Europe's LONGEST and most UNIQUE sleeper train

Merhaba!
Welcome to this new trip report, that's a trip I wanted to do since a long long long time. The Optima Express, probably the most unique auto train in Europe, it's not a adventure it's a whole odyssey!
Enjoy :)
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN JULY 2022
Railroad company: Optima Tours GmbH
Train type : UIC-X, AB30 and various engines
From : Edirne to Villach Hbf
Time : Around 35 hours
Price : 205€
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Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Claudio Bickel ; Martin Haynes ; Laurent Gilson ; Louis Haywood ; D Austin Horowitz ; Thomas Alfred Roell ; Captain Ginyu ; Andreas Konrad ; Christopher Style ; Dick DeBartolo ; Brian Sikorski ; Sandeep Ayyappan ; Nicholas Torres ; Peter N ; Nick Reed , Randy Dean ; Philippe Branco ; Tom Van Baren ; Ian Earle ; Robin Roemisch ; Michael Romero ; Fin Ross Russell ; Vel ; Benny AndTheJets ; James Pickup ; Frederic R Merchant , Jeremiah Pettus ; Roy Hunte ; Robyn Jackson ; Jeanette ; William George ; John Michael Dornoff ; Trevor Key ; Fabricio ; John Christopherson ; Linda Vainomae-Hoffmann ; Jeffrey Williams ; Shane Edmonds ; Dave Ferrell ; Joe Hoeft ; Bea Dan ; ; Yes! ; clearingrubble ; Charlie Myers ; Chris Roberts ; Bill ; jpjh ; Larry Phenis ; David Bonet ; Eric Schmidt ; John S Baldyga ; Will Ho ; Sam Couch ; Dennis Field ; Raging_lemons ; Daniel De Marta Ijurco ; Jack , Shawn Morse ; DiscoKazuma ; Benny Wong ; Amy ; Jason Rabinowitz ; Szeming Lau ; ; Peter ; Dining Car ; Robert Badgett ; Brett Babcock ; Ronald Ozio ; Paul Hurst ; Leonard McCants ; Johannes.R ; Garl Boyd Latham ; Ian Whitcomb ; TravelBlogger.com ; Jaymar7456 ; Nick Russo ; RJ B ; Parigino 48 ; Raymond Shobe ; Magikarp ; James O'Donnell ; Danny Anderson ; Marc van der Lee ; Pierre Bourry ; Mark Schutter ; John Fleckles ; cinema girl ; Jennifer M Zukawski ; Joshua Esposito ; Pierre Chevalier ; slrpnls ; pgmoser ; Caracole ; Tommy Penner ; ursus arctos ; Joe Grubbs ; Matthew Edwards ; Lee M Geller ; Peter Harrison ; Kevin Kotula ;Arthur Sievers ; Gilbert Le Blanc ; Geogast ; Mind K ; Stephen Moore
00:00 : Intro
01:29 : Check in at Edirne station
02:40 : Loading the car
03:10 : Boarding in the last two coaches ?
04:20 : Waiting for the departure
05:40 : The weird auto carriers
06:55 : We're getting ready
07:50 : Departure from Edirne
08:35 : Goodbye Turkey 🇹🇷
08:58 : The short ride in Turkey
09:27 : Changing our engine
10:50 : Compartment review
11:57 : Some delay in Kapikule
12:17 : Why the Optima is so slow ?
12:52 : Welcome to Bulgaria 🇧🇬
13:30 : Passport control
13:59 : Time to sleep
15:17 : Good morning from Serbia 🇷🇸
16:32 : Engine swap in Nîs
17:16 : Mid roll ads
17:39 : A chill morning by the window
18:54 : Tunnel vision
19:14 : Seeing Serbian MUs
19:56 : Europe's most unique train
20:22 : Walkthrough of the train
21:30 : Lunch at the dining car
22:12 : Smoking is allowed !
22:34 : Serbian countryside
23:12 : Approaching Belgrade
24:06 : Belgrade central
24:39 : The brand new line to Novi Sad
25:36 : The WORST moment
26:09 : Šid, last station in Serbia
26:42 : Hi freight train
27:11 : Sunset at the border
27:29 : An annoying control
28:03 : Are we on time ?
28:43 : Nighty night n°2
29:01 : Dobova, border with Slovenia
29:18 : Waking up in Slovenia
29:42 : Toilets Time
30:14 : Sneaking up in the sleeping car
31:38 : Last engine switch
32:11 : Off to Austria
32:54 : Karawanks tunnel
33:17 : Welcome to Austria
33:42 : Arrival in Villach
34:11 : Unloading the cars and conclusion
35:09 : Outro

