Myanmar Railways

So.... first class sleeper in Myanmar is not what you'd see elsewhere in the world. Take a jacket or extra blanket and pack snacks. The sleeper is not assessed from the rest of the train.... I'd do it again I. A heartbeat, just better prepared.

La réservation et la livraison de nos billets de train de Yangon à Mandalay à notre hôtel s’est déroulé sans faille Faite vous livrer si vous partez tôt le matin car les guichets n’ouvrent qu’à partir de 8h

ok

Great ride, we even arrived earlier than expected

2 berth sleeper was ok but train very noisy, rattling & shaky. Train broke down, didn’t move for 5 hours, then finally 7 hours late on arrival. No information or communication provided at all. No apology.

The train left on time and arrived in Bagan at 11am. The 12go arrival time of 9.30 is incorrect. We booked all 4 berths and had lots of room. Watch out for people selling food for the journey on platform - they are charming but try to charge far too much. We ordered sweet and sour chicken with fried rice from the official train steward who advised we would get it at 7pm and sure enough we arrived at a station and the food was handed to us. It was very tasty and plenty for 2 people - cost 6,000 kyat. We enjoyed the journey through the countryside and slept reasonably well. A pillow and sheet are provided. As it got cooler we switched off the fan. For security during the night we closed the windows and doors. The toilet facilities were fine - take own toilet paper. There was some water to ‘flush’ with. All in all a trip well worth doing

Train ride was as described. Tickets were delivered to our hotel for free as promised. Train did not have a dining car so it was a good thing we brought our own snacks. Train actually arrived on time. Overall an interesting adventure.

We elected to pick up our tickets at the office. It was very hard to find. The directions were not accurate, and when we finally find it we were sent to another office down the street. Very frustrating and unprofessional. The train ride was just as described.

Delivery of actual train tickets was prompt. We were put in Cabin D with another couple from Belgium, so it wasn't a lonely night. As I have done my research, I knew I had to bring longyi to cover myself. The operation did give pillow and sheet, but it's very random, some bed have, and some beds don't. Make sure to download an off-line map to know whereabouts I am, as the announcement was in Burmese. It was an experience that is enough, just for once. Won't do it again. I use my own scarf to cover. BTW Cabin F is more private as there are only 2 beds.

A must do once trip !. Not much sleep with the rocking and noise but what a way to see the countryside. Food good, though a little expensive for what is was. Toilet was basic , it’s all you need. The county and the people , priceless !

Perfect service : nice trip!

12 go Asia are terrible but I finally got the ticket only 12 hours before the train. Use BOOKAWAY instead. A far better service. Unlike twelve go asia, BOOKAWAY offers excellent and prompt service and a way to contact the company should you need or want to. Tickets came through very quickly with BOOKAWAY but too close for stress free travel with 12 go asia.

So nice experience to travel slowly through Myanmar, and share this moment with burmese families, monks, and all those who pick up the train to sell some food etc. Upper class has very confortable seats.

The only thing that was helpful - delivery of tickets to hotel. The train station is difficult in navigation, no English instructions, no English speaking employees. I had to catch people outside to help me find train. The train itself is also stinky, dirty and cold. But at least it departures and arrives on time

Overall good experience. Train was late, instead 9:30 arriving at 15:00. Was super hot at the day time.

12GoAsia were very good. Efficient & prompt. The train was as previously reviewed by others : very noisy & bumpy, but a good insight into local life & scenery. At this time of year it is also quite cold at night. We were really pleased to have had the experience, but wouldn't be too inclined to repeat it soon (though the track upgrade work is visibly underway).

Fun but freezing I felt like Jack on titanic at night! Get dressed. You can order a great food for the entire journey.

Service of 12GO was perfect, with my ticket delivered to the hotel in the morning of departure. The train left Mandalay Central 9:00p.m. sharp, and arrived in Bagan only 15-20 mins. behind the schedule. The floor under my seat was very dirty with lots of egg shells, however, all other places looked clean enough. As the train sways a lot, you feel as if you were on boat. So, if you get motion sickness easily, I recommend that you should not take train. The seat was big enough and comfortable to sleep in, but the window next to my seat was broken, and I couldn't close it. Freeeezing!!!

