Introducing my latest project: Europe Rail News – the newsletter for train travel in Europe. The newsletter includes new routes, service updates, train travel tips, ticket deals, and features on European destinations by railway. Why start a Europe rail news site? Nomadic Notes is my online home to write about travel and digital nomad life. […]
Da Lat – Trai Mat Railway – A restored heritage railway in Vietnam
The Da Lat – Trai Mat Railway is a restored section of the former Da Lat–Thap Cham railway. The original railway connected Da Lat to the main North-South railway of Vietnam. Da Lat became a popular place to escape the tropical heat and enjoy the cool mountain air. Like the hill stations of India, a […]
Palembang to Bandar Lampung by train – riding the coal-subsidised railway of South Sumatra
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world with a population of over 50 million people, yet there are only a few railway lines on the island. There are plans to unite the current lines to form a trans-Sumatran railway that would travel from Medan to Bandar Lampung. This is a distance of over 1750 […]
Boten – Vientiane (China-Laos) railway – travel information and news
The Boten – Vientiane Railway (also referred to as the China-Laos Railway) is set to open on 2 December 2021, making it the first passenger railway in Laos. The line will initially be used for freight services, and passenger services will begin once the Covid-19 situation is under control and borders are reopened. This page […]
A complete guide to train travel in Southeast Asia
A complete guide to Southeast Asia train travel, featuring resources for buying tickets and reviews of rail travel in the region. An introduction to Southeast Asia Railways Travel by train is a great way to experience the landscapes of Southeast Asia, and to meet the people who live here. Personally I think train travel the […]
Hong Kong West Kowloon – The railway station of the Hong Kong – Beijing high-speed railway
The Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is the terminus of the Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway. With the opening of the station in September 2018, it’s now possible to travel from Hong Kong to Beijing in one train trip. Construction began in 2011, which is about the same time that I became a regular visitor to […]
Byron Bay Train – The world’s first solar-power train
Byron Bay is one of the most visited regional towns in Australia, receiving over 1.5 million visitors annually. It became famous for its surfer and hippy culture in the 60’s, but they long ago got priced out when cashed-up Sydney-siders and Hollywood stars moved in. It still retains an alternative vibe though, with eco-friendly shops […]
The train that will transform Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima (AKA Korat) is the gateway city to the Isaan region of Thailand. Depending on which list you read, Korat is either the biggest city in Thailand after greater Bangkok, or in the top 5. Either way, it’s about the same size as Chiang Mai. Seeing Korat on the map I couldn’t help but […]
Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by train
The railway line from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville was reopened for passenger services in 2016 after 14 years of being out of action. I’ve been to Phnom Penh numerous times and I have always admired the old train station, hoping that one day that train services would resume. If you want to ride the only […]
An updated map of the future Saigon Metro
[HCMC Metro Map (download full resolution image here.] Out of all the megacities of Southeast Asia, Saigon is the only city without any form of urban rail transit. Even the traffic-dystopias of Jakarta and Manila have a few rail lines between them. This will change when the first metro line in Saigon opens sometime after […]