[@0gris]

The reason for the cigarette check on the border is the rampant smuggling big and small of cigarettes into the EU/Croatia. They're much cheap in the Balkans, so people buy them there in absurd quantities and bring them up.

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

I used to know someone who worked for customs at an airport in the UK. Boomers would come back from a one day "holiday" in Serbia or Turkey with suitcases full of cigarettes, lol.

[@LordDucarius]

@@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791 Haha still is like that. Everytime I go to serbia and come back to germany with a few boxes, they cost like 9 euro each there so its sure worth

[@hamidali7459]

@@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791 nice

[@dirkdiggler3552]

kk

[@OrangeTabbyCat]

@@LordDucarius Yup, better pay a bit less for your lung cancer.

[@tenkloosterherman]

The big attraction of railway travel is that you can simply sit down and watch the landscape pass by. It can be surprisingly different every hour. I took the Trans-Siberia Express in 1985 from Moscow to Khabarovsk. Khabarovks is not the real end of the Trans-Siberia Express, but in 1985 traveling on to Nakhodka meant you were obliged to travel on to Japan. I did not want that, so I took the reverse journey to Moscow in three stages: Khabarovsk-Irkutsk-Bratsk-Moscow. I still have fond memories of the trip.

[@kjubajla]

Isn't trans-siberian mostly forest and flatlands? It gets boring after day 1

[@mratkins2611]

Yes, and you basically see how one country turns to another and that one to another. In this case how you go from Balkan to Central European architecture. A plane takes you from A to B but you don't really see the places between them that close.

[@Tch5802]

This train allows Turks to see a good part of what was once the ottoman empire and Austrians to see a decent part of what was once the Habsburg empire.

[@code-on-trip.app.]

Well said!BTW using discount to get the European tickets is a good choice

[@EILEENZ0122]

Yes, train is convenient in trip☺️ Hope the rail tickets bought in a cheap price can use🥺

[@hbruins85]

Here in Japan it’s impossible to even think of traveling by train for 2n3d with no air conditioning! Thanks for taking me through a completely different - and beautiful - part of the world.

[@vnse725]

Japanese trains are the best :)

[@DominantTyphoon]

Japan is small n no rail connection to any country. This trains travels over 6 countries bruh :)

[@vnse725]

@@DominantTyphoon What's the point in traveling 6 countries? This train looks far from comfortable - I would certainly fly this distance. And may I remind you that Japan is an island country.

[@milospavlovic4599]

@@vnse725 You cannot transport your car by airplane, but you can by this train. Otherwise, you would arrive earlier if you take a bus. I'm also assumming that transporting car by train along with your family is cheaper than fuel for driving.

[@gokceaydin3324]

@@milospavlovic4599 No it's much more expensive than driving.

[@Reens-Rails]

"40 km/h Amtrak style" - made my day! 🤣🤣Great video! I did not know that Optima is a german based company. Hope i hop on this one next year.

[@Reens-Rails]

Ok, now i get it. "Cash only" in the dining car - has to be german

[@markoobid2005]

German based, but the owner is a Serbian migrant woman.

[@milanjovanovic6259]

In Serbia 40 km/h only on high speed sections :D

[@christianoliver3572]

I was in these countries in the summer of 1990 when it was still Yugoslavia and honestly it doesn't look like it's changed much. That area was my favorite in a two month trip to the Balkans and it made me sad when everything really went bad for them. Their war was a true human tragedy

[@scotttild]

Yeah nothing changed much except for the war that destroyed half the country. He did show a lot of the major cities. They are still rebuilding.

