Slow Trains to Istanbul
On sale
13th June 2024
Price: £20
“Tom Chesshyre is the consummate traveller, who makes you want to experience all his adventures and mishaps for yourself.” – Christian Wolmar, author of British Rail: The Making and Breaking of Our Trains
From London via Paris, Naples, Nuremberg, the Swiss Alps, Budapest, Athens and into the furthest corners of Eastern Europe across Romania and Bulgaria, join Tom Chesshyre on his fascinating journey to Istanbul and back
Ever dreamt of dropping everything and adventuring cross-country to the edge of Asia? That’s just what rail enthusiast Tom Chesshyre did, hitting the tracks for a 4,570-mile adventure on 55 rides, shadowing the old Orient Express route.
Interrailing was once the realm of young backpackers setting off to “find themselves” – and for many, it still is. But it’s also a joyful and eco-friendly twenty-first century adventure that’s open to us all, no matter our age or agenda. Dodging striking train drivers in Germany, getting stuck by the Bulgarian-Greek border, and negotiating tricky passport officials in Turkey is all part of the fun in this illuminating and meandering journey around Europe.
Europe by rail awaits. The freedom of the lines awaits. Why not hop on board?
From London via Paris, Naples, Nuremberg, the Swiss Alps, Budapest, Athens and into the furthest corners of Eastern Europe across Romania and Bulgaria, join Tom Chesshyre on his fascinating journey to Istanbul and back
Ever dreamt of dropping everything and adventuring cross-country to the edge of Asia? That’s just what rail enthusiast Tom Chesshyre did, hitting the tracks for a 4,570-mile adventure on 55 rides, shadowing the old Orient Express route.
Interrailing was once the realm of young backpackers setting off to “find themselves” – and for many, it still is. But it’s also a joyful and eco-friendly twenty-first century adventure that’s open to us all, no matter our age or agenda. Dodging striking train drivers in Germany, getting stuck by the Bulgarian-Greek border, and negotiating tricky passport officials in Turkey is all part of the fun in this illuminating and meandering journey around Europe.
Europe by rail awaits. The freedom of the lines awaits. Why not hop on board?
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Reviews
I was rather excited to get my hands on this book. The insights into the destinations Chesshyre passes through are fascinating, and his obvious interest in the histories of these places meant I learned a lot too.
What I enjoyed the most, though, were the anecdotes that illustrate the unexpected joys that are part and parcel of off-the-beaten-path travel - whether it's random encounters in bars in Bratislava or a tour led by a guide who starts her urban exploration by saying: "Feel free to leave if you are bored or hungry." Brilliant.
Chesshyre's journey is an act of middle-aged rebellion, interrailing eastwards with no particular purpose other than to get to Istanbul. En route he rattles across the points of Europe, both literally and metaphorically. Combining a train geek's delight with a keen eye for history, and interacting with everyone he meets
An entertaining and eye-opening tale that transports you onto the rails for the most epic of European train adventures. Chesshyre's sharp wit, journalistic eye and knack for finding colourful characters make for cracking travel writing
Wry, funny and perceptive, very little escapes Tom Chesshyre's piercing eye on this entertaining odyssey on the rails across Europe. I loved this book
Tom Chesshyre is the consummate traveller, who makes you want to experience all his adventures and mishaps for yourself. Every encounter is turned into a story, giving insights into every place he visits. His journey becomes your journey. And as ever, he demonstrates that trains are the best form of travel
A love letter to the InterRail Pass and the endless possibilities and serendipities of train travel. This book will probably send you dashing to the nearest station, eager to set off on your own rail adventure
If you were ever in doubt over how wonderful Interrail is, just read Slow Trains to Istanbul. Wonderful prose that captures the rhythm of the trains as Tom Chesshyre navigates his way across Europe.
Tom Chesshyre is a kind of railway flâneur, drifting across Europe, taking trains as and when he pleases. It's a simple formula, but hugely enjoyable books are the result.
Revealing and rewarding
[Chesshyre] shows the true value of travel by rail: where every stop offers a side adventure