The Trans-Siberian had been in my mind ever since I spent a few months in Hong Kong in 1983 and met some people who were travelling home to the UK, by train. I had a vague idea about crossing the Bering Straits by ferry to link up with the North American railways, until I looked at a map. 1) there is no ferry; 2) the nearest railway in Russia to where there might have been a ferry is several thousand kilometres away; and 3) the railway in Alaska is not connected to the rest of the North American network.
As I started to think more about it, some possible workable ideas began to develop. I could start from Algeciras, the closest station to my home at the southern tip of Spain, and travel first to Warsaw, my other home, via Madrid, Barcelona, Milan. This would be a good test of the equipment I took with me and a check that I had not forgotten anything. Having started to look at timetables and fares it would also probably be the most expensive stretch.
Then I could head off through Ukraine or Turkey, Russia or Central Asia. I could pass through Baku and take a ferry to Turkmenistan, maybe linking up with the Trans-Siberian via Uzbekistan and Khazakhstan. Vladivostok is a must. From there I could fly to the States, or head back into China to Harbin, Beijing and Hong Kong. A side trip to Lhasa…
The westernmost railway terminus in the USA appears to be San Francisco. From there apparently the most spectacular route crosses the Rocky Mountains to Chicago and New York. Then I could fly to Lisbon, the westernmost airport in Europe, for the final leg back to Algeciras. Or better still, take the train up to Halifax in Canada and fly from there.
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| Kyiv - Simferopol Express Kyiv main rail passenger station, Ukraine, July 2011 |
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