We actually have spent 11+hours on AmTrak in their regular seats because we couldn't afford a sleeper car lol. It was a 2 day train ride and horrible. Never again. I will say the food was pretty good though :)
Hello Tim 🙂 I Enjoy Watching Your TH-cam Channel , You Should Wear More Winter Season Clothing For Warmth To Protect Yourself From Deep Freeze Temperatures . I Look Forward To Your New Episodes & Stay Warm 🙂
@@thevikingwarrior Same. I’m just outside of Chicago and we got down to minus 50 in 2019. I’m a mailman and the government decided it was too cold to do our job that day. Gloves or not!
😂😂 why did he do that. Standing outside excessively long, to show us the train station we had been looking at, and with that jacket open the whole time only to go inside and still record which he could've been doing.... Literally, this guy knows how to build the drama 😅😅
I took that very same train once. It was surreal, because you go to sleep, and you wake up in a different world. Culture, climate, people, buildings, everything is different. It’s like a secret gateway to Narnia really.
The only overnight train I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing was one from Moscow to Leningrad in 86. Even though it was the Soviet Union (so pretty basic set up) it was still the best sleep I’ve ever had. An extended train trip anywhere in the entire world is at the top of my wishlist.
@@holoholopainen1627 Ways to interpret the BIBLE: 5 points of GOSPEL: - Figurative 1.) Christ died - Symbolical 2.) for our sins - Literal 3.) was buried - Devotional 4.) rose again - Historical 5.) According to the script. - Dispensational GOD`s expectations to us; - REPENT! - BORN AGAIN! - BE HOLY! - EXPOSE EVIL! - DO THE WILL OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
Hi.Always carry earplugs!!!🎉😂❤. Yes I would very much travell on that train. You don't need 2 showers a day??!!😅. Finland is really cool/nice.Thank you.
As a Lapland resident, I travel semi regularly from Rovaniemi to Helsinki and back, and always enjoy the train journey despite that as a student I often save money and just book a seat. With a good book, 12 hours in a day carriage is doable, but cabin is well worth the price tbh... I love sleeping in those trains, it feels like a cradle, being slowly lulled into sleep by the train swaying and making all those clank-clonk sounds. I'm sorry to hear that your journey didn't go according to plan, but you were travelling during the coldest week there has been for ages, -30 to -40'c in large parts of the country. Finnish railways were in chaos because the frost caused a lot of technical problems for both trains and railway infra - in milder weather Finnish trains are somewhat reliable and mostly in schedule. Cold water and low water pressure were undoubtedly related to frost issues as well. During the busiest tourist season you can sometimes see old sleeper cars being used among the new ones, and you managed to spot one of those! The three-bed cabin with orange basin etc. is one of the so called "blue stock sleepers", first built some 50 years ago! (Renovated several times since, obviously...) Still going strong despite its age, it seems. Other "blue stock" carriages were removed from the regular use in the early 2000's.
Russia gets way colder. I am Russian / Finnish currently living in Canada. I never understood the big deal about -20, it’s a pretty average winter temperature for me
@@JC-qb2qj I often find, that when people say they don't understand things about other people's statements, it is not the case. Understanding is clear, but some bizarre mechanic in our brain, insist on stating the opposite.
"Can you imagine sitting in one of these seats for 12 hours!?!" mate those seats look pretty good, living in New Zealand, flights to almost anywhere other than Australia start at 12 hours. My flight to the USA was 19 hours so.. 12 hours in a large train seat with plenty of space to walk around wouldn't be a problem 😂😂😂
@jakes4164 I'm not OP but I've done flights like that at least 25 times. International economy seats are often bigger than domestic economy seats. This is immediately obvious if you have domestic connection after an international flight. Overall I find these long haul international flights to be fine. I generally try to sleep most of the way. Most airlines are very tolerant of people standing around the galley on long haul flights although I believe it's illegal on US carriers. A lot of carriers now leave snacks and water bottles in the galley you can just take when you want.
In Finland we like to meme about the trains always being late, but actually by European standards they are quite well on time on average. Unfortunate that your trip didn't go exactly as planned, but you seemed to enjoy it well enough. Btw, those armrest buttons used to be for radio, not TV.
I think in Germany , we have much more delays than in finland😅 It’s so normal here to have minimum 30 mins delay for intercity or intercity express trains (no regional, they are (mostly) on time).
The delays in Germany have been crazy these past years. I used to never have issues like that before. Hopefully they can get it together in the next few years
In Germany I have never had a train that is 4 hours late. In Germany we like to complain a lot, but I have a Deutschlandticket and I don’t own a car so I only use public transport and I really don’t find it that bad.
Finnish sleeper trains are the best in europe in my opinion. Sure they aren't perfect, but they seem to work well most of the time and because Finland uses bigger rail gauge they have very good amount of space compared to other sleepers especially in europe. Finland uses 1524mm gauge while many other countries use the standard 1435mm. This makes a big difference especially when talking about sleeper trains.
In 1998 I traveled from Fort Worth Texas to Seattle Washington on the train. I was 28 years old and had never been on a train. For some reason I thought it was going to be like the Orient express. So I only wore charcoal gray suits. I thought there would be a cigar smoking car LOL and no one told me to get a sleeping room. I found an empty car at the back of the train and finally got some rest on the third night on the floor. I met a boy who let me shower in his parents shower while they were having dinner. I sure was grateful for that kid
I'm a Finn living in the south of Finland. I've done the same route maybe about 50 times on the same sleeper train. It's not ideal, but beats driving up north with little kids every time. Imagine spending 1000 km in a car with three fairly small children... no thanks. Also, with additional cost, you can take your car with you on the train and continue by car from Rovaniemi further up north. That's usually my best choice. A bit pricy, but saves basically one day of travel and your nerves. And you still have a car in Lapland, so you don't have to think about public transportation, which is basically non-existent.
Been a railway enthusiast myself, this is definably everybody's bucket list to do as it does look real impresses especially touring the winter times. I could see myself trying it out when I'm in Finland.
@@WalkWithMeTimyou need to let the water run for some time for the water to become warmer. It's very common on nordic sleeper trains. It's still going to be much colder compared to hotels ect because that's just the nature of sleeper trains and how the water system works. The water can also totally run out if many people are over using the water.
As a native it's always flattering to see something very regular to me described by someone else as "bucket list" lol, I hope you get to experience it and have a better experience than Tim did here!
I went to Rovaniemi in october 2023. The train was wonderful. Not so cold. I could see the lights my first night and went to Santa's Place the other day. Really snowy and with Christmas songs, it was all magic. The train got off in time.❤
Tim this is incredible.. to think that you began this channel by recording a walk up the road! Your dedication & support from Gabby has taken you so far & it's such an honour & pleasure to see 🥂
Thank you for your honest opinions regarding the sleeper train. I am planning a trip to Rovaniemi with children in Nov and the video helped me in deciding whether I should fly in or take the train. Thanks.