[@dm5129]

Yes, my aunt was from Yugoslawia and escaped into Germany where she met my Uncle and married into one crazy family, wie das Leben so spielt wie Germans say,

[@salihm.i.3551]

Burada savaştan çok soykırım var.

[@akolyt]

all thanks to s*rbians

[@Bare36]

I am from Croatia, Not much has changed in all ex-Yu countries ,(except Slovenia) ,due to problematic gouverment sector (institutions,public service,state owned companies..). .stupid,corrupted,lazy,irresponsible,wicked,communist menthality ,are the key words to desribe it. Result: poor economy and In last 10 years,10% of population left country.

[@OnkelPHMagee]

28:00 The train will arrive exactly at 4 :00. They just fail to tell you which day.

[@andy99ish]

I can remember travelling by train from Munich to Istanbul in the late 1980s. A daily train, with both couchette and sleeper carriages and, exotically, a carriage with a Bulgarian duty free shop added between Sofia and Edirne. Everything was clean and comfortable, if modest. Travel time was night-day-night. We got to know nearly all people in our carriage (mostly Turks, Yugoslavians, Bulgarians) and were invited to eat and drink with them. Finally at dawn of day two punctually and stately rolling around the Golden Horn at the foot of the medieval Byzantine sea walls was a goosebumpish way to enter magnificent Istanbul - Constantinople. After some days in Istanbul we took the train to Erzurum, a city close to the Turkish-Iranian border. Again a most pleasant experience. The distance and travel time was nearly the same as from Munich to Istanbul. Which made us aware how large Turkey is. Unfortunately our original plan to take the train to Baghdad failed, as that historic line (part of the Berlin-Baghdad railway) was not operated any more.

[@enesokuyucu3179]

I am very happy for you that you had a good time with our train in the eighties, but please do not use the name constantinople for Istanbul, we do not like it, I hope you will understand and stay healthy.

[@gokceaydin3324]

You are very lucky...

[@ARSuresh2410]

Thanks 👍 for this video ..wish I could travel to these parts of Europe 🌍....love from India 💖👍

[@ARSuresh2410]

If you know English then it's better to make the video and speak as well ...that will in a way give more effect to the video😊🥰that's my suggestion 🤪

[@hectoradolfomedinacruz4464]

Do you know If that service líne between Munich _İstambul.is still funtioning ??????

[@ironfoxzone2252]

Some info on the Serbian section 1) Dimitrovgrad (Bulgarian border) - Niš is getting modernised and electrified (120 km/h, ETCS) and a new Niš bypass will be built. 2) Belgrade-Niš will be modernized and double tracked all the way for speeds between 160 and 200 km/h (2 hrs journey time). After these two are completed the ride from Sofia to Belgrade will be 4 hrs. 3) Belgrade Center is still not finished, station building is missing but a investor is building it with a office complex (starting next month). Also new development will be built in the area 4) Belgrade Center to Batajnica section will be 4-track in the future (2 for the S-Bahn and 2 for RE/IC/EC trains) 5) Stara Pazova - Šid is also planned to be modernized for 160 km/h with ETCS and denivelation of railroad crossings. Stations will also be modernized on all mentioned projects with platforms and underpasses. 5) Elektrickas are RVR class 412 trains (bought during Yugoslavia) and currently in operation in Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro. In Serbia they are all used on the S-Bahn system (BGvoz) but will soon be replaced with new trains (plan was for new russian trains (russan desiros) but the cureent war delayed it)

[@bluelucky2865]

New Russian commuter trains for Belgrade won't arrive anytime soon. Doubt they will be able to export modern EMUs in the near future. Time to look elsewhere tbh.

[@yogiaol]

In which year will be coplete the full track from Dimitrovgrad to hungarian border?

[@ironfoxzone2252]

@@yogiaol By 2025 Niš-Dimutrovgrad and Belgrade-Subotica, Belgrade Niš will be a little bit further maybe 2030?

