101 Train Travel Tips

If you have never taken a train ride in the country you are visiting, you have not fully explored that country. More often than not, one can have a deeper connection and realization of the local culture when you travel on a train. Here is a post of my personal experience and travel tips on making the best possible overseas train trip. Train comprises of subway, metro city train system, long overnight journey.  I will be sharing on some general train tips particularly in  Europe, Kazakhstan, China, Japan.

General Train Travel Tips 

• Be Early — General rule of thumb, you can be early and wait for the train rather than being late. Trains do not wait for you and depending on which country you are in, trains do arrive and depart on the planned schedule.
• Look out for your bags!  Yes, train stations usually are crowded places with locals using it as a mode of transport usually between big cities to smaller townships. As a foreigner, you might be a prime target for theft as it is usually a chaotic scene in major train stations.
• Get your bearings right! The least you need to know which direction you are heading to. The name of the town that you intend to alight, not forgetting to double check the train number is correct.
• Secure train seats. Yes, this is a nightmare if you are travelling during peak period. When I mention peak period, always take into account the local calendar of events. Is there a local public holiday or major event that is happening during your travel? Book that ticket in advance if research shows that tickets run out fast. Otherwise, I do not recommend you to purchase train tickets in advance as your travel plan might change. It is best to have more flexibility yet at the same time, work out a rough travel itinerary as it does not hurt to buy the train ticket at least 1 day in advance when you arrive in the city.
• Make friends!  Here, I am referring to long overnight train journey are often the best place to engage with locals and new found foreigner travellers like you. They are stuck on the same train and no way can either you or them escape. Best time to get local inside information like places to stay, local favourite food / restaurants, unique things to do in your destination that you are heading.
• Food: Long distance trains have dinning area on board, usually located at the front /back of the last cabin. Check that out! Food maybe more expensive, but having a drink there would not affect your travel budget a lot. Trust me, time pass faster when you sip a drink , taking a bite while enjoying the scenery outside. Usually, I will buy cup noodles, biscuits to munch. Train do sell food but they are a tad more expensive than if you can get it off the convenience stall before stepping into train station.
• Prepare for the long journey. Books, laptop, ensure your music player is fully charge, that will be your best companion for long trips. Look out for charging sockets and “reserved” it if you need to or at least have a friendly pact with your fellow train travellers when you need to use it.
• Arriving at your destination. The most important element here is how do I get from train station to my hotel? Getting prepare is the key here. Research or you can ask fellow train commuters on the market price from station to the intended area you heading to. If I require a taxi, usually I would ask 2 or more drivers to gauge the market rate and negotiate in general 40% down (depending on country) and see their reaction. Walk off if the price is not agree as there are usually many drivers around. A tip is to simply walk across the train station street and you will be surprised taxi rates might be 40% cheaper than what was quoted at train station. Do remember one might be paying more at train station for taxis as drivers queue up and spend their time waiting.

#1: Europe 

Europe, a continent with many countries closely located between each other make train trips over land border all the more important and essential. Beside the relatively cheaper budget flights across Europe, I would strongly recommend travelling in this region by train when it is all the more convenient and hassle-free. Do note that trains in Western Europe and Eastern Europe (mostly in Balkans state) might be a contrast in terms of comfort level, train types, train stations.  Train travel in Western Europe would be more of a luxury with the train condition coupled with good frequency and good network connecting mega cities to many smaller towns in other countries.  In Balkans or Eastern Europe, language is often the barrier with English less widely used. Write down the name of the destination you heading to and show it over ticketing counter if all failed. Be mindful that there might not be direct trains from your point of origin. One may require to do a transfer/ transit and wait for the next train. Recommend to get the train tickets to your final destination so you need not waste time purchasing at the transit station. Usually, it would indicate the train platform. However, do double check when you arrive at transit station. Cross check the information display on the board, using the train number to locate the platform.

#2: China 

When it comes to travel by train in China, there is a saying of the Green Train. In Chinese, they call it “绿皮车”. These conventional train in China usually travel with a speed at or below 160km/hr. These trains are usually the common ones that we sit for long distances.  There are various category of trains in China. They are:

• Z – Non-Stop Express (直达) : Non-stop or just few stops, over long distances. Save time but are more expensive.
• T – Express (特快): Travel between major cities only , very fast. Save time and seats are classier.
• K – Fast (快速): More stops than T-Express train, stopping at big, medium cities.
• General Fast Train (普通旅客快车): Don’t be deceive by its name. Slower train, stop at many stations.
• General Train  (普通旅客列车): Slowest passenger train, usually the cheapest but time consuming.
•  Suburban Commuter Rail (市郊): Commuting between the city center and the suburban area in some large cities.

Purchasing train tickets is another skills to master in China. Unless you have a china credit card, otherwise as a foreigner, we cannot buy directly on the official train website. If you are afraid of missing out on your train, especially if one have a tight travel schedule, then you should consider buying through a travel agent way in advance. This does cost more, but at least it save the hassle of long queue, mad rush and the complicated steps in securing tickets at the train station. Other than that, I would recommend if you travel during non-peak season, always buy your train ticket at least a day in advance or early of the day to avoid sold out. Take note of the train number and if it is a popular destination, do note there might be more than 1 type of train that takes you there.