As a Finn, I got to say that we're really well prepared for cold weather, but the last week or so has been horrendous. So we're used to it, the transportation sector is used to it, but sometimes it gets too cold for even us. :)
@@jk7921I'm in eastern Finland. We just had a few days of around -35C (occasionally a bit colder, too) and the index, the "feels like" temperature got as low as -45C here. People's cars were freezing, even though we're prepared. We know how to act and what to do. Sometimes the weather just does something rare and... :D
As a Finn - I'm so sorry about your hickups with the journey. When VR trains work, they're wonderful. Especially the sleeper ones, really a special journey. When VR doesn't work, it's frustrating and information is scarce.
It has been awhile since i last were in Rovaniemi. My mother was born just outside Rovaniemi in a small village called Kittilä. As a child and in my teen years we're used to take the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, and then the sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and the bus to Kittilä. The memories, the memories. 😃
0:00 - Not the Smoothest Start: Issues with toilets due to freezing temperatures and frost on the train, causing delays and discomfort for passengers. 0:15 - Cold Consequences: Facing -20°C temperatures in Helsinki, the train's technical problems exacerbated due to extreme cold weather conditions. 0:43 - Derailed Plans: Initial confusion regarding the correct train, leading to a delayed start and uncertainty about cabin arrangements. 1:04 - Chilly Beer Moment: Grabbed a local Finnish beer at the station, pondering dinner plans due to train delays impacting the restaurant car's availability. 1:59 - Misleading Information: Challenges in obtaining accurate updates, conflicting information on the delay duration caused further confusion. 3:02 - Toilet Troubles: Toilets at the station and on the train out of order, posing a significant issue for passengers waiting for the delayed train departure. 5:23 - Frustration and Chaos: Tension and frustration rising among waiting passengers due to lack of clear communication and facilities. 6:52 - Cabin Exploration: Finally boarding the train, explored the sleeper cabin, noticing space, amenities, and potential noise concerns from neighboring rooms. 10:32 - Shower Mishap: Encountered problems with the shower and room, including cold water and malfunctioning equipment, impacting comfort during the journey. 13:00 - Dining Dilemma: Explored dining options on the train, found food not included in the ticket price, opting for a meal at an additional cost. 14:26 - Train Features and Oddities: Discovered unique features on the train, including older areas, audio controls in seats, and unusual room designs. 16:45 - Sleep Struggles: Challenges with noise, interruptions, and train movements affected the quality of sleep during the journey. 19:32 - Arrival Delay: Arrived significantly behind schedule, experiencing multiple disruptions and inconveniences throughout the journey. 20:55 - Mixed Experience: Despite challenges, acknowledged the uniqueness of the journey, prompting reflection on whether sleeper trains are personally suitable for future travels.
Amtrak and Via have the same problems with pipes during very cold winter weather, both resorting to blow torching the pipes to unfreeze them numerous times on their journeys... For a one night journey use the rest rooms at the station before boarding the train and use the rest rooms at the station when you disembark the train, especially when it is very very cold outside... While the pipes in these polar areas may be buried several feet under the ground to serve basements, the pipes serving trains aren't buried under the ground... Duh...
When i was young many years ago in the late 60s i remember traveling in these trains with my parents, these bunk beds braught back some memories, thanks for the video
"Can you imagine sitting for 12 hours in one of these seats?" *Looks at my computer chair that I sit in for 8 hours a day and would sit in for 14-16 hours when I was in my 20's playing MMO's* Yeah yeah I can.
People may also take shorter trips whit that night train, e.g. late evening trip from Helsinki to Tampere or early morning trip from Oulu to Rovaniemi. Therefore it's great that there are also seats available.
I was in Rovaniemi last week and it was extraordinarily cold. Minus 32 one day! The owner of the airbnb we stayed in even said that it was unusual to be that cold!
Traveling with you through vids is a great experience and i thank you so much for your hard work and determination. U are one of a kind youtuber Tim. Much appreciated
Helsinki railway station is an architectural icon, that is high on my bucket list of places I want to visit very soon. I love sleeper trains but I agree, sleeping on a sleeper train is difficult. The only time I managed it was from Chicago to New York after not sleeping on a train from Salt Lake City to Chicago in coach for about 35 hours. So exhaustion prior to trying to sleep on a sleeper might be the answer. The irony is that I fall asleep sitting up on a train during the day because of the motion of the train. Oh, and just as you said "you can't go wrong with a carbonara" my wife passed the TV and said "not if you get bad cream". But I'd do the trip for sure, probably wouldn't sleep, and I'd have the carbonara and risk the cream.
It looks so much cleaner than the Amtrak train you took to Chicago, even with the hair you found in the bathroom. I'm thinking if you get a sleeper car without the bathroom you might not have the train toilet smell. I do enjoy your videos a lot.
Really great video from a real traveller just getting on with things without whining or complaining, despite the setbacks. I look forward to watching other videos.
We did this train just before Christmas there and back and had an amazing time with a totally faultless experience, so I guess it's a case of opinions 🙂
i traveled in the States my home.. on Amtrack.. I went from NYC to Florida on the sleeper car and from Albany NY to Seattle on the sleeper.. great experience !! I love trains.. dislike flying,. Very beautiful train.. so nice a modern the one you were on.. Thanks interesting video
You would have to admit you were not appropriately dressed for this trip. T Shirt, no gloves, scarf, hat, thin jacket. I understand the luggage restrictions but you’re dressed for Tenerife 🥶
It's just a radio. As child I used to travel in that train a lot with my dad. It was memorable experience. These days I snore on a seat from Kuopio to the Helsinki and back.
I m from Saint-Petersburg and was always suprised on seeing foreigners aesoecually from a wsrm countries withour a proper clothing and without a cap or hat in such a cold times. But Ive too heard that British people have a good tradition of not making themselves too warmly dressed, unlike us 😄
Yes, many of us can well imagine (and have done so) spending 12 hours "in one of those seats." They aren't that bad and you should probably do it too, to bring yourself back down to earth.
I travelled on a sleeper from Northern Norway thru Swedish Lapland to Stockholm. It was a wonderful experience. Lying in bed and watching all the snowy landscape and houses and northern lights on route was magical. Having the privacy and the space in your own room and choice of beds is great. I did here the Italian ladies next door talking non stop for 19 hours but I just put in my ear plugs 😊😊
I always thought I would want to go on a train, but after watching this, my claustrophobia is getting me by just watching. Watching you go down narrow hall after narrow hall and not finding the restaurant I just can’t do that. Thanks for sharing because now I know.
Finnish trains have actually more space compared to other european trains since Finland uses larger train gauge (1524mm compared to the standard 1435mm). Finland's sleeper trains are very good and better than many other sleepers I know.