[@yogiaol]

@@ironfoxzone2252 thanks. So I must up to 2030 travel with slow train from Bulgaria-Bucharest-Vienna. It will be faster then wenn serbian route is ready.

[@ironfoxzone2252]

@@yogiaol Yes, by a lot. It will integrate the whole region

[@snoosification]

I am from villach and didn't know we had a train to Turkey and back! How awesome!

[@thaaerhamod91]

Did you come to turkey ?

[@sercankondur1008]

I m from turkey and i didn't know aswell

[@HideyoshiMichael]

The sound of the old track, Klahk, klahk, klahk, and beer, sausage and cupnoodle...one of my best memories with my father and mother in the northen area when i was i child.

[@lostmoose7352]

The sprinkling is to prevent the spread of agricultural pests. They do this too in Eastern Canada and California

[@edmturk1971]

I used to live in Edirne in early 90's and took the train from TR to BG and GR. I love trains.

[@nikose34]

i travelled a lot by train during the 90s. the best bed to get some sleep is the upper one. cold air comes inside through the window yet the lights don't wake you up during the night. we had the same compartments in the greek railways during the 90s...i met a lot of foreigners travelling then. i remember an american couple from ohio who were 19 at that time and were travelling all over europe. i cant remember their names but i remember having the best time.

[@williammerry4746]

It is so refreshing to get lost in another world for a few minutes and enjoy another fascinating video by Mr. Thibault. Unique train, beautiful scenery, an introduction to a very different but fascinating world. Who better to do this than Thibault! THanks

[@andrewmastrandonas5123]

There are many other train vloggers like him lol..as good or better.

[@nocturne90]

Many thanks for this epic video! My whole childhood and youth I was travelling at least 20 times with Optima Express to Turkey and back again, pure nostalgia😊 best travelling experience, loved it!

[@azanmuhammad5223]

Hello sir sanga chal de

[@eddeph]

Damn I love the sound of old tracks. Childhood moment right there.

[@Pilski]

Next summer I will take the Amtrak Autotrain from Virginia to Florida...57 miles and NINETEEN hours shorter than this one and...total AC!!

[@justinmorgan2126]

I went Glasgow (Scotland) - Istanbul back in '87, 6 changes and one over night stop.

[@lorenzo_contini_7]

One of the best channels on YT. Always amazing videos!!!

[@rogerknights857]

Since the compartments have electric outlets, bringing a small plug-in fan should be recommended.

[@tng2057]

I miss the Hellas Express and Acropolis Express, operated in the 70s and 80s, between Athens and Dortmund. Always huge delay when going through Yugoslavia, but fun time for rail pass backpackers and I was one.

[@TypicalDutchSaysHi]

With 'kurswagen' to the Netherlands! It was great to see a coach here with 'Athens' on it. We badly need those legendary trains again.

[@karlknapp2798]

More than 40 years ago, I took the Hell Express once and will never forget it for the rest of my life. Who never travelled with the Hellas Express has no soul. Who did it twice has no brain 😀

[@ixxic]

Actually, there was also Olympic express that rode from Ljubljana to Athens in late 90es (maybe even early 2000es). It was leaving Zagreb at midnight.

[@steveabrams777]

took Acropolis Express from Thessaloniki to London! what an amazing trip that was back in September of 1976!

[@user-hs5ue5vb9c]

I am in Africa i dont have money to travel , life is just work

[@jhyang121]

Your video reminds me the train I took about 30 years ago from Budapest to Athens. It took literally four days going through former Yugoslavia territory in war. Still I remember the stunning landscape in the morning in Greece!

[@joemeyers3127]

Another great trip. Love ending my week with a new video from you. Thanks for taking us along!

[@mohdibrahim5169]

I can remember travelling from Istanbul to Sofia then Sofia to Athens long times ago 1973 that time my journey was very beautiful. Once I travel from Istanbul to Budapest by train.

[@molyelblashony1015]

Should I have any vise to get a tickets?!

