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How to get from Medan to Lake Toba by train and bus

September 5, 2023 By James Clark 10 Comments

Lake Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia and one of the highlights visiting Sumatra. The nearest big city is Medan, and it takes about four hours by road to travel from Medan to Parapat (the main city on the lake). There is also a railway network in North Sumatra, with Medan as the […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: indonesia, lake toba, medan, parapat, siantar, sumatra, trains

Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train – best train times to see some of the highlights of Thailand

February 5, 2019 By James Clark 4 Comments

The train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a great way to see more of Thailand, but depending on your travels it’s not always the best way. With some planning by picking the right trains, you can save money and see some of the highlights of Thailand. Bangkok to Chiang Mai – train, bus, or […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: bangkok, chiang mai, southeast asia rail, thailand, trains

How to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train

November 27, 2018 By James Clark 10 Comments

How to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train

Getting the train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur used to be a straightforward affair. The train would leave Tanjong Pagar railway station (near downtown Singapore), clear immigration for both countries at Woodlands, and then continue on the same train to Kuala Lumpur. I did this journey in 2009 and it was a great way to […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: gemas, johor bahru, kuala lumpur, malaysia, singapore, southeast asia rail, trains

Map of current and proposed railways in Southeast Asia

October 31, 2017 By James Clark 19 Comments

Current and proposed railways of Southeast Asia

A map showing current railways in Southeast Asia along with every proposed railway. Current and proposed railways of Southeast Asia – every line mapped In 2016 I compiled every current and proposed railway in Southeast Asia and created the Future Southeast Asia Railway Map, which depicted all current and proposed railways as a subway map. […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: cambodia, china, indonesia, laos, malaysia, maps, myanmar (burma), philippines, railway, singapore, southeast asia rail, thailand, train station, trains, vietnam

Subway Map of Southeast Asia Railways

October 24, 2016 By James Clark 31 Comments

A map of current and proposed railways in Southeast Asia styled as a subway map. What would Southeast Asia look like if it had a fully functioning railway network? I have thought about this many times, usually while on a bus ride from hell (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang springs to mind). I envision it […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: bangkok, cambodia, china, india, indonesia, kunming, laos, malaysia, myanmar (burma), philippines, railway, singapore, southeast asia rail, thailand, trains, vietnam

1 month Eurail Global Pass review: How I visited 57 cities in 31 days

July 12, 2016 By James Clark 1 Comment

1 month Eurail Global Pass review

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: eurail, train station, trains

In Pictures: Calatrava’s Liège-Guillemins train station

August 21, 2012 By James Clark 9 Comments

Calatrava's Liège-Guillemins train station

Before I even knew anything about the station one name sprang to mind – Calatrava. Actually it might have been one name and a few words that came to mind…OMG, Liege has a Calatrava! [Liège-Guillemins station] Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish architect who has become something of a superstar in the architect world. He has […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: architecture, belgium, calatrava, eurail, eurail-2012, liege, train station, trains

How to get from Paris to Brussels by local train – The alternative to high speed rail

August 15, 2012 By James Clark 12 Comments

How to get from Paris to Brussels by local train

See four cities in one day and save on high-speed rail reservation fees. One of the great things about train travel with a Eurail Pass is being able to jump onto almost any train and go. While there are some train services that require a reservation fee, this can be avoided by taking local trains. […]

Filed Under: Train Travel Tagged With: amiens, belgium, brussels, eurail, eurail-2012, france, kortrijk, lille, paris, train station, trains

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James Clark from Nomadic Notes

Hi, I’m James Clark, and I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a location independent travel business. Nomadic Notes is a travel blog featuring travel guides and notes from my travels.

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