15:20 About the seats with buttons: there was never a TV option. You were able to plug in your headphones and listen some 3-5 radiostations (since some of them did not work, lol). I don't remember when those seat radios were disabled, but I think it's surely a decision made over 10 years ago. I just remember the last time I used them was when I was a child or teenager before 2010's. Thank you a lot for this video, it's so nice to see these trains and cars to be reviewed from a foreigners perspective!
Hi Tim, I liked the cabin and facilities. It all looked clean and you weren’t sharing. The food looked ok and you said it was the best. Glad the loo was working. These train journeys are right up my track. I watch with interest. Enjoy your sleep Tim and will watch breakfast before I quit here. :) how annoying someone trying your door. Your night a bit disrupted. Breakfast not my choice. Did they have full English 😆 I liked the whole trip Tim… thanks for sharing….
I from the USA and I really enjoyed this video. It’s so interesting to see sleeper trains from other parts of the world. I would love to see you ride and evaluate some of the long distance trains in the USA ❤
I live in the USA also! It would be great if Tim comes here to try one of our sleeper trains. I've been ever been on one..but I would like to try it ..
@@WalkWithMeTim If you wish to see America the most favorite route is the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area), a two nights and two days journey. But if you wish to see the best part of that route through the Rocky Mountains, save considerably and ride in coach during the day from Denver to Salt Lake City either westbound or eastbound... Amtrak has two types of sleeper trains, the single level Viewliner used for all sleeper trains serving New York City, and the double level Superliners used everywhere else. Both have the larger more expensive en suite standard bedrooms similar to European sleepers, and the smaller roomettes which are very popular and more affordable...
We took a train to Ca. It’s a long journey and rather expensive. We had a family room. Big plus a bed folds into a couch, private bathroom, meals included. We could go to site seeing car. The views in Colorado and Utah were awesome. Zephyr is hop on /hop off and you can get off in some city and catch a next train.
35 years ago we took the sleeper train across America and it was awesome! I was 13. I did the sleeper euro train first class in 1996 and that was even better. Amazing food. We had a toilet in our cabin as well.
I have been on the same Arctic Sleeper Train a few months ago and it was amazing. The experience was Amazing! Maybe YOUR PERSONAL experience, as the title should of said, wasnt that great. But as you said. You either like or dont like sleeper trains. Personally, I find the train sounds very relaxing and the slight movement of the train, helps me sleep. The food was great, the shower I havent tried, because there is no point to shower from 11pm to 7am, in a Train...well because its a train and trains are never the cleaners, if you will be in your Airbnb anyway straight after.
No loos either on or off the trains, and sub zero temperatures? My worst nightmare, literally!😱😄What a confusing time and so late at night too! But I'm glad you finally got settled...sort of. Don't think I'll be going on that train any day soon, but I still enjoyed the experience through your eyes, Tim. Happy New Year to you and yours!
That was a very rare event. I've not heard of a similar lack of water ever. The cold delayed all trains for several days, they had to cancel some weekend trains in order to catch the timetables on the next Monday. Most Sleeper trains were running 1-2 hours late but the timetables are so loose that most of the would arrive in time to the destination.
I have taken this night train few times as a kid and I had very nice experience. It was quite fun and relaxing. Too bad your experience wasnt as nice. It really isn't normally like this.
Love this! I've ridden trains through parts of Canada and to commute. In my opinion the best way to travel. Now settled in the wild of Vancouver Island and miss traveling. Thanks for posting
I have fond memories from times when i was a child traveling to lapland in sleeper train. One of the best sleeps i ever get is in those sleeper carriages.
The last two weeks have been rather chaotic with VR's long distance trains... Hours of delays, buses replacing trains, and indeed frozen toilets. I just spent a week in Northern Finland and took night express sleeper trains both ways. The first trip went fine, but on the return trip the train was rather delayed due to other trains breaking down, and some of the toilets weren't working. However the train conductor told us to apply for a refund due to the toilets not working. I believe VR also promises 25% off if the train is more than an hour late, and 50% off if more than two hours late.
Good thing that VR still handled that situation well and offered the refunds. Finnish sleeper trains are very good compared to many other sleepers I know. Finnish sleeper trains have more space anyways because Finland uses 1524mm rail which is larger than the standard 1435mm gauge. This is why they are so huge and have naturally bigger space for passengers.
These trains vacuum toilets similiar to cruise ships, ferries, and airliners, don't like double ply toilet tissue which clog them up, but nitwits worldwide continue to use double ply toilet tissue because they are spoiled with the thicker, softer tissue... Single ply biodegradable tissue is what they stock in the rest rooms, don't use your double ply tissue...
@@WalkWithMeTim I'd contact their customer support to get that worked out. Their customer support has always done a great job when I've had any troubles, unlike the personnel that you had to deal with at the train station that weren't well trained to handle the situation it seems.
So sorry you had bad luck. It seems to have been one of the coldest nights in Finland. We heard from the news that some trains were frozen because of the extreme cold. There were some sleeper trains where all the toilets/plumbing were frozen and out of order. Outdoor temperature was -29⁰C to -33⁰C and that's too extreme.
Another "Arctic Express" - Arktika - routes from Moscow to Murmansk (69 Degrees North) in around 35 hours! We made this return trip by luxurious 1st Class Sleeper wayback in Summer 2019 - Pre Covid - when there is midnight sun for much of the trip! The train views are especially amazing through the wild lakes of Karelia and then the Khibiny Mountains of the Kola Peninsula!
Last time I was on a sleeper train it was 12 hours late. To be fair, there was a huge snow blizzard an we did travel the entire track lenght from Kemijärvi to Turku. We sat 3 hours at Tampere as the snow was blocking the switches at the rail yard faster than the maintenance crew could remove it. The year was 2002.
Get yourself a bulk pack of Howard Leight soft earplugs mate and carry them everywhere with you for peaceful sleep. Invaluable for travelling and getting proper rest. Cuts out the bulk of annoying noise but also lets through anything important like announcements or your sleep alarm etc.
Well well, is that really you Tim, in that beautiful warm good looking hat and those lovely heavy duty warm gloves ??? Yes, I believe so, it is you !! So happy to see you looking dapper & much warmer than when you were in Helsinki. Proud of you plus now you look pulled together which also adds to your good taste and appealing look👍 🏆 🇺🇸
Even in the south, the -20 is normal in winter. -30 is usually the normal peak for winters and sometimes up to -35 even in south. It was just a really bad combinations of wind, snow and cold weather that had stuff struggling
Great video. This brought back interrailing across europe memories. I always took the top bunk. Good fun and always met some characters. The views looked spectacular though
Yeah, we had record breaking temperatures that week. Usually those trains are spot on schedule and always function well. Also the finnish are not used to many luxuries so if a shower and toilet work, they are completely fine. Even if the water is a bit cold :D
I travel between Helsinki and Lapland around ten times a year, always on a sleeper train. Usually reliable, I don't remember when last had delays or something else. I guess you were a bit unlucky here. There seems to be more problems in the daytime connections than in the night trains in Finland. Those old sleeper carriers are not in frequent use. Usually only as a reserve or extras for the Christmas tourist season. This week was the coldest in Finland in around 15 years so I guess they had to replace some normal sleeper carriers to old ones due to "frostbite". And for the longer break when you were having your carbonara - that was the car carrier station, takes around 30 mins to add the wagons. It's common to take a car with you, especially if are heading somewhere else than Rovaniemi in Lapland. The staff should have handled the delay better at the station, hope they see this video.