[@satyasudhakar]

Just loved this journey. I do not even know if I can save up enough money to ride on trains across the world, but this was quite splendid. Love from India.

[@YsanneOshea]

I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you for all of your work and the effort required to post it for the rest of us. 👍

[@NerdX151]

These couchettes are quite unique. They are ex-Touropa coaches, recognisable by the special window arrangement and extra big family compartments. Their original classification was Bctüm, and I believe they are the oldest german couchettes still in service.

[@s125ish]

How old

[@diannewi]

Wow, an odyssey indeed. These kinds of rides are increasingly rare. My favorite rail trip ever was all day on the train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I had to laugh at the comment about going the speed of Amtrak. Thanks for an epic video.

[@philipdyer-perry8121]

Thank you so much. This is your best (of an excellent selection) video yet! This is a train I have always wanted to travel on - now I am even more determined to give it a try.

[@martinmargerrison2300]

Greetings from Slovenija. It's the KarawankEN tunnel btw and there is also a road tunnel of the same name that carries the motorway from Slovenija into Austria. I saw this train (running late again) at Jesenice the other week and wondered what the hell it was so thanks for solving the mystery. I'm fairly sure that they put one of Tito's blue train coaches on the daily service from Beograd to Bar (supplements payable etc) which is another epic journey. Lep pozdrav. 🇸🇮👍

[@etbadaboum]

Such a unique odyssey indeed... Loved every bit of it. Thanks.

[@scottyerkes1867]

An oddessy#! The slow speed and open window made viewing the scenery more pleasant. Thank you Thibault for another great review😀😀💚💚

[@bneexotics2120]

Awesome journey mate 👍 The Alps are very impressive!! I really enjoy the sleeper train video experience 😀

[@miroslavmilosevic1040]

I live in Rakovica, close to the Optima route. Few days ago I spotted the Optima with that rare silver sleeper. Thanks for sharing how it looks inside. The OeBB used to dispatch similar sleepers to Belgrade until few yers ago.

[@Ellisepha]

Thank you very much for recording your travels! I used to live in Villach a few years ago, quite close to the trainstation; my workplace was also in the vicinity. Watching the trains everyday, I had no idea there was one going all the way through the Balkans straight to Turkey and back! Seeing that station really makes me nostalgic :D You definitely make me wanna travel by train too now!

[@jonni129]

23:24 Speaking of Tito‘s blue train: The blue Diesel engine 666-003 hauling your train after the Bulgarian-Serbian border was originally ordered for this train, hence the blue colour.

[@tombombadil9123]

coaches from the blue train are sometimes attached to the trains on Belgrade-Bar line, usually during summer months when demand is higher. not the "posh" coaches of course, but those that were used by the staff or the guards who accompanied the Marshall

[@ampersand.]

Another excellent video! Thanks for sharing your very warm trip :)

[@sebastienvacca9602]

Amazing video Thibault as usual!

[@Cowboy-in-a-Pink-Stetson]

Thank yo for this fantastic video. I want to do that trip now! It is what riding trains east of the Alps is all about. I travelled on the Tauern Express back in the 1960s and this brought back so many memories. Thanks again.

[@bright7sky]

Many thanks for this epic video! Also thanks for providing complete information and comments on the different locomotives and trains encountered along the journey!

[@ananwongpinyochit4919]

Thanks for sharing. It is fun to ride on a train when you are not in a hurry.

[@jesslockett6184]

I envy you 🤫 I love Euro so much ♥ I am very pleased you have taken us with you. Travelling Europe by train is one of the things that I absolutely love doing. Thanks for the detailed and very useful information.

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Let's gooooo! Finally a YT about the Optima

[@cyberi4a]

I would have died from the heat with no a/c since I don't like hot weather. I'm glad you survived the weather.

[@mw3927]

thanks mate, that was great to see!

[@johndornoff]

What an interesting journey on a very unique train.

