Sleeper trains?

The_ICT_Engineer

Tuesday_Tenor wrote: »

I'm hoping to do overnight sleepers while travelling in America in 2012 or 2013.

Anyone have any experience of travelling solo on American sleepers?

You find that there are a few single berths available, But it does
depend on the route.

I did LA to New York, Using two trains. The ride can be a bit rough in places and often you be side tracked into a siding to allow a goods train to pass. As for the food it is a bit bland.

The_ICT_Engineer

Ames wrote: »

I did want to add in Northern Norway, but it just didn't fit in. I'm hoping to get a few days away there in Feb/March time, it depends on my uni timetable next year. I've been told it's stupidly expensive, although I'm planning a fortnight in Italy as part of this trip.

What's the bus like in Scandinavia, I'd expect it to be really cold? Or are they better than our National Express ones?

I haven't even gone yet and I'm planning the next one :rotfl:

I went in early September, So it was still warm, Coach was very clean, As the heating was not on, Its hard to say how good it is in winter. I would recommend the Stockholm to Narvik Sleeper (22hrs), If traveling midweek, You get a cabin to yourself, There are showers on board, The berth was only 160 crowns.
The Bodo - Trondheim sleeper is good as well, This train speeds through Hell.

To keep the costs down use the hostel system and local B&B's. The Stockholm hostel is a sailing ship. If the weather is warm camp out (Wild camping is allowed as long as you are 150ft from any house). Food wise stick to the local produce and buy in the market or the local supermarket. You can only buy beer from state owned stores at very high prices.

misscomickat

I've been on a sleeper train in Turkey - really enjoyed it. Had a twin sleeper cabin, dinner in the restaurant car, then the train man came and turned our cabin into a sleeping room with bunk beds, it also had a fridge with snacks and water in it, a sink. I can't say it was the best night's sleep I've ever had, but it was fun and nice to wake up at my destination. I'm sure interrailing will be lots of fun!

PompeyPete

We took the overnight sleeper train recently in both directions between Istanbul and Ankara. Here's my posting on TA...

The 'Ankara Express' leaves Haydarpasa at 2230, and you can board from about 2130.

The train is completely 'sleeper', and has (I think) 7 carriages, each with approx 12 x 2 person compartments, with a carriage length corridor. At either end of the carriage is a toilet, one is western and one a 'squattie'. There is also one shower cubicle (attendant has the key). Inside the cabin there is a wash-basin, and adequate room to stow your gear. Take a look at https://www.seat61.com, which is THE website for worldwide rail travel.

Until departure the cabin is in daytime mode; the two seats face forward. Shortly after the train departs an attendant will knock on your door (sliding) and ask he can turn your bunks down. It takes about 2 seconds and the bunks are already made up. He'll also tell you that the restaurant car is open if you want it. We never used it, but the prices looks very reasonable. I took the opportunity to ask the attendant about using the shower in the morning. He looked a bit sheepish, but said that I should see him at about 0600, and he'd get the water working!

The bunks are aligned across the cabin. They are wide enough, but a bit restrictive if you are 5'10"+. There are light switches, which all worked. So you could keep your compartment as light or dark as you wanted it. There's also a temperature contol, but I'm not convinced how effective it was. It was a bit warm, but there is a window you can open (increases the noise).

I reckon we got to bed at about 2300, and we were up at about 0530. How you sleep depends on you, it's as simple as that. We'd done the sleeper experience in Thailand, and basically knew what to expect..

During the night, I was in and out of sleep, you can feel all the movements of the carriage, hear the various noises, the changing noises, sense the train going uphill, downhill, changing points, being passed by trains in the opposite direction, and then silence if the train stops. If your partner snores, then the chances are you won't be able to hear him/her! It's all a bit weird, you are like a 'prisoner', cos you can't ring the bell to get off! But it's great, one of those got-to-do things.

At 0600 I sought the attendant about the shower. He did what he had to do with the water, and me and the Mrs had a shower (separately, of course!)

