Decided to make a more elaborate post on the history of sleeper trains. They have a long history, and still are an amazing way to travel.
They started as early as the 1840s and are used for more comfortable overnight travel. They were used extensively in the US and a vestigial form remains in long distance Amtrak trains. The concept is simple: Leave one city in the evening, wake up in a new city in the morning. Some trips take multiple days, and in this case comfort is essential. They are still used extensively all around the world.
People talk about how high speed rail could never go to every city, and they might be right. But, just about every city in the world and even many towns could support sleeper train services. In the US, sleeper trains were once the main way to get between cities, and they could be again. I'll go even more into depth on sleeper trains in the US on a future post about the Pullman company and the labor activism surrounding it. This is just a basic primer.
The sad part is it doesn't have to be but North American politics invested heavily in cars instead of trains :deeper-sadness:
Sadly airlines have also made it a luxury expense in Europe although less so
I only been on the ones in China which are way more affordable for the average person
I took a sleeper train from Stockholm to Oslo once. Wonderful experience. Chatted and drank with strangers in my car.
I then slept on a train from Oslo to Bergen - I didn’t pay for a sleeper compartment, but was still stunning to wake up and see the mountains rolling past.
Whenever I get back to the U.K., I’d love to take the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh.
I'd love to take a trip on these.
Hope this Amtrak expansion goes forward smoothly, maybe I'll get to one day.
probalbly get the best sleep of my life with that clickity clack clickity clack
I dream of a future where the world is united under communism and there are rails crossing the oceans. Want to go to Asia from North America? Just take the trans-pacific train. Want to go from Africa to Europe? Take the mediterranean railway.
I feel like it would be simpler to make a bridge or tunnel across the Bering strait.
Fully automated silent zero emissions nuclear fusion powered luxury gay ocean liner communism
maybe don't disrupt the ocean with construction projects. Although I don't know for sure if long bridges or boating are worse overall.
I took a sleeper from toronto to vancouver. Nicest ride i've been on in a long time.
I'm actually going on a overnight train ride soon in America that has sleeper cars! :train-shining:
Unfortunately prices for sleeper cars started at $450 while coach seats were $150, so guess which one I got? Btw, those prices are for one way.