[@ChrisH-1952]

Absolutely fascinating. I had never heard of this train before and you have told us about it really well. It would be too hot for me, but that is why your videos are so enjoyable: you take the pain, we have the gain.

[@denispk6228]

Greta video mate! Thx for the ride! :)

[@special5513]

12:32 Amtrak style. It’s so true. 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@francisdoss8642]

Dear Thibault, indeed there is so much to see and experience in this short life of ours...We are greatly indebted to people like you, who make it 'possible'...Compartments, stations, scenery, comments were all fantastic; my pick would be the housed in Slovenia...I am sure the woman who was chucking things out, may have changed her attitude by now...! Danke friend, from a rainy and beautifully cool Bangalore...Stay Blessed...🚂🚉🚂

[@EILEENZ0122]

Detailed and clear expression🙏 Thx for ur devotion😘 I tried the app mentioned by comments section, amazingly it is 💥super save🤩

[@amerassi9319]

I have been travel many times by sleeper train from Istanbul Turkey Haydarpasa Train Station to Sofia Bulgaria in the 1985-90-and once was from Bulgaria to Yugoslavia was so slowly The scenery of the fields was magical but this video h is amazing work so beautiful trip i like it and maybe i will try that trip soon. Thank you

[@mikemcalister4919]

Thank you! That was an awesome adventure.

[@havingalook2]

You video simply popped up and I decided to watch. It was absolutely fascinating. I now, would love to make this jorney. Well done. Cheers

[@luath5579]

What an incredible journey!

[@johnmehaffey9953]

As much as I love sleeper trains and long distance travel and even though the views were epic don’t think I’d want to do this trip, you got lucky getting a compartment to yourself but imagine having to share with strangers in that oppressive heat

[@TypicalDutchSaysHi]

Most modern sleepers, such as NightJet, have private options too. And A/C.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

You just book a single room, it’s that simple

[@gokceaydin3324]

This train has the option to book a compartment with solo occupancy. It is very expensive of course but it is possible.

[@dariusschonberg2683]

17:10 ... thrown out of the window of the train rubbish heap on the sidewalk = fine 1000 € and banned from the house for the train! :(

[@dariusschonberg2683]

18:12 garbage thrown out of the window again - PRIMITIVE - passager :(

[@97Devils]

This was awesome! I'm adding this to the list.

[@TimotheePeraldi]

This was amazing, thank you!

[@zerberus500]

WOW...what a great journey with outstanding views!😎👍

[@plonss]

What a fantastic trip ! Nostalgia for me. I travelled many times by train from Germany to Turkey in the 1980s. The incredible slow journey in Serbia with stops in sunflower fields every 2 km, the heat, etc - it evoked many old memories. Back then those trains were often incredible crowded, even the corridors filled with sleeping, drinking and singing people, accompanied by accordeon, throwing their empty beer bottles from the window .. I will never forget those journeys. Frankly, despite the heat I would prefer the old couchette car above that prison-cell like compartment in the old Austrian sleeping car. No windows to hang out from on a 36 hrs journey that is truly torture ! I was amazed to see the reasonable prices of the restaurant car, but the price of the train journey is unfortunately way too high ... BTW: A question: could the lower berths in the refurbished car still be used as one large bed covering the whole compartment ? That was feature not everyone knew about and very popular with lovers in the night ...

[@talhadurdu]

Not Turkey. Turkiye 🇹🇷👍

[@plonss]

Something like writing Deutschland in an English text you mean ?

[@montpellierand]

@@plonss Nope. Germany did not change its name, but Türkiye did. It's more like saying Czechia instead of Czech Republic.

[@plonss]

@@montpellierand Germany did not change its name, but is called Deutschland by Germans and Germany by English speaking folks. So what is the difference ? Türkiye was already the name of the country for Turks, and it is called Turkey in English. You cannot impose another name on foreign speakers, it would simply not work.

[@montpellierand]

@@plonss No one imposes anything on another language. The pronunciation of the words Turkey and Türkiye is the same. Also, re-read what I wrote. The United Nations adopted this word.

