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Train to Europe?

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  1. #11

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    We had intended returning back to UK from Hong Kong in July 2020 by rail/road. Intention was a month exploring China and then Bejing, Mongolia, Khasikstan, Azerbajan (intended getting a cargo ship arcross the Caspian, wife wasn't keen!) Georgia, Turkey and then country hopping through Europe.

    Sadly Covid spoilt all those plans. Still intend to do the Southern Europe area from the UK when covid allows in our new retirement toy.

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  2. #12

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    What else are we going to re-adopt from the 1800s?


  3. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by cagoof5G:
    Correct. The railway through Laos to China is supposed to open later this year, although pandemic restrictions may delay that or limit it to freight to start with.

    There's another route, which is almost entirely by train and which I've done in 2019:

    1. Bangkok to the Cambodia border (Ban Klong Luk) by Thai Railways
    2. Royal Railway train from the Thai/Cambodia border (Poipet) to Phnom Penh (new route as of 2018)
    3. Bus or private road transport from Phnom Penh to Saigon
    4. Overnight sleeper from Saigon to Hanoi by Vietnam Railways
    5. China Railways Overnight sleeper from Hanoi to Nanning
    6. China Railways Overnight sleeper from Nanning to Guangzhou
    7. Intercity through train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong
    Don't those overnight sleepers mean you miss out on the scenery which is why I would take the train route.

  4. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by hullexile:
    Don't those overnight sleepers mean you miss out on the scenery which is why I would take the train route.
    The Thai and Cambodian trains are daytime trains, as well as the through train from GZ to HK (though it's not very scenic).

    The Saigon to Hanoi sleeper is around 36 hours, so you have plenty of daylight to see scenery from the train. There are several per day, so you can pick the one that gives you daylight for your preferred part of the trip. Hai Van Pass north of Da Nang is the highlight for me.

    As for the China Railways trains, I think there are daytime trains on those routes if you prefer them.

    For me the benefit of train travel is the slower pace; I'll generally spend between a night and a week in each city along the way. This way I have discovered many places I never would have bothered flying to. I also find it far more convenient -- "boarding" in most cases involves turning up at the train station 10 minutes before departure and walking onto the train. A journey of flights Bangkok -> Phnom Penh -> Saigon -> Hanoi -> Nanning -> Guangzhou -> Hong Kong would involve something like a cumulative half day of waiting in queues.
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  5. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by cagoof5G:
    The Thai and Cambodian trains are daytime trains, as well as the through train from GZ to HK (though it's not very scenic).

    The Saigon to Hanoi sleeper is around 36 hours, so you have plenty of daylight to see scenery from the train. There are several per day, so you can pick the one that gives you daylight for your preferred part of the trip. Hai Van Pass north of Da Nang is the highlight for me.

    As for the China Railways trains, I think there are daytime trains on those routes if you prefer them.

    For me the benefit of train travel is the slower pace; I'll generally spend between a night and a week in each city along the way. This way I have discovered many places I never would have bothered flying to. I also find it far more convenient -- "boarding" in most cases involves turning up at the train station 10 minutes before departure and walking onto the train. A journey of flights Bangkok -> Phnom Penh -> Saigon -> Hanoi -> Nanning -> Guangzhou -> Hong Kong would involve something like a cumulative half day of waiting in queues.
    OK understand now. In my youth I did the Euro train month pass. Brilliant. After each city, look at the map to see where to go next.