While I was having a shower my Mrs put the bunks back in the upright position, and sorted out all our gear ready for disembarking. We never bothered with breakfast, but had a cuppa using our travel-kettle.

Between getting up and arriving in Ankara we opened the curtains, and were able to watch the scenery pass-by, and it was really pleasant.

The train arrived in Ankara at 0800, more-or-less on time.

Ankara train station is about a mile from downtown. There are 3 exits, connected by an underground walkway.

We repeated the experience in the opposite direction 10 days later (shower out-of-order!)

Both stations are very safe.

Both stations have got inexpensive left luggage lockers. We used one large locker at Haydarpasa, it cost 5TL for the first 5 hours and 2TL for each additional hour. It was slightly different at Ankara. Instructions are fairly simple - we managed it!

The cost of the ticket (one-way) including sleeper is 55TL per person.

You need to book it in advance, within 30 days of travel. BUT if you are outside of Turkey you'll need to make the booking via a Travel Agent (we used Backpackers Travel Agency in Sultanahmet). Don't try and use the TCDD webite on-line booking, because you'll just get frustrated with it.

zagfles

Ames wrote: »

I did want to add in Northern Norway, but it just didn't fit in. I'm hoping to get a few days away there in Feb/March time, it depends on my uni timetable next year. I've been told it's stupidly expensive, although I'm planning a fortnight in Italy as part of this trip.

What's the bus like in Scandinavia, I'd expect it to be really cold? Or are they better than our National Express ones?

I haven't even gone yet and I'm planning the next one :rotfl:

In winter it's bound to be very cold - I was there in July and it was reasonably warm. In December it'd be dark 24/7 so you'd miss out on the scenery etc, so probably not the best idea to go then... March would be better but still very cold I'd imagine.

Looks like the price of the bus has gone up massively, ICT engineer posts it's 940 Kroner which is over £100:eek: When I went it must have been a lot cheaper even in real terms as I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Norway is generally very expensive these days, it always was but seems to have got even more expensive in recent years. Friend who went there recntly said it was about £12 for a small bottle of beer!

The_ICT_Engineer

zagfles wrote: »

In winter it's bound to be very cold - I was there in July and it was reasonably warm. In December it'd be dark 24/7 so you'd miss out on the scenery etc, so probably not the best idea to go then... March would be better but still very cold I'd imagine.

Looks like the price of the bus has gone up massively, ICT engineer posts it's 940 Kroner which is over £100:eek:

When I was there, It was 14.60 crowns to pound. And on bus it self, Apart from me only two others boarded in the whole six hours.
I had a look in the old records and found the ticket it was for 490 crowns (Right numbers just in the wrong order)

Ames

Thanks, Norway at Easter it is then. I'm interested in the Narvik-Stockholm train, ideally I want to go up the west coat of Norway, then down the East coast of Sweden, but wasn't sure if that's possible.

I know how expensive it is, I've heard of people having to come home early because they ran out of money. I use hostels as standard though, and don't drink much because of my meds.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and tips.

CountryGoose

Tuesday_Tenor wrote: »

I'm hoping to do overnight sleepers while travelling in America in 2012 or 2013.

As you've discovered, it's quite normal to be able to book into a shared (same-sex) sleeper in Europe. I've been looking at the Amtrak web-site and think Americans have no concept of doing this! I'll probably be travelling solo, but having to pay for a double cabin for myself might well make this planned trip prohibitively expensive. Anyone have any experience of travelling solo on American sleepers?

On Amtrak you pay for the ticket for the journey then you add a "room". The style of room depends on your trip. I'd been in a "roomette" from New York to San Francisco (change at Chicago). You can only share with people you book with.

The roomettes are small - two would be comfy, but are OK for one. Little room for luggage - you can fit in one standard airline carry-on.

Advice is to book as soon as you can for the cheapest price. The good news is that food is included - it's a little like a Diner, and you will need to share a table. However, you get to meet new people.

Forum for Amtrak is here http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/

Edited to add: Don't expect trains to run to time - normally they leave around schedule from the start, but lose hours on route.