[@theepru]

Thank you for inviting us your travel in train it was super exciting, didnt even get bored and watched whole video.

[@kevinellis8869]

Good to see you back in Europe, an amazing journey, have you got any more long distance trips lined up?

[@aptjournal2241]

this is an amazing experience..i wish to be there in Europe someday:)

[@stephan6998]

Thanks for the great work and for letting us participate.

[@manolodezen2469]

Very very well done mate, i love it!

[@iceprincess3981]

Another great Video, Thibault. I almost felt sorry when the train arrived in Villach, I could have watched for hours. Keep on going 👍

[@dodul65]

Enjoyed the video thoroughly. The open window provided fresh air and the natural sounds from the track. Also the dining car allowing smoking was pleasantly surprising. But above all was the view, consistently from Turkey to reach and every country or passed through to Austria. And I have never seen a train carrying cars booked by passengers (seen freight trains transporting cars though), it seems like a great facility. Perhaps someone could board from Turkey with a car and then drive from Austria onwards to travel around Western Europe. Could be a great way to see around and experience. Loved your video. Keep posting.... Good luck.

[@AssBlasster]

Amtrak also has a daily Autotrain route from Virginia to Florida. It's one of their most profitable routes too, getting tons of snowbirds or retirees bringing their cars down when they live in Florida for the winter months.

[@ozenfant_ozn]

fantastic video of an epic journey! gives me a massive attack of fernweh!

[@rajeshchopra2565]

Thanks for the amazing video... beautifully captured the scenic beauty.... thoroughly enjoyed the journey

[@vijaysharma8382]

Nice video. Seeing the number of border crossings and related complexities no other company would find it easy to operate than Optima. Must be the reason why they are operating since 1954!

[@bwolper]

Excellent video. The photography was fantastic! I could amost see the heat.of the day. Wonderful editing. Cheers!

[@peterhonig4954]

Wow wow wow, what a great and spectaculair video!!! Keep on going the good work!!

[@susansprouse1694]

Thank you for sharing this lovely journey with us.

[@joermnyc]

The odd start and end points (not near a major city or rail station) remind me of the AutoTrain in the US.

[@rajk2677]

Very beautiful. The verdant greenery is indeed a feast for tired eyes. Of course the heat is a dampener. The journey is laid-back and leisurely. The journey bordering Austria is indeed stunning with the shrubs and bushes neatly arranged and beckoning the tired traveler. Well done bro

[@EILEENZ0122]

Exactly. Train will be faster and has more scenery on the way🥹 and with discount the price will be affordable as well😂

[@dyutimoybose5713]

Many many thanks for posting such a magnificent video coverage about the longest route in Europe. God bless you.

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Wonderful. Greetings from Canada.

[@ChefAndy69]

I was there in Austria 1st district year 2017 to 2019 work as a Chef in Mexican Embassy and it was very nice place... I went to train stations of hupbannhaup and westbannhaup I really miss that place😢

[@andriiret]

cool video! i wish you can make more videos like this

[@Nooticus]

Thank you for this amazing trip review! I haven’t even watched it yet but I know it’ll be amazing because I’ve been interested in this super unusual service for years and never seen a trip report of it until now! Thank you!

[@werwobel]

I love traveling by train. Thanks for your videos.

[@user-wv5kz9gr9g]

Amazing trip! Slow, but Amazing views! Good luck for you!

[@BrokenBackMountains]

I enjoyed that. It has been a long time since I was on a train with windows like that. Unlike a lot of people commenting, I'd like to try this trip. Slow travel😁 The journey is part of the holiday.

[@jamesmathew6236]

This is a really incredible Train trip with lots of scenic views!!

[@crististefanescu8169]

Amazing video, as usual! Cheers from Romania👍👍

[@vladcraciunoiu6046]

Very nice video Sir, thank you ! Quite a ride though, 35 hours is a lot... I guess the best part of it is that you can put your car on the train and avoid driving all that way. Best regards to all travelers !

