This is not an Amtrak-specific project, but I got to thinking: How might I plan a transglobal trip (or two) via rail, using ships as much as possible for the non-rail segments (and airplanes as little as possible).
For example, I might start at Halifax, NS, and train to Vancouver, BC. There likely would be a ship to take me to Tokyo, where I would take the train to (possibly) Hokkaido and ship to Vladivostok, thence to Moscow and St. Petersburg and the Scandinavian countries, with a ferry to the north of the UK, then a train to Land's End and hopefully a freighter to Halifax. That would be a rough way of planning.
Does anyone have any ideas how this project might be done? International timetables?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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A BBC TV series Around the World in 80 Days chronicled how an actor, Michael Palin, did circumnavigate the globe on the surface and in 80 days.
Of course the quickest way to accomplish such would simply get to the North or South Pole and stand atop the marker, however I doubt if that is what either Mr. Kisor or the BBC producers had in mind.
George Harris Member # 2077
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Once you get to Vladivostok or Shanghai, or Hong Kong, from there to the west of England or Scotland by rail is easy, except for of course time.
Getting across the Pacific from Vancouver or Prince Rupert - have no idea, but once you hit any point in Russia, Japan, or Taiwan there are several possibilities.
If you get a ship to Vladivostok, you are on the Trans Siberian, so home free, so to speak. Otherwise:
I know there are ferries from some Japanese points to some points in South Korea, but from there to China, I don't know. You can enter China by rail by going across North Korea, but politically I beleive that would be out. Dont't know about ferries from Hokkaido to Russian points. It is not that far from the northern tip of Hokkiado to Shakalin Island, but what you could do here requires research.
If you get to Taiwan, any point, say Keelung Harbor on the north end, then you can train to Kaohsiung either clockwise or counterclockwise around the island. Once there, there is or was a once a week ferry to Hong Kong. Whereever you end up in Hong Kong, get to the KCR station on the tip of the Kowloon peninsula, take train to Guangzhou, train there to Beijing, then through sleeper to Moscow, then train to some point in one of the fomer East Bloc sattelite countries, and from there it is easy to go to England 100% on rails.
From there across the Atlantic, got to get that from somebody else.
4021North Member # 4081
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Yes, you can go by ferry to China from either North or South Korea, though I think it would be hard for an American citizen to obtain a visa to enter the North. I would guess that Japan has direct ferries to mainland China as well.
I didn't know that one could sail on a "freighter." Does anyone here know about this?
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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I believe that certain freighter companies take passengers on some of their cargo vessels. But I have no idea how to book such a voyage.
I wonder if it is still possible to get from Cairo to the Cape by train, and from Ushuaia at the tip of Patagonia to Mexico City.
Wouldn't try to do this in 80 days.
No idea where the money would come from, either. Paul Theroux and Michael Palin notwithstanding, railroad narratives are not big sellers and I doubt that a publisher would come up with the dollars required for a book on the subject.
palmland Member # 4344
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What a great topic for armchair travelers in mid winter.
A good place to start might be with copies of Cook's 'European' and 'Overseas' Timetables. Also a quick re-read of Jules Vernes' 'Around the World in 80 Days'would be appropriate as the trip would surely start at the Reform Club in London. Another useful resource is the wonderful web site: http://seat61.com/
While rail mileage should certainly be maximized, other transportation modes would obviously be necessary and an ocean or river voyage would be equally enjoyable. And yes, freighter travel would be an economical way to do this.
My one experience with this was on a cargo ship (carries more than the 12 passengers permitted on a true freighter). The crew and service were wonderful, but it definitely is something for those who think the journey is more important than the destination(s) and don't feel the need to have nonstop amusements provided.
train lady Member # 3920
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Yes, there are companies that also take a small number of passengers. It is not as fancy as regular shops but appartently comfortable. You might check out either a travel agent or Google
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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Google "the man in seat 61" I think it would be the best place to start.
wayne72145 Member # 4503
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I didnt mean to be redundant Palmland--sorry
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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I am starting to get interested in this project, if only as an intellectual exercise. Thanks to all for their suggestions.
This should perhaps be modified to Around the World via Every Continent. That means Australia, Africa and South America as well.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: I wonder if it is still possible to get from Cairo to the Cape by train, and from Ushuaia at the tip of Patagonia to Mexico City.
It is not and never has been possible to go from Cairo to the Cape of Good Hope by train. This was an objective in the days of British colonialism, but it was never achieved. Not even sure the various railroads even reached the half way mark at maximum. Not to mention the parts that do exist are not all of the same gauge. South Africa and near neighbors are 3'-6" gauge, some other pieces may be one meter (3'-3 3/8") gauge, Egypt is standard gauge.
Also never possible from the southern tip of South America to Mexico on either the east side (Argentina, etc.) or the west side (Chile, etc.). There is also a gap with neither road nor rail in Panama, and also in the Amazon basin. Probably other holes as well.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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That means I will have to take buses from railhead to railhead all down Africa, I guess. And ships to fill the South American gaps. No airplanes, not unless there is absolutely no alternative.
