44 Speed and comfort

People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air.

Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours.

Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey.

Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep.

During the day, sleep comes in snatches. At night, when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so.

If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find your ticket for inspection.