Always buy cup noodles before hand if you are heading for a long train ride (overnight). There are many grocery outlets selling cup noodles, snacks around the vicinity of train station. If your train is departing very late and you have your big bags along with you, consider depositing it at the left baggage counter with less than 10 Yuan. Transfer your essential items you need for the day into a smaller day bag pack. Bring along a bottle flask that can store hot water. It comes in handy during cold weather to warm your hands in the train and to sip a cup of tea as what the Chinese usually does.

For a start, there are limited electrical plus and often it is occupied by your fellow train mate. So from my personal experience, I would dash to put my bags on my bed to indicate the bed is occupied, thou you do not worry as it comes with bed number. Train inspector would often check if that is your bed, otherwise they will chase people off. After settling the “bed” for the night, I would next locate the nearest electrical socket and seat there. It is usually found along the walkway. Inform and make eye contact with your new neighbours in the train to indicate that is for sharing if they need to. My suggestion is to ensure your power bank is charge to the fullest before you board the train so one need not snatch the electrical plug.

When it comes to bedding in China trains, there are at time 3 bed on each side. I recommend to purchase bed on the  lowest level. Thou one need to be prepare that if you choose to sleep at the lowest level, you would likely need to share your bed with bunk mates in your area. Your mates may sit around on your bed before heading up to their higher bed to sleep. Lights are usually off after a period of time at night when the train begin to move, as quick as 30 minutes into the journey.

#3: Mongolia Train Ride 

Known as the Trans Mongolian Train, a sub branch out from the Siberian Train journey, this is one of the interesting train ride I took till date. It took me from Ulaanbaator to Beijing, spanning a duration of 28 hours departing from Mongolia capital at 8.30am in the morning.  I had hopped on this China Train expecting to marvel in sight of the famous Gobi Desert which the train will bring you through. As I was travelling solo on this trip, making friends become a necessary for me as I need someone to look over my belongings when I go to the washroom or walking about in the different train sections.

More often than not, your best friend would be your train buddy who share the same cabin with you. Depending on your seat category, usually there will be 4-6 beds in one cabin.  My best buddy on this trip is a Turkish guy who shared with me his stories of more than 100 countries covered. Although he could only speak Turkish, we could communicate via actions and photos. Travel tip: Always make a friend not to just while away your time and enrich yourself through one’s life experiences, your new friend can take care your belongings on your train. Whenever the train stop at the station, there will be a short time frame to alight and stretch your legs. We will take turn to go down the train and explore while the other stay on board to “guard” the room. For more information on my Mongolian train adventure, click on link here.

#4: Japan

When it comes to train in other part of Asia, I find the most convenient but also most complicated train network goes to Japan. It has numerous different types of train. Shinkansen is of course the most expensive train to ride in Japan, thou is good to experience the speed it brings. Very often, we hear a lot of Japan Rail Pass. Simply purchase a card that allows you to ride different type of train and that could solve your problem. However, the question is, purchasing this card which does not come cheap, is it worth it? That depends on where you travel. In a nutshell, if you plan to travel the entire of Japan using train, go ahead and purchase it! However, we usually only have enough vacation days to cover a region in Japan only.

For example, if you are visiting just Osaka, Kobe, Nara region, I would recommend one to purchase ICOCA & HARUKA pass. The Kansai International Airport (KIX) services the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. If you hold a Japan Rail Pass, travel from the airport can be a simple and exciting process, as the Japan Railway West’s Express Haruka train offers direct transportation from the Kansai International Airport to downtown Osaka and Kyoto.

Japan has smaller , slower train that stop at almost every small village. At time, it is nice to take these train and see another side of Japan, the rural countryside. Go ahead and plan such train trips when you are in Osaka region the next time. For more travel tips to Japan, you can click on this link.

#5: Subway in Kazakhstan 

Usually, metro train in mega cities are often the most boring type of train ride. It is just a mode of transport from getting to point A to B in the quickest manner and are very crowded. One of the more unique subway that I had took and is listed as one of the must do things in Kazakhstan, Almaty is to take their subway. Being occupied previously by ex soviet, this landlocked country which gained independence in Year 1992 still retains her old charm of the transportation system. Welcome to one of the deepest subway station. The ride on the escalator down to the train platform took me more than 3 minutes.

Every station is an art by itself. Strongly recommend to visit almost every stop, alight and admire the train decorations.  Do note that while I was there back in around Year 2016, the security forces on duty forbid me to take pictures of the interior station. However, I heard recent time things had improved and they are not so strict to tourist taking photos in the subway. Do proceed with caution thou as I was been shouted at by the guards to delete some of the photos I took. Luckily, I managed to just delete some while the rest, I simply show the guard there were ‘none’ left on my camera memory card.

Have fun in your travel. If you are looking to fly the next time between the 2 cities in your travel itinerary, think again. If time allow, why not take the train instead and admire the scenery along the way. For other travel tips, log on to link here.

Categories: Travel Tips