Tim, the generators on those locomotives hauling your train must have been working to full capacity to cope with the absolute well below freezing conditions. Just think of the heating and lighting that is needed for a train that size, and even colder when running at speed. The train seems to be very clean and comfortable with a cafeteria part as well. A very enjoyable presentation, thank you. PS - shame about the delays you had at the beginning of your journey.
That's an electric train (you can see the pair of locomotives moving away at the end). There's an additional 1500 V coil in the main transformer for the head end power. All the power comes from the 25 kV overhead line. (A maximum of about 6000 kW or 8000 hp in this instance.)
Long lasting frost, breakdowns, a cyber attack and an extensive system failure in Finntraffic’s and HSL’s information systems. Combined these have caused some pretty large disruption on Finnish rails. Luckily this doesn’t happen often.
Funny thing. I think I took the train maybe a week or two later when the temperature was milder. Enjoyed the trip. There was no water initially but it was turned on later. Slept like a baby and loved it.
I've used sleeper trains all over the world and found a decent pair of noise cancelling ear plugs essential to get some sleep. Enjoying the vids. Keep up the good work! 👏
The Finnish track gauge is 1,524 mm compared to the standard gauge of 1,435 mm as found in the UK. This, together with the Finnish loading gauge being wider than the restrictive GB loading gauge should result in you having more space to move around in the breadth of the train and a more comfortable journey. It'll be interesting to hear your comments when you travel on the Caledonian Sleeper.
Thank you for the video Tim. I actually want to give this night train route a go if I ever manage to convince my Finnish husband, who‘s sceptical about the noise. I travelled from Karlsruhe in Germany to Amsterdam in the past and it was great, but the long stops and the noise meant I didn’t get much sleep. By the way the enclosed „vip“ cabins for 2 or 4 people can be booked as an add on from the VR website.
I only went to Helsinki from Estonia but never went where you went . That is further north and I was in the south . It is really cold. I started my 22 European countries tour in one shot and did it. Love the Europe . I travelled around 26 European countries and 19 more to go. Mostly Eastern Europe .. loved ❤️ your video from buffalo New York USA 🇺🇸
Excellent. Unlike so many travel’ experts’ , full of practical details such as time , temperature and the experience. Intelligent commentary and no self promoting guff.
Dude, no hat or layered clothing. No thinsulate gloves. Glad you wore more gear at the end It’s cold, brrrrr. Nice adventure. Good honest review. Beautiful landscape.Hopefully they opened the toilets while you waited at the station.
I Stay On A Luxury Sleeper Train - Caledonian Sleeper 👉th-cam.com/video/vZJKRCA7ANI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t3fV25Oa2GBxqoJ-
My Backpack 👉 rb.gy/n5ztoy
We actually have spent 11+hours on AmTrak in their regular seats because we couldn't afford a sleeper car lol. It was a 2 day train ride and horrible. Never again. I will say the food was pretty good though :)
Hello Tim 🙂
I Enjoy Watching Your TH-cam Channel ,
You Should Wear More Winter Season Clothing For Warmth To Protect Yourself From Deep Freeze Temperatures . I Look Forward To Your New Episodes & Stay Warm 🙂
0´38-40´ i0v är pannk äyk Frömm pälm eylünD ^F^
1:23 vvätt se häl ärk v äFf öh -?-
2:30 eis neiß > >
4:44 äh jäzz $€ TRäFälläehrce cvrrß?v 2:44 237 ;$ 13:41 mehghikk is ön lööF -.- wellie vvell Fjäll v?v bä$.hD kärrbönnärrärrh vv v=pSHhpkSBQvo&ab_channel=roofman1969
jew dönütt kätt nhüüdell ! - .-
oh christ a burger king we are cursed with those too
How about you watch some videos on how to eat pasta like a civilized person?
“Frostbite is a real thing”. Especially when you’re gloveless when it is MINUS TWENTY.
I've been in minus 50. 🤣😂
@@thevikingwarrior Same. I’m just outside of Chicago and we got down to minus 50 in 2019. I’m a mailman and the government decided it was too cold to do our job that day. Gloves or not!
@@Strangwood Flippin' heck, you have earnt you wages then! I have been to Chicago as well, very very briefly.
@@thevikingwarrior you guys are talking about wind chill which is fake temp
😂😂 why did he do that. Standing outside excessively long, to show us the train station we had been looking at, and with that jacket open the whole time only to go inside and still record which he could've been doing.... Literally, this guy knows how to build the drama 😅😅
12 hours in those seats with that much leg room seems a lot better than some of my long haul economy flights.
I once spent ~16 hours on a coach bus down to the snow in Victoria. Honestly wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Yes! Came to say the same. I have to take flights that long all the time. Misery 😪😂
trying spending 24+ hours on a Greyhound in the US.. You'll promise yourself "NEVER AGAIN!!" 🤣
Was thinking same thing
@@CopiousDoinksLLC What do you even do for 16 hours 😭
I took that very same train once. It was surreal, because you go to sleep, and you wake up in a different world. Culture, climate, people, buildings, everything is different. It’s like a secret gateway to Narnia really.
I love sleeper trains! The things that bother you, i.e., the noise and the motion from the train, are the things that lull me to sleep.
Me too,.
I'm the same, can't sleep in airplanes or cars & bus's, never been able to. As long as there's a window I'm happy 😊😁 ❤
same
The only overnight train I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing was one from Moscow to Leningrad in 86. Even though it was the Soviet Union (so pretty basic set up) it was still the best sleep I’ve ever had. An extended train trip anywhere in the entire world is at the top of my wishlist.
I have the best sleeps of my life on a sleeper train or on an overnight ferry. I love the movements, not so much the noise, but earplugs deal with it.
11 hours in those seats look more comfortable than 11 hours on a plane in economy!
But The thing IS - there are several Stops on The way ! Not everybody are forced to travel - end of The LINE !
@@holoholopainen1627 Ways to interpret the BIBLE: 5 points of GOSPEL:
- Figurative 1.) Christ died
- Symbolical 2.) for our sins
- Literal 3.) was buried
- Devotional 4.) rose again
- Historical 5.) According to the script.
- Dispensational
GOD`s expectations to us;
- REPENT!
- BORN AGAIN!
- BE HOLY!
- EXPOSE EVIL!
- DO THE WILL OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
yea but 11 hours in a plane would take 20 000 hours on that train...
Hi.Always carry earplugs!!!🎉😂❤.