I presume there is no rail link ACROSS (east-west) Africa or South America?
George Harris Member # 2077
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Politics in Africa. Andes mountains in South America.
Dixie Flyer Member # 4640
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Henry, what a great idea for dreams. Here are three specific "seat61" links.
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North America: Amtrak and/or VIA (no brainer there). Transatlantic: Cunard Line (another no-brainer). Across Europe and Asia: I second and third and fourth the nomination of Mark Smith, The Man in Seat Sixty-One.... Lots of great info there.
Now, for the missing link: I suggest you look here and here. This is one specific itinerary you might want to consider.
Have fun—and I wish I could be going with you!
(Even though I've already circumnavigated once before, courtesy of Uncle Sam!)
quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: That means I will have to take buses from railhead to railhead all down Africa, I guess. And ships to fill the South American gaps. No airplanes, not unless there is absolutely no alternative.
I presume there is no rail link ACROSS (east-west) Africa or South America?
You could attempt to cross South Africa - I think SAR still has service. Seat 61 - Blue Train.
There used to be service between Chile and Argentina. The rails are still there. They are narrow gauge. At one time it was called the Trans-Andino. See link: Wiki article on Trans andean railways. Of course, it is a Wiki article, so take it with a grain of salt or two.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by CG96: [There used to be service between Chile and Argentina. The rails are still there. They are narrow gauge. At one time it was called the Trans-Andino. See link: Wiki article on Trans andean railways.
Have not looked at the link yet, but I did not think this line connected with anything else, so you have to get to one end by a method other than rail and leave the other by a method other than rail. Anyone have the facts?
Geoff M Member # 153
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quote:Originally posted by George Harris: [QUOTE]Have not looked at the link yet, but I did not think this line connected with anything else, so you have to get to one end by a method other than rail and leave the other by a method other than rail. Anyone have the facts?
Scanning through this document and others, this did indeed connect with railways at either end - but these were of different gauges, so no through trains were possible. In summary from one article, "Los Andes stands at the beginning of the now derelict metre gauge Transandine Railway opened in 1910. which once ran to Mendoza in Argentina, providing a link between the broad gauge line from Valparaiso to Los Andes, operated by the Chilean State Railway, and the broad gauge line from Mendoza to Buenos Aires operated by the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway."
Even if each continent had east-west links, it would involve a lot of backtracking to cover such. If you would kindly donate the money to my PayPal account I will gladly perform the research for you and tell you all about my travels when (if) I get back.
An alternative challenge which could slowly be accomplished over a lifetime is to travel on rail in every rail-served country in the world. That's apparently only about 90 with passenger services.
Geoff M.
4021North Member # 4081
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Thanks for the info on freighter travel, it opens up some interesting opportunities.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Geoff, you will have to get in line, for I am now accepting donations of funds for the project.
mr williams Member # 1928
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It was Michael Palin's "Around the World in 80 Days" that first made me want to take Amtrak across America, and I intended replicating his trip (only from East-West) stopping off at Las Vegas on the way.
The mention of Vegas gives the game away, of course, as he travelled from LA to Chicago on the late lamented Desert Wind. There is some footage of the DW in the last episode and you see the enormous combined CZ/DW/Pioneer pulling out of Grand Junction (filmed in about 1988 I think, before the Pioneer ran through Wyoming).
By the time I got to do the trip more than a decade later I couldn't find any trace of the DW and e-mailed Amtrak who told me it had gone a couple of years before. I therefore stayed on the CZ and that's how I discovered Reno!
rresor Member # 128
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I don't want to duplicate what has been previously posted, but the following items may be useful:
1) It is possible to travel from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia, by rail. There is still, I believe, an irregular passenger train on the route. From there, you have to get up the east slope of the Andes by bus or something, but from Sucre, the Bolivian rail system will take you across to La Paz, and then it is possible to get to Lima (I think the passenger service still operates). So you've crossed South America at the widest part.
2) In Africa, it *may* be possible to travel from Walvis Bay, Namibia through South Africa and all the way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, thanks to the Chinese-built "Tazara Railway", which is "Cape gauge" (3'6"). This the the northernmost possible crossing of Africa.
3) As pointed out earlier, there isn't and never has been north/south rail service in either Africa or South America.
4) Australia is a snap with the "Indian Pacific", and of course there is now a north/south transcon route through Alice Springs, just completed a couple of years ago.
5) Europe, Asia, and North America have been pretty well discussed. However, there has been a European proposal for freight service in the "Narvik East/West Corridor", which contemplates through freight service from Shanghai to Narvik, Norway, via Urumqi, Kazahkstan, Russia, and Finland. Now *that* would be an interesting rail trip!
TruckTrains Member # 6938
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That would be awesome!
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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The donations are coming in VERY slowly, though. Seems that everybody wants to save his pennies and make the trip himself. Humph.
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