The World’s Longest Train Trip No One Ever Dares to Take
Honestly, it sounds like a travel brag if you tell someone you’ve taken the world’s longest train trip. That happens when you board a train in Portugal and step off in Singapore. However, the reality is that it is a less grand adventure and a more logistical obstacle course.
Timetables rarely match, borders shift, and some routes have vanished entirely. The prize for finishing is proving that you can outwit one of the most complicated rail journeys ever attempted. Here’s the scattered puzzle of riding the longest route possible.
Starting in Lagos, Portugal
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The trip begins with a 3-hour and 40-minute ride to Lisbon, changing at Tunes. It’s an easy segment, but it requires careful planning. What’s important to know is that each ticket for the journey must be bought separately, often through different websites. Even the first move hints at the tangle ahead.
Lisbon to Madrid Marathon
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There’s no direct link, so passengers must break the trip at Badajoz. Two bookings, two rail systems, and slower regional trains mean the day stretches long. The best part is seeing parts of rural Iberia that the high-speed trains ignore, though it comes at the expense of clock-watching.
Madrid to Barcelona Dash
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From Madrid, things suddenly accelerate. Spain’s high-speed network whisks passengers to Barcelona in around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Renfe, Iryo, and Ouigo all compete here and give travelers a taste of sleek, modern rail.
Crossing into France
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Barcelona’s TGV connection to Paris takes about 6 hours and 45 minutes. It’s quite smooth and reliable. This is also the last uninterrupted run before the gaps in Europe–Asia travel begin to appear.
The Vanished Paris–Moscow Express
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Once a twice-weekly fixture, this two-night sleeper was an easy gateway to Russia. It disappeared in 2019, first due to the pandemic and later the war in Ukraine. Similar Berlin and Warsaw services are gone too, creating the biggest gap in the dream route.
Moscow to Beijing Epic
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Before recent events, the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian routes linked Moscow to Beijing in about six days. Now, only workarounds via northern Chinese towns exist, with extra transfers. Even if trains returned, visas and political tensions would make this a stubborn segment to complete.
Threading Through China
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Beijing to Kunming is a journey that covers nearly the full length of China. High-speed services cut the trip to 11 hours, while older sleepers take more than a day. The route crosses vast landscapes and multiple climates, one of the few sections where the railway still runs as intended.
The New Kunming–Vientiane Link
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Opened in 2021, the 9-and-a-half-hour Laos–China railway ties Kunming to Vientiane and finally links Southeast Asia with China’s system. It’s one of the few parts of the route that doesn’t frustrate travelers: modern stock, reliable schedules, and a smooth ride that highlights how rare true long-distance continuity has become.
Overnight to Bangkok
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The Vientiane–Bangkok overnight train takes about 13 hours. Border checks happen mid-route, without passengers leaving their bunks for long. It’s unhurried but efficient, which is a rare pairing on such a trip. Booking is straightforward too, which by this point feels like a luxury.
Malaysia’s Northern Gateway
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At this northern Malaysian station, travelers pass Thai exit checks and Malaysian entry formalities without leaving the platform. It’s one of the most seamless cross-border handovers in the region, which makes it stand out against the patchwork of connections before and after it.
Down to Kuala Lumpur
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Malaysia’s ETS electric trains make the 6-hour trip from the border to the capital comfortable and air-conditioned. The scenery mixes small towns, palm plantations, and industrial zones. While there are no postcard views, there’s a welcome change in pace and rolling stock compared to Thailand.
Short Hop to Gemas
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A modest 2-hour, 30-minute ride, but technically significant. Gemas marks the end of Malaysia’s electrified line, forcing a change to slower diesel trains for the final push south. It’s a point where the modern gives way to older, more time-consuming travel.
Final Malaysian Stretch
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The Gemas to Johor Bahru is the slowest slog yet, with 4 hours and 30 minutes on single-track rail that pauses to let northbound trains pass. After thousands of miles, it can feel like the journey is dragging to a stop before the finish.
Crossing Into Singapore
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A five-minute ride over the Causeway takes passengers from Johor Bahru to Woodlands Station. Immigration is completed before boarding. It’s the symbolic finish line, though the direct line to central Singapore was dismantled in 2011, leaving the trip one step short of true completion.
Why No One Does It
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Closed borders are only part of the problem. Each segment runs on its own timetable, sells tickets through separate systems, and follows different visa rules. Completing it isn’t about sitting on a train for weeks. It’s about outsmarting a logistical maze at every turn.