Yes I would very much travell on that train. You don't need 2 showers a day??!!😅.
Finland is really cool/nice.Thank you.
A 12 hour, major city to major city, train ride in Australia is a short one. Never considered a sleeper for such a short trip.
As a Lapland resident, I travel semi regularly from Rovaniemi to Helsinki and back, and always enjoy the train journey despite that as a student I often save money and just book a seat. With a good book, 12 hours in a day carriage is doable, but cabin is well worth the price tbh... I love sleeping in those trains, it feels like a cradle, being slowly lulled into sleep by the train swaying and making all those clank-clonk sounds. I'm sorry to hear that your journey didn't go according to plan, but you were travelling during the coldest week there has been for ages, -30 to -40'c in large parts of the country. Finnish railways were in chaos because the frost caused a lot of technical problems for both trains and railway infra - in milder weather Finnish trains are somewhat reliable and mostly in schedule. Cold water and low water pressure were undoubtedly related to frost issues as well. During the busiest tourist season you can sometimes see old sleeper cars being used among the new ones, and you managed to spot one of those! The three-bed cabin with orange basin etc. is one of the so called "blue stock sleepers", first built some 50 years ago! (Renovated several times since, obviously...) Still going strong despite its age, it seems. Other "blue stock" carriages were removed from the regular use in the early 2000's.
Russia gets way colder. I am Russian / Finnish currently living in Canada. I never understood the big deal about -20, it’s a pretty average winter temperature for me
@@JC-qb2qj I often find, that when people say they don't understand things about other people's statements, it is not the case. Understanding is clear, but some bizarre mechanic in our brain, insist on stating the opposite.
Old blue ones weren't late when its cold. These newer models produced somewhere south cannot stand really cold weather.
@@budgiefriend what are you smoking
Your English is impeccable for a foreigner.
-20C..Tim where the hell is your hat and gloves?!
Exactly!!!! 😮💨🤦🏽♀️
People are vain. Put on a damn toque and cover your hands!
@@wrath231 I'm fairly certain that vanity is not the reason.
He's British, he's not used to weather that goes below zero.
He doesn’t even know what a bidet is…..
'when you're told you can't go, you need to go'. Ain't that the truth! Fantastic video mate
Lol thanks Steve
"Can you imagine sitting in one of these seats for 12 hours!?!" mate those seats look pretty good, living in New Zealand, flights to almost anywhere other than Australia start at 12 hours. My flight to the USA was 19 hours so.. 12 hours in a large train seat with plenty of space to walk around wouldn't be a problem 😂😂😂
@jakes4164 I'm not OP but I've done flights like that at least 25 times. International economy seats are often bigger than domestic economy seats. This is immediately obvious if you have domestic connection after an international flight. Overall I find these long haul international flights to be fine. I generally try to sleep most of the way. Most airlines are very tolerant of people standing around the galley on long haul flights although I believe it's illegal on US carriers. A lot of carriers now leave snacks and water bottles in the galley you can just take when you want.
I sat in a Trailways bus for weeks, with seats worse than that.
In Finland we like to meme about the trains always being late, but actually by European standards they are quite well on time on average. Unfortunate that your trip didn't go exactly as planned, but you seemed to enjoy it well enough. Btw, those armrest buttons used to be for radio, not TV.
I think in Germany , we have much more delays than in finland😅 It’s so normal here to have minimum 30 mins delay for intercity or intercity express trains (no regional, they are (mostly) on time).
The delays in Germany have been crazy these past years. I used to never have issues like that before. Hopefully they can get it together in the next few years
In Germany I have never had a train that is 4 hours late. In Germany we like to complain a lot, but I have a Deutschlandticket and I don’t own a car so I only use public transport and I really don’t find it that bad.
Finnish sleeper trains are the best in europe in my opinion. Sure they aren't perfect, but they seem to work well most of the time and because Finland uses bigger rail gauge they have very good amount of space compared to other sleepers especially in europe. Finland uses 1524mm gauge while many other countries use the standard 1435mm. This makes a big difference especially when talking about sleeper trains.
@@akuankka321876that 89mm must make all the difference......
In 1998 I traveled from Fort Worth Texas to Seattle Washington on the train. I was 28 years old and had never been on a train. For some reason I thought it was going to be like the Orient express. So I only wore charcoal gray suits. I thought there would be a cigar smoking car LOL and no one told me to get a sleeping room. I found an empty car at the back of the train and finally got some rest on the third night on the floor. I met a boy who let me shower in his parents shower while they were having dinner. I sure was grateful for that kid
I'm a Finn living in the south of Finland. I've done the same route maybe about 50 times on the same sleeper train. It's not ideal, but beats driving up north with little kids every time. Imagine spending 1000 km in a car with three fairly small children... no thanks. Also, with additional cost, you can take your car with you on the train and continue by car from Rovaniemi further up north. That's usually my best choice. A bit pricy, but saves basically one day of travel and your nerves. And you still have a car in Lapland, so you don't have to think about public transportation, which is basically non-existent.
“Frostbite is definitely a thing, especially when it’s cold” 😂. Should put that on some merch
lol saying that with opened jacked no snow hat nor gloves filming outside in - 20. Fun fun fun.
Yeah, frostbite in the tropics isn't that bad.
@@incremental_failure Those tropic frostbites are vicious.
Been a railway enthusiast myself, this is definably everybody's bucket list to do as it does look real impresses especially touring the winter times. I could see myself trying it out when I'm in Finland.
And it's not to expensive.. Shame the water was cold or it would have been the best I've done
@@WalkWithMeTimyou need to let the water run for some time for the water to become warmer. It's very common on nordic sleeper trains. It's still going to be much colder compared to hotels ect because that's just the nature of sleeper trains and how the water system works. The water can also totally run out if many people are over using the water.
As a native it's always flattering to see something very regular to me described by someone else as "bucket list" lol, I hope you get to experience it and have a better experience than Tim did here!
@@igrvks It looks like a nice little trip. Something locals take for granted for sure :)
I went to Rovaniemi in october 2023. The train was wonderful. Not so cold. I could see the lights my first night and went to Santa's Place the other day. Really snowy and with Christmas songs, it was all magic. The train got off in time.❤
Tim this is incredible.. to think that you began this channel by recording a walk up the road! Your dedication & support from Gabby has taken you so far & it's such an honour & pleasure to see 🥂
Thank you for your honest opinions regarding the sleeper train. I am planning a trip to Rovaniemi with children in Nov and the video helped me in deciding whether I should fly in or take the train. Thanks.
Fly instead
As a Finn, I got to say that we're really well prepared for cold weather, but the last week or so has been horrendous. So we're used to it, the transportation sector is used to it, but sometimes it gets too cold for even us. :)
Yeah, I’d like to see what would happen to the trains in central europe if they had -30c weather for 2 weeks straight 😂
@@jk7921I'm in eastern Finland. We just had a few days of around -35C (occasionally a bit colder, too) and the index, the "feels like" temperature got as low as -45C here. People's cars were freezing, even though we're prepared. We know how to act and what to do. Sometimes the weather just does something rare and... :D
Yes very true .. I did mention that later in video.. brutally cold
@@WalkWithMeTim Hi! You can submit refund request to VR (train company) if the train was over 4h late you get 50% refund.
