I like trains. Maybe that comes from the childhood memories of family trips to London, and the excitement of being on the train and having a conductor come down the isle saying “Tickets please.” Or maybe it’s just because trains are easy. Unlike aeroplanes, there isn’t endless security theatre to go through, and once on board the train you rarely have to become a contortionist in the way you do when travelling by air. Trains are slower, that’s a given, but they’re just so much more fun.

Today I left Kuala Lumpur. I’ve taken the overnight sleeper train to Butterworth in Northern Malaysia. I’m scheduled to arrive there at around 7am, then catch another overnight sleeper train to Bangkok in the afternoon.

By plane Bangkok is just a couple of hours from Kuala Lumpur, and by train it’s pretty much 2 days! It’s not much cheaper by train either, but come on, this is surely the more adventurous way to go, right?

I have to admit I’m kind of excited about this train. I’ve never taken a sleeper train before. I’m in a second class coach and it’s pretty comfortable. I’ve heard that it’s nearly impossible to sleep on a train and in a few hours I suppose I’ll know for sure.