[@imsbvs]

Facinating .. gosh it was slow, not for me! But the open windows were grand, in some ways better than aircon. Back in 1992 I took the Santander - Malaga overnight motorail, I wish I'd taken more photos. I don't speak Spanish and this was before internet usage, I telephoned the office and was given a fax number ... ticket on departure. I had sailed there from the UK, and had a few hours in Santander (great market, great beaches) whilst waiting for the train. The car was in an open wagon, outside filthy dirty on arrival, I made sure my cabin was for single occupancy, I recall being woken middle of the night by shunting around Madrid. Still, much quicker than driving across Spain, and a fun way to travel. Thanks for enduring and posting. I am intrigued by how cars travelled between the wagons, or if each wagon was shunted to the ramp one by one. Also, how cars reached and fitted the upper level.

[@erkinalp]

Cars travel between wagons. Lower deck is filled first, then the whole consist leaves the ramp to the lower deck and reverses to another ramp to fill the upper deck.

[@OliDeu]

Fantastic ! Thanks.

[@pauloschilling7338]

Wow that’s a great journey you did with the Optima Express from turkey to Austria😊🚂🚂I am really impressed of the journey you did.👏👏

[@Dovndyr13]

i love that the train runs almost year round Last time I was at Belgrade central station there were no lockers nor anything els beside a ticket office. Maybe it will come in a decade or two. but i agree the nature of the Balkans is great

[@Benjamin0c]

Super voyage !

[@afzalkhan158]

Thanks for tour.

[@ici_marmotte]

Wow, I never heard of this long train route without having to change trains before and I never knew you could carry cars in these kind of closed wagons! The design of the passenger's seats just looks the same as the one known from German regional trains (DB Regio), dark blue squares on blue ground, as you've mentioned in the video. This could be a quite good alternative for flights from Central Europe to Turkey and back if the tickets were a bit less expensive and if you've got enough time to travel such a long way by train. I love these train videos without annoying music or speech, so you can just enjoy the natural silence and the hypnotic sound of the train's wheels and the engines carrying it. Stunning views of this beautiful landscape.

[@mattflaneur407]

Thanks for making this excellent and informative video! Wonderful window hanging! I completely agree about the freedom. Try doing that anymore in the UK and you'll either be decapitated by Buddleia bushes or defenestrated by the guard! 7:30: the absolutely reckless Turkish shunter, standing between the coaches as they meet. Nobody sane does that! Also, did you spot the old water crane later on? I know it's bad for you, but I need an "Optima Express" ashtray! Takes me back to the 1980s 🙂

[@NerdX151]

Standing between the coaches during coupling is not that uncommon. I know many railway companies have strict rules about it, but it still happens pretty frequently, especially with the older crew, because they used to do it this way.

[@plonss]

"the absolutely reckless Turkish shunter" that was completely accepted and standard practice some decades ago - I watched it many times in amazement.

[@Hauketal]

There is a Berne Convention about some minimum space at the end of the cars between the buffers just for standing there.

[@ttvtlar2113]

I recently went to Norway and had a great time, the trains there were amazing and I highly suggest you do some reviews there (Im an American BTW)

[@hugoboyce9648]

Wow I want to take this trip so badly now 😚 Thanks for the great video!

[@MrBnsftrain]

17:00 I like this diesel. Similar ones are used in Egypt and Ireland 25:04 shoutout to that guy, filming a train while driving a stopped train I'm glad you were able to get inside the historic aluminum-sided sleeper car

[@HumbertoMesa]

The Alps are fantastic, lucky to have got a single compartment, really everything was epic ... Thank you for this fantastic trip. PS. The food on board seemed very good and not expensive. 🇺🇾

[@BilgelikPesinde]

13:18 You wrote you didn't know why the train got sanitizer sprayed on it at the Bulgarian border at Svilengrad. It could be because you entered the EU, so that the train doesn't carry any non European bugs or dirt on it. Sounds like a joke but might be true. I remember passengers being sprayed on flights from Istanbul to London (before Brexit, I went there in 2010) and Brussels as well, if I remember correctly. I do remember the shock and humiliation I felt though.