@@WalkWithMeTim That's why you have to wear the right clothing in the Arctic, Tim. Hat, gloves, scarf, thermals, boots. No wonder you were frozen.
As a Finn - I'm so sorry about your hickups with the journey. When VR trains work, they're wonderful. Especially the sleeper ones, really a special journey.
When VR doesn't work, it's frustrating and information is scarce.
We wear gloves or mittens in the winter, here in Toronto Canada. They work well.
It has been awhile since i last were in Rovaniemi. My mother was born just outside Rovaniemi in a small village called Kittilä. As a child and in my teen years we're used to take the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki, and then the sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and the bus to Kittilä. The memories, the memories. 😃
Glad the pasta was nice and you were able to eat. Being cold and tired is never improved by being hungry.
0:00 - Not the Smoothest Start: Issues with toilets due to freezing temperatures and frost on the train, causing delays and discomfort for passengers.
0:15 - Cold Consequences: Facing -20°C temperatures in Helsinki, the train's technical problems exacerbated due to extreme cold weather conditions.
0:43 - Derailed Plans: Initial confusion regarding the correct train, leading to a delayed start and uncertainty about cabin arrangements.
1:04 - Chilly Beer Moment: Grabbed a local Finnish beer at the station, pondering dinner plans due to train delays impacting the restaurant car's availability.
1:59 - Misleading Information: Challenges in obtaining accurate updates, conflicting information on the delay duration caused further confusion.
3:02 - Toilet Troubles: Toilets at the station and on the train out of order, posing a significant issue for passengers waiting for the delayed train departure.
5:23 - Frustration and Chaos: Tension and frustration rising among waiting passengers due to lack of clear communication and facilities.
6:52 - Cabin Exploration: Finally boarding the train, explored the sleeper cabin, noticing space, amenities, and potential noise concerns from neighboring rooms.
10:32 - Shower Mishap: Encountered problems with the shower and room, including cold water and malfunctioning equipment, impacting comfort during the journey.
13:00 - Dining Dilemma: Explored dining options on the train, found food not included in the ticket price, opting for a meal at an additional cost.
14:26 - Train Features and Oddities: Discovered unique features on the train, including older areas, audio controls in seats, and unusual room designs.
16:45 - Sleep Struggles: Challenges with noise, interruptions, and train movements affected the quality of sleep during the journey.
19:32 - Arrival Delay: Arrived significantly behind schedule, experiencing multiple disruptions and inconveniences throughout the journey.
20:55 - Mixed Experience: Despite challenges, acknowledged the uniqueness of the journey, prompting reflection on whether sleeper trains are personally suitable for future travels.
Amtrak and Via have the same problems with pipes during very cold winter weather, both resorting to blow torching the pipes to unfreeze them numerous times on their journeys... For a one night journey use the rest rooms at the station before boarding the train and use the rest rooms at the station when you disembark the train, especially when it is very very cold outside... While the pipes in these polar areas may be buried several feet under the ground to serve basements, the pipes serving trains aren't buried under the ground... Duh...
When i was young many years ago in the late 60s i remember traveling in these trains with my parents, these bunk beds braught back some memories, thanks for the video
"Can you imagine sitting for 12 hours in one of these seats?" *Looks at my computer chair that I sit in for 8 hours a day and would sit in for 14-16 hours when I was in my 20's playing MMO's* Yeah yeah I can.
The sight and the decor of the train is just so wonderful! Youre so lucky to be able to do these things! So jealous!
People may also take shorter trips whit that night train, e.g. late evening trip from Helsinki to Tampere or early morning trip from Oulu to Rovaniemi. Therefore it's great that there are also seats available.
I was in Rovaniemi last week and it was extraordinarily cold. Minus 32 one day! The owner of the airbnb we stayed in even said that it was unusual to be that cold!
Traveling with you through vids is a great experience and i thank you so much for your hard work and determination.
U are one of a kind youtuber Tim.
Much appreciated
You are a very good presenter and engaging to watch.
Helsinki railway station is an architectural icon, that is high on my bucket list of places I want to visit very soon. I love sleeper trains but I agree, sleeping on a sleeper train is difficult. The only time I managed it was from Chicago to New York after not sleeping on a train from Salt Lake City to Chicago in coach for about 35 hours. So exhaustion prior to trying to sleep on a sleeper might be the answer. The irony is that I fall asleep sitting up on a train during the day because of the motion of the train. Oh, and just as you said "you can't go wrong with a carbonara" my wife passed the TV and said "not if you get bad cream". But I'd do the trip for sure, probably wouldn't sleep, and I'd have the carbonara and risk the cream.
Food in most finnish trains is better than many wannabe gourme restaurants. Every train in finland is the same company vr
Real carbonara has no cream 😵
Helsinki railway station, architect Eliel Saarinen, his son Eero was an active architect in USA
It looks so much cleaner than the Amtrak train you took to Chicago, even with the hair you found in the bathroom. I'm thinking if you get a sleeper car without the bathroom you might not have the train toilet smell. I do enjoy your videos a lot.
Really great video from a real traveller just getting on with things without whining or complaining, despite the setbacks. I look forward to watching other videos.
The scenery is so beautiful!
12 hours on a seat is pure torture that's for sure. The room looks comfy and private. Worth the euros!
"Frost bite is a real thing, especially when out in the cold", lol that made me giggle.
We did this train just before Christmas there and back and had an amazing time with a totally faultless experience, so I guess it's a case of opinions 🙂
I love to feel the motion of the train especially when I'm sleeping.
Complaining about the cold but your literally wearing the smallest jacket ever with no hat or gloves
He's dressed for a balmy UK Autumn.
For a travel writer he should have known to dress accordingly. Stupid I guess.
He's British !
@@nicholasmurphy8634 what’s that got to do with it??
@@Kurtis.wf11 Name checks out.
i traveled in the States my home.. on Amtrack.. I went from NYC to Florida on the sleeper car and from Albany NY to Seattle on the sleeper.. great experience !! I love trains.. dislike flying,. Very beautiful train.. so nice a modern the one you were on.. Thanks interesting video
You would have to admit you were not appropriately dressed for this trip. T Shirt, no gloves, scarf, hat, thin jacket. I understand the luggage restrictions but you’re dressed for Tenerife 🥶
It's just a radio. As child I used to travel in that train a lot with my dad. It was memorable experience. These days I snore on a seat from Kuopio to the Helsinki and back.
