Trains can be recognised as a popular means of transportation among many people who like travelling not only in Sri Lanka but also in any country. The reasons for this are that the people are able to see many sceneries around during a train journey and reach the destinations without much exhaustion. Among the train journeys that are loved by many, there are a number of long train journeys that are popular around the world.
The Trans-Siberian train journey covers 9,258 kilometres which takes around seven days. It is from the city of Moscow in Russia to the city of Vladivostok on the Eastern coast of Russia. This is known as the longest journey of a single train in the world.
Famous landmarks
The first stage of this which was proposed in 1886 was started in 1891. May to September is the best time for this train journey. Tourists on this route have the opportunity to travel along the world’s most famous landmarks. Among them are the 500-year-old Kremlin building, the Church built on the site of the assassination of the Tsars, and the ancient ruins of Irkuts. The route includes the Ural mountain range, the Asia-Europe continental border 1,777 kilometres from Moscow, and Lake Baikal.
Another longer train journey, the Canadian, is from Toronto to Vancouver in Canada. This usually takes about three days. Although the journey takes a very beautiful route, many have raised concerns about the unavailability of Wi-Fi facilities during it.
The trip consists of snow-covered mountain ranges, Canadian forests and stunning landscapes. Very comfortable trains are used for the journey. The passengers may also see bulls, deer and sometimes even bears along the way. Major stops on the 2,775-mile journey include Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Jasper Railway Stations.
The California Shepherd, the train journey from Emeryville, San Francisco to Chicago can be recognised as another one of the longest train journeys in the world. It will take one almost two days for the journey which covers 2,438 kilometres for 51 hours.
Scenic route
This is considered to be the longest train journey in the United States. Also, this train runs through a very scenic route. During the journey, the passengers can see the Colorado River, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Train stops during the journey include several Railway Stations such as Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacramento.
The train journey from Shanghai to Lhasa, another longest train journey passes through eight provinces in China. The total distance of the journey is 4,373 kilometres and takes 47 hours and 10 minutes. However, with the time spent on stops, the journey takes about three days.
Only one train runs directly on this route. The train consists of 15 compartments. Ten compartments are designed for sleeping, four more with luxury seats and the other compartment is designed as a cafeteria. A generator has been installed at the Xining Station to run the train’s airconditioning system.