Vietnamese passengers' high-speed train experience around the world

High speed train station in Germany

High-speed train system in Europe

Blogger Vinh Gau took a Christmas 2022 trip through Germany, Austria and Hungary, impressed by the high-speed train system in Europe - Eurail. Through the system, visitors can easily book seats on trains passing through 33 countries with about 30,000 destinations.

Major train stations in Europe are often located in the city center, making it convenient for travelers to travel and explore . Vinh usually plans his trips in detail, including departure times and locations, to ensure he has a seat on the train. However, changing the schedule is also easy, especially when using the Eurail Pass, which allows for free booking and changing seats on many train routes.

European high-speed trains have an average speed of about 250-300km/h. He assessed that the train moves smoothly, comparable to the high-speed trains he has experienced in Japan and Korea.

Train stations in Europe, especially in big cities, are large and have many train lines. Therefore, bloggers advise visitors to arrive about an hour early to have time to determine the exact platform and train number. All stations have detailed instructions with dining areas, coffee shops and shopping facilities before boarding the train. The traffic infrastructure and connections between public transport such as buses, subways and high-speed train stations are tight, so Vinh Gau did not encounter any difficulties throughout the journey.

Shinkansen system, Japan

Ngoc Trang, a tour guide, came to Japan in November 2023 and experienced the shinkansen once. The bullet train station is as big as a shopping mall, with full amenities such as candy stores, drinks, and restaurants inside. She said the feeling of being on a bullet train is like being on a plane, fast but very smooth. Only when looking out the window and seeing the scenery passing by quickly can visitors truly feel the speed of the train.

Blogger Nguyen Son Tung (Lac) also gave a similar assessment after 5 years of living in Japan, often using the shinkansen for work. He said he could sleep well even on long distances like Tokyo - Osaka, Tokyo - Niigata or Tokyo - Nagoya because the trains were very smooth. Upon arrival, visitors can continue traveling by local train or bus, without having to use a plane.

Shinkansen train passing through Hokkaido

High-speed trains are often located at the same station as local trains, making it convenient to transfer. However, Son Tung noted that it is important to pay attention to the time because Japanese trains are very punctual, and if you miss your train, you may have to wait a long time. Although the shinkansen can reach speeds of over 300 km/h, passengers sitting inside do not feel a clear difference because the glass reduces speed, and can only feel it when standing outside watching the train run.

"Even the glass of water on the table hardly vibrates," he said.

KTX high-speed train system, South Korea

Kim Huong, who lives in Hanoi, traveled to South Korea with her family in September and chose the high-speed train to travel between Seoul and Busan. She said the high-speed train ticket price may not be more economical than a plane ticket, but she chose this means of transport because the train station is located in the center, saving travel time. In addition, she and her family also wanted to experience the differences between high-speed train systems around the world .

"The interior of the train is quite new, clean and smooth so passengers hardly feel the high speed," she said.

Ha Thi Ha, a tourist from Hanoi, has also experienced the KTX and highly appreciated its speed and comfort. With a price of 50,000-70,000 won (930,000-1.3 million VND) for the Seoul - Busan trip, she thinks it is completely worth it because it saves time and avoids traffic jams compared to the bus.

A section on the KTX high-speed rail system

Female travelers also like the space on the train because the seats are wide and comfortable, there are also vending machines and wifi. The toilets are equipped with automatic doors and are separated by gender, so travelers need to pay attention to the signs. Ha advises travelers who want to experience the KTX to carefully read the instructions at the station - they are presented in an easy-to-understand way, just like at the airport.

CHR Train System, China

Ngoc Cham, representative of Top One Travel Company, said she has used the high-speed train in China more than 10 times on routes such as Hekou - Kunming, Hekou - Dali and Lijiang - Kunming; commented that "the train is as smooth as an airplane". What impressed her was that the train can reach speeds of more than 200 km/h but is still smooth, the distance between the seats is wide so that you can recline comfortably without affecting the person sitting behind.

High-speed train from Kunming to Lijiang

At the station, visitors can also easily find shopping stores, food courts or massage chairs. According to Ms. Cham, using the high-speed train saves travel time, optimizes sightseeing time and ensures the health of visitors.

THRS Train System, Taiwan

Tran Trong An, who lives in Hanoi, has been to Taiwan many times and used the high-speed train to travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung. The distance between the two points is 350 km but the travel time is only 90 minutes. At the arrival station, he can easily access the metro system, railway, bus, taxi or other means of transport.

"In the morning, I get on the train in Taipei, I can go to Taichung or Kaohsiung to have breakfast and still have time to work or go sightseeing," he said.

Inside the high-speed rail station in Taiwan

Mr. Pham Anh Vu, representative of Viet Tourism, was also impressed with Taiwan's THSR train system. Most tours to Taiwan have at least one train journey for Vietnamese tourists to experience. The train can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h but does not shake.

Train stations in Taiwan are modern and centrally located with clear signs to help travelers easily find their way in and out or connecting trains. Train stations in Taipei and Kaohsiung also have shopping areas and restaurants, creating a comfortable space while waiting for the train.

"The experience is no less than in Europe or Japan," he said, adding that the price of about NT$1,000-1,500 (VND800,000-1.2 million) for a one-way trip from Taipei to Kaohsiung is worth it.

VN (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/trai-nghiem-tau-cao-toc-cua-khach-viet-tren-the-gioi-395518.html