I m from Saint-Petersburg and was always suprised on seeing foreigners aesoecually from a wsrm countries withour a proper clothing and without a cap or hat in such a cold times. But Ive too heard that British people have a good tradition of not making themselves too warmly dressed, unlike us 😄
That is SO creepy that somebody was trying your door!
I love how you see the positives in all situations. It rounds everything out. ❤
When you’re told that you can’t go you need to go 😂. Truer words have never been spoken.
I bet the toilet on the train was used before it was reviewed in the video!
Yes, many of us can well imagine (and have done so) spending 12 hours "in one of those seats." They aren't that bad and you should probably do it too, to bring yourself back down to earth.
The little headphone hole in the seat is indeed for radios. I can remember listening to the radio while taking the train to visit my grandma
Bro the way you’re in -20 -30 weather with no hat, gloves, thin jacket open is insane
Trains are the same everywhere…nothing but problems. It’s absolutely beautiful there …a true winter wonderland. I bet Christmas time is surreal there.
I travelled on a sleeper from Northern Norway thru Swedish Lapland to Stockholm. It was a wonderful experience. Lying in bed and watching all the snowy landscape and houses and northern lights on route was magical. Having the privacy and the space in your own room and choice of beds is great. I did here the Italian ladies next door talking non stop for 19 hours but I just put in my ear plugs 😊😊
Hear
I never travel without ear plugs... they are the solution for many a noisy annoyance.
I always thought I would want to go on a train, but after watching this, my claustrophobia is getting me by just watching. Watching you go down narrow hall after narrow hall and not finding the restaurant I just can’t do that. Thanks for sharing because now I know.
It's not for everyone
Finnish trains have actually more space compared to other european trains since Finland uses larger train gauge (1524mm compared to the standard 1435mm). Finland's sleeper trains are very good and better than many other sleepers I know.
You can order your food and drinks to be delivered to your room... Unless my sleeper car is adjacent to the diner, I have it delivered...
You have to wear a woolen cap and mittens in these freezing temperatures! And a woolen scarf! 😉
Thanks for the tip!
@@WalkWithMeTim 🤣
15:20 About the seats with buttons: there was never a TV option. You were able to plug in your headphones and listen some 3-5 radiostations (since some of them did not work, lol). I don't remember when those seat radios were disabled, but I think it's surely a decision made over 10 years ago. I just remember the last time I used them was when I was a child or teenager before 2010's.
Thank you a lot for this video, it's so nice to see these trains and cars to be reviewed from a foreigners perspective!
Hi Tim, I liked the cabin and facilities. It all looked clean and you weren’t sharing. The food looked ok and you said it was the best. Glad the loo was working. These train journeys are right up my track. I watch with interest. Enjoy your sleep Tim and will watch breakfast before I quit here. :) how annoying someone trying your door. Your night a bit disrupted. Breakfast not my choice. Did they have full English 😆 I liked the whole trip Tim… thanks for sharing….
I love that all your videos are real and raw. Like in Vegas. Thank you for being honest.
I from the USA and I really enjoyed this video. It’s so interesting to see sleeper trains from other parts of the world. I would love to see you ride and evaluate some of the long distance trains in the USA ❤
I live in the USA also! It would be great if Tim comes here to try one of our sleeper trains. I've been ever been on one..but I would like to try it ..
Which is best in the USA?
@@WalkWithMeTim If you wish to see America the most favorite route is the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area), a two nights and two days journey. But if you wish to see the best part of that route through the Rocky Mountains, save considerably and ride in coach during the day from Denver to Salt Lake City either westbound or eastbound... Amtrak has two types of sleeper trains, the single level Viewliner used for all sleeper trains serving New York City, and the double level Superliners used everywhere else. Both have the larger more expensive en suite standard bedrooms similar to European sleepers, and the smaller roomettes which are very popular and more affordable...
We took a train to Ca. It’s a long journey and rather expensive. We had a family room. Big plus a bed folds into a couch, private bathroom, meals included. We could go to site seeing car. The views in Colorado and Utah were awesome. Zephyr is hop on /hop off and you can get off in some city and catch a next train.
California Zephyr from Denver to Californiia (San Fran ?).
35 years ago we took the sleeper train across America and it was awesome! I was 13. I did the sleeper euro train first class in 1996 and that was even better. Amazing food. We had a toilet in our cabin as well.
Mad respect for these videos Tim. Often so much work going into getting all the shots of you walking, as you're filming it all solo!
Appreciate that , thank you
I have been on the same Arctic Sleeper Train a few months ago and it was amazing. The experience was Amazing! Maybe YOUR PERSONAL experience, as the title should of said, wasnt that great. But as you said. You either like or dont like sleeper trains. Personally, I find the train sounds very relaxing and the slight movement of the train, helps me sleep. The food was great, the shower I havent tried, because there is no point to shower from 11pm to 7am, in a Train...well because its a train and trains are never the cleaners, if you will be in your Airbnb anyway straight after.
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Experience of a lifetime.
Last year i did spend 11 hours on those seats. I slept as good as i would have in a cabin :D
No loos either on or off the trains, and sub zero temperatures? My worst nightmare, literally!😱😄What a confusing time and so late at night too! But I'm glad you finally got settled...sort of. Don't think I'll be going on that train any day soon, but I still enjoyed the experience through your eyes, Tim. Happy New Year to you and yours!
That was a very rare event. I've not heard of a similar lack of water ever. The cold delayed all trains for several days, they had to cancel some weekend trains in order to catch the timetables on the next Monday. Most Sleeper trains were running 1-2 hours late but the timetables are so loose that most of the would arrive in time to the destination.
Good memories. Used the overnight train routinely for about 4 years to visit my partner at the time.
I love sleeping in cold room and i love sleeping in moving trains/cars, i need to do this.
I have taken this night train few times as a kid and I had very nice experience. It was quite fun and relaxing. Too bad your experience wasnt as nice. It really isn't normally like this.
Love this! I've ridden trains through parts of Canada and to commute. In my opinion the best way to travel. Now settled in the wild of Vancouver Island and miss traveling. Thanks for posting
Those seat belt buckles are probably for when you fold the top bunk up and buckle so it dont fall back down
Great video as always. Looked freezing outside!! 🥶
I have fond memories from times when i was a child traveling to lapland in sleeper train. One of the best sleeps i ever get is in those sleeper carriages.
The last two weeks have been rather chaotic with VR's long distance trains... Hours of delays, buses replacing trains, and indeed frozen toilets. I just spent a week in Northern Finland and took night express sleeper trains both ways. The first trip went fine, but on the return trip the train was rather delayed due to other trains breaking down, and some of the toilets weren't working. However the train conductor told us to apply for a refund due to the toilets not working. I believe VR also promises 25% off if the train is more than an hour late, and 50% off if more than two hours late.
Yes I tried but won't expect my uk bank details lol
Good thing that VR still handled that situation well and offered the refunds. Finnish sleeper trains are very good compared to many other sleepers I know. Finnish sleeper trains have more space anyways because Finland uses 1524mm rail which is larger than the standard 1435mm gauge. This is why they are so huge and have naturally bigger space for passengers.
