukraine (a different gauge doesn't mean you can have nighttrains). The solid lines have sleeper wagons. Which are useless anyways if you are taller than 190cm. https://back-on-track.eu/night-train-map/ https://back-on-track.eu/night-train-map/ Actually Spain seems to have more to offer according to this map http://www.night-trains.com/europe/ http://www.night-trains.com/europe/ edit: Nope, Spain is pretty almost void of night trains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenhotel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenhotel

freetanga 2y ago
20 years ago was quite a different story. Before low cost airlines, mobiles, and almost before the euro… I did a similar trip in the late 90s. Not 20 stays in train, but well above 10. Paris-Madrid, Rome-Paris, Bordeaux-Paris, to name a few.

bpye 2y ago

I spent a couple weeks travelling by train across Europe a few years ago on an Interrail pass. I found sleeper cabins were generally pretty comfortable, though you do have to pay extra for them. If you were just sleeping in a seat then yes I can believe you felt awful the next day.

dspillett 2y ago
I travel by train regularly in the UK and it isn't unusual to take up to 8 hours to get anywhere :) The closest I've been to a sleeper in recent decades has been five hours on a cold station because cancellations & delays have meant missing the last onward connection of the day so waiting for the first morning service (there are supposed to be provisions for that by way of providing accommodation or replacement taxi service, which do sometimes work, but at that time of night there isn't always someone available & reachable to enact such policies).
- Moru 2y ago
  8 hours won't even get me out of Sweden from where I live.
  - FartinMowler 2y ago
    30 hours and I still haven't left the province of Ontario (Canada).
    - Moru 2y ago
      Canada not in Europe :-)
- bpye 2y ago
  I’ve had my fair share of poor UK rail experiences, especially during holiday periods. Standing on the train from London Paddington most of the way towards Exeter is never fun. In the case you couldn’t reach someone, doesn’t every platform have a phone as well?

s1artibartfast 2y ago

I traveled by sleeper train in india, around 2010. They had beds, but every time I woke up, there were 3-4 Indian dudes that had come into our cabin and climbed on my bed to get some shut eye. It wasn't threatening or anything, just a wild experience and insightful lesson in cultural differences

bowmessage 2y ago
Strange men climbing into one’s bed sounds very threatening to me..?
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  Yeah, that's the trippy part right. really highlights cultural assumptions.
- caminante 2y ago
  It's less invasive, but still crazier than it sounds. Indian railways changed the base sleeper cars into free-for-alls by changing sleeper cabin classifications and stopping verifying tickets. Now you have people buying the cheapest tickets (unreserved general) and swarming the "reserved" sleeper cabin berths. [0] They're just over-cramming the trains. [0] https://www.tripsavvy.com/indian-railways-trains-travel-classes-1539646 https://www.tripsavvy.com/indian-railways-trains-travel-clas...