Night train facilities Eastern Europe

NatureOne
Traveller
273 comments

Hi,
I haven't Used a Night Train yet, but in the evening I'll GEt One from Beograd to Budapest.
But what I've Seen at the Train Station does Not Look like the Trains in Western Europe :D
I think the Trains Were Used in the 80 in Western europe. Do Not Expect to much Comfort.
When I arrived yesterday, the Night Train to Sofia was prepared. I think there aren't possibilites to shower.
You'll find some Pictures on railcc or check: [u]http://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/[/u] (you'll also find Information about Restaurant Waggons :)
But i Would recommend to spend a Night in the sleeper. I think for the sleeper it was just 12
Euros from Beograd to Budapest.
I'll Tell you more tomorrow :D And Maybe Show some pictures.

ardeeay
Traveller
99 comments

Hi

During May and June this year I spent 31 nights out of 40 on night trains (and most of the rest on night ferries). I always tried to book the best available sleeper accommodation with en suite WC and shower. I found the following:

The best sleepers were in Western Europe and Scandinavia. The City Night Line (CNL) and Swedish trains were the best.
The further I went East and South into Eastern Europe and the Balkan states the lower the quality of the rolling stock itself along with the reliability of the on-board facilities (WC, showers, hot water, power points - they were often out of order or non-existent) and the service level of the train crew. However the cost was also much less in the Balkans so you could say you get what you pay for!

I think that, generally speaking, the extra cost of a sleeper over a couchette was well worth it. I was travelling solo and am nearly 70 years of age so I wanted some creature comforts. I did have some couchettes in the Balkans and did not find them too bad, but no privacy (and usually no meals on board).

With respect to food, the same general comments apply. The CNL breakfasts were the best (I was booking the deluxe sleepers after all), although their evening meals where there was no Bordrestaurant were simple microwaved convenience meals with a choice of only two or three dishes on the menu. The best meals on board were those on the Railjet services in Austria. The menu in the Henry on board restaurant was varied and the food good.

There is absolutely no wi-fi on the Balkans trains, and in most cases not even a working power point to recharge your iPad or phone.

On the Munich-Budapest night train the sleeper carriage was Hungarian. The conductor told me that hey had bought the Train in Spain (there has to be joke in that somewhere but I just can't figure it out yet). I think that someone before the Spaniards owned them, probably the ancient Romans.

Of the trains you are going to use, I have only travelled on Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia, but also travelled
Sofia-Plovdiv (day train) and Belgrade-Skopje-Belgrade (night), and Belgrade-Podgorica-Bar-Belgrade (night).

The notes that I made at the time read The trains in the Balkans are not very good. They are everyone else's hand-me-downs I think and are really worn out, damaged, not working, and just about everything else you can think of. The staff are also very casual, verging on neglectful, and just shrug shoulders when something is not right. I am starting to feel travel-weary and looking forward to Thursday when I start the homeward journey.
And Just a quick note to say that last night's train was pretty ordinary. No, in fact is was so unordinary that I can't find words to describe it except to say take your own toilet paper because that train hasn't got any. It becomes a rather desirable commodity on an eight hour journey. (As I always say you can never have too many McDonalds paper serviettes.) You also need to carry water for every purpose you may need, drinking, brushing teeth, washing face etc because you wouldn't want to touch the train's intermittent supply with a barge pole, or anything else you may have handy.
But having said that, I did really enjoy my travels through the Balkans. If I was to do it again, I would start my journey in the south-east of Europe and travel westward and northward as time progressed, thus getting better trains towards the end instead of the worse ones. For wi-fi and battery charging use McDonalds and Starbucks (even if you don't really like their coffee). They also have clean toilets for their customers - a bit of a relief after six or eight hourd on the night train.

So my advice is use the night trains of Eastern Europe as a means to an end. Don't expect luxury but don't be put off by my comments about their condition - they will get you to your next city very effectively and you will then have full days to see the wonders of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Enjoy every minute of your journey and talk to your fellow travellers whenever you can - they will have a welth of information to share.

Bon Voyage

Richard

NatureOne
Traveller
273 comments

Hi,
So I am still Alive :D
But no I wasn't that Bad, but of course, the best days of the train are over :D
I think the Night Train was from Switzerland :)
The sleeper was okay, but don't Expect cleanliness. The mattress And the Pillow doesn't Look that Nice :D
But it Might be okay with coating material.
As mentioned by ardeeay bring your own water And Serviettes And Maybe Something for disinfectant.
The only Colling is the window :D

Here's a picture of our 2(3) bed sleeper: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jhcm3lrxy2m8nwt/Photo%2013.08.13%2021%2019%2008.jpg

I didn't get much sleep because of border controls And the early arriving of the Train. But try it by Yourself :D