These trains vacuum toilets similiar to cruise ships, ferries, and airliners, don't like double ply toilet tissue which clog them up, but nitwits worldwide continue to use double ply toilet tissue because they are spoiled with the thicker, softer tissue... Single ply biodegradable tissue is what they stock in the rest rooms, don't use your double ply tissue...
@@WalkWithMeTim I'd contact their customer support to get that worked out. Their customer support has always done a great job when I've had any troubles, unlike the personnel that you had to deal with at the train station that weren't well trained to handle the situation it seems.
@@akuankka321876its very claustrophobic. I would prefer to pay more and have the private bedroom like in USA.
So sorry you had bad luck. It seems to have been one of the coldest nights in Finland. We heard from the news that some trains were frozen because of the extreme cold. There were some sleeper trains where all the toilets/plumbing were frozen and out of order. Outdoor temperature was -29⁰C to -33⁰C and that's too extreme.
Another "Arctic Express" - Arktika - routes from Moscow to Murmansk (69 Degrees North) in around 35 hours! We made this return trip by luxurious 1st Class Sleeper wayback in Summer 2019 - Pre Covid - when there is midnight sun for much of the trip! The train views are especially amazing through the wild lakes of Karelia and then the Khibiny Mountains of the Kola Peninsula!
Last time I was on a sleeper train it was 12 hours late. To be fair, there was a huge snow blizzard an we did travel the entire track lenght from Kemijärvi to Turku. We sat 3 hours at Tampere as the snow was blocking the switches at the rail yard faster than the maintenance crew could remove it. The year was 2002.
Get yourself a bulk pack of Howard Leight soft earplugs mate and carry them everywhere with you for peaceful sleep. Invaluable for travelling and getting proper rest. Cuts out the bulk of annoying noise but also lets through anything important like announcements or your sleep alarm etc.
Well well, is that really you Tim, in that beautiful warm good looking hat and those lovely heavy duty warm gloves ??? Yes, I believe so, it is you !! So happy to see you looking dapper & much warmer than when you were in Helsinki. Proud of you plus now you look pulled together which also adds to your good taste and appealing look👍 🏆 🇺🇸
Can I imagine traveling 11 hours sitting in the same chair? That's most trips for me! 😅
Even in the south, the -20 is normal in winter. -30 is usually the normal peak for winters and sometimes up to -35 even in south. It was just a really bad combinations of wind, snow and cold weather that had stuff struggling
Great video. This brought back interrailing across europe memories. I always took the top bunk. Good fun and always met some characters. The views looked spectacular though
Yeah, we had record breaking temperatures that week. Usually those trains are spot on schedule and always function well. Also the finnish are not used to many luxuries so if a shower and toilet work, they are completely fine. Even if the water is a bit cold :D
I travel between Helsinki and Lapland around ten times a year, always on a sleeper train. Usually reliable, I don't remember when last had delays or something else. I guess you were a bit unlucky here. There seems to be more problems in the daytime connections than in the night trains in Finland.
Those old sleeper carriers are not in frequent use. Usually only as a reserve or extras for the Christmas tourist season. This week was the coldest in Finland in around 15 years so I guess they had to replace some normal sleeper carriers to old ones due to "frostbite".
And for the longer break when you were having your carbonara - that was the car carrier station, takes around 30 mins to add the wagons. It's common to take a car with you, especially if are heading somewhere else than Rovaniemi in Lapland.
The staff should have handled the delay better at the station, hope they see this video.
Thanks Nick, yes it's typical that I never have much luck with sleeper trains
normal style holepunch keycard.. quite common in scandinavia like 10 years ago.. stick in. the pins gets set. and open
Tim, the generators on those locomotives hauling your train must have been working to full capacity to cope with the absolute well below freezing conditions. Just think of the heating and lighting that is needed for a train that size, and even colder when running at speed. The train seems to be very clean and comfortable with a cafeteria part as well. A very enjoyable presentation, thank you. PS - shame about the delays you had at the beginning of your journey.
That's an electric train (you can see the pair of locomotives moving away at the end). There's an additional 1500 V coil in the main transformer for the head end power. All the power comes from the 25 kV overhead line. (A maximum of about 6000 kW or 8000 hp in this instance.)
As a Finn, I have taken the train in Finlands during the winter and I have never experienced there being any problems with the toilets on the trains.
Long lasting frost, breakdowns, a cyber attack and an extensive system failure in Finntraffic’s and HSL’s information systems.
Combined these have caused some pretty large disruption on Finnish rails. Luckily this doesn’t happen often.
Funny thing. I think I took the train maybe a week or two later when the temperature was milder. Enjoyed the trip. There was no water initially but it was turned on later. Slept like a baby and loved it.
I've used sleeper trains all over the world and found a decent pair of noise cancelling ear plugs essential to get some sleep. Enjoying the vids. Keep up the good work! 👏
Good tip!
Thank you for your honest review. My wife and I would definitely not enjoy the train. You saved us from having a miserable time.
The Finnish track gauge is 1,524 mm compared to the standard gauge of 1,435 mm as found in the UK. This, together with the Finnish loading gauge being wider than the restrictive GB loading gauge should result in you having more space to move around in the breadth of the train and a more comfortable journey. It'll be interesting to hear your comments when you travel on the Caledonian Sleeper.
I already have.. link at the end
Agree with difficulty sleeping on sleeper train, between the jolting start, stops, changing cars etc. Room itself was nice
What a beautiful country, I visited Rovaniemi in 1975 - wonderful place.
I've been to that Helsinki station before, but it was a beautiful mostly sunny day during August. It hasn't changed.
Thank you for the video Tim. I actually want to give this night train route a go if I ever manage to convince my Finnish husband, who‘s sceptical about the noise. I travelled from Karlsruhe in Germany to Amsterdam in the past and it was great, but the long stops and the noise meant I didn’t get much sleep. By the way the enclosed „vip“ cabins for 2 or 4 people can be booked as an add on from the VR website.
Tell him he should it's a great experience
I only went to Helsinki from Estonia but never went where you went . That is further north and I was in the south . It is really cold. I started my 22 European countries tour in one shot and did it. Love the Europe . I travelled around 26 European countries and 19 more to go. Mostly Eastern Europe .. loved ❤️ your video from buffalo New York USA 🇺🇸
Excellent. Unlike so many travel’ experts’ , full of practical details such as time , temperature and the experience. Intelligent commentary and no self promoting guff.
Dude, no hat or layered clothing. No thinsulate gloves. Glad you wore more gear at the end It’s cold, brrrrr. Nice adventure. Good honest review. Beautiful landscape.Hopefully they opened the toilets while you waited at the station.
That train looks even better than most Hotels I've been in! 😳
What an awesome train! I would love one of those in my country.
love the sleepertrain episodes Tim!