Sleeper trains are regular class trains that provide overnight service, accommodating passengers with carriages featuring sleeping compartments with full-length beds. They are normally used on long-distance routes only and are a good way for travelers to pass what might otherwise be an arduous journey.
Some sleeper trains are geared towards luxury travel over a period of anything from several days to a week or more. These trains are aimed at travelers wishing to see large areas of a country. Somewhat like sea cruisers, these trains stop at scheduled destinations and give travelers the opportunity to disembark and explore.
Regular sleeper trains are an ideal option for anyone obliged to travel long distances and for budgetary or other reasons may prefer not to use air as a mode of transport. They can be economical not only in terms of the price of the ticket, but also in that they can save the passenger on the cost of a hotel room for the night. Additionally, sleeper trains can offer passengers the opportunity to see scenery that is unavailable by any other method of travel.
Sleeper carriages vary significantly depending on the country you are in and the rail company you use. In developing countries they are often communal, meaning that all the beds are located in the same carriage. In contrast, in developed countries private cabins with single or double berths are usually available.
Most sleeper trains offer a variety of facilities and services, which besides basics such as toilets can include shower units, power points for razors and private washstands with towels. Additionally, in hot countries, air-conditioning or overhead fans are usually available.
On luxury trains, restaurants, observation cabins, bathrooms and lounges usually come as standard. Additionally, ‘room service’ may be offered and newspapers and other reading material provided. It’s unusual for any sleeper train not to offer dining facilities of some description and restaurant cars with eat in or take away service are invariably provided.
Sleeper trains can be found in countries across the world. In the US, AMTRAK offers double-decker Superliner and single-decker Viewliner cars, while in Europe sleeper carriages from basic to luxury standards are provided by a variety of different rail companies. Across Asia, travelers will find most countries offer sleeper trains and though standards rarely match those of Western countries, cleanliness and basic facilities are standard.
For travelers undertaking backpacking holidays, sleeper trains offer the perfect way to cover extensive distances on a budget and to reach destinations off the beaten track or those not served by airports or ferry ports.