Like the previous review, our schedule was fixed and we only got confirmation 2 days before departure. The service charges seemed high for the anxiety, minimal communication and service. The train was as expected from other reviews and l have experienced sleeper trains in India, but it took much longer and was swaying so much that l was actually concerned for my safety. Typically l enjoy the train to see the countryside but l trip is enough in Myanmar.

An incredible experience. Facilities were adequate but expected.

Blankets would be amazing

We ordered the tickets on line on 12go.asia they replied immediately. We had them delivered to our hotel . I had a few questions which I submitted and they were very quick with a response. The tickets arrived a day ahead it was very professional

Perfekt service !

Being in a sleeper didn’t have access to restaurant car, which made Food very expensive - paid 55k for 3 people for dinner and breakfast

We had nice seats and the staff was very kind. Only the food and drinks onboard were a bit more expensive then if you’d buy it outside. But overal good experience!

I chose train because this was the only transportation that I found for traveling during the night. Overall was ok except a bit bumpy..

It is quite comfortable to sleep for the sleeping class. However, it is a bit cold as there is not provide enough thing for you to cover the body.

Train was on time leaving Mandalay and arriving in Yangon. We were travelling as a family of four and our kids loved the trip. The staff come around with a menu and take food orders or you can go to the restaurant car, food not included in the ticket price. The train rolls around a lot but that’s all part of the experience.

Personally I'd rate our experience 5 stars because it worked out for us, but the train left nearly 7 hours late and was slower than expected. We left at 10:30pm(meant to be 4pm) and arrived in Yangon at 6pm the next day (meant to be 9:30am). We didn't have any connections to make though, and the ride through the vast farming land and villages was actually quite a relaxing way to spend the day. The 2 of us were the only ones in the sleeper berth carriage which has 2 long thin beds and 8 more regular seats which flatten out into very short "beds", surprisingly easy to sleep even with the loud noise and rocking of the train. No food in the carriage as its separate from the rest of the train, but people in villages will come up to the window with reasonably priced fruits and food. If you've got the time and no flights to make I'd recommend the train, otherwise avoid it.

Nice alternative to avoid flight. Tickets were ready to pick up two days before. Absolutely no problem. Train is loud and not really clean, not for everybody, but my children loved iti

The experience was great. We knew the train was slower than the bus and the conditions were a bit more rudimentary. We got a 4 bed cabin with toilet. Beds were ok. The train is noisy and in the night it gets cold (no glass for the windows). Bring your own food or expect to pay quite a lot for the fried rice and vegetables that the train offers. Once we got in the train we were asked for what we'd like for dinner and breakfast. We thought the meals were included as they didn't mentioned the price and it was the first thing we had to do once in the train. Our surprise came the day after when we had to pay 34.500mmk for x4 fried rice, x4 vegetables, x2 coffees and a water. If we had known the meals weren't included we wouldn't have ordered so much food.

My emails have always been responded very quickly. The train journey was fun. Though it departed on time, arrived 30mins late. Good overall experience anyway.

Beatiful ride through Myanmar

Dirty, unstable

I love train travel and always take the option when available. I’m glad I had this experience. I was prepared in understanding the conditions. However be aware, it is the most violent train ride you’ll ever take. Similar to driving high speed over speed bumps while trying to sleep.

All was perfect

I give it 4* because our tickets were delivered to our hotel in time, the day before we travelled. Their support team had emailed before to reassure all was well, and our 2 person sleeper was probably best on the train. So 12GoAsia deserve 4*. The train probably 2*, as it was very bumpy and most of the time was dark so nothing to see either. Maybe day time train more interesting!

The train itself was not very clean, the toilet is more like an “insect museum” with “specimens” of dragonflies and spiders. There are no English-speaking staff, all announcements are made in Burmese which makes it difficult for foreigners not traveling with a local.

We are seasoned travellers in our very early 60’s and love to experience all forms of transport in the countries we visit. My main concern after booking the tickets was that they could not be confirmed until a few days before travel which could have caused a problem for the rest of our trip. However this is not the fault of 12goasia and their communication via email on questions I asked could not be faulted. Picking the ticket up was an interesting experience as although we had a full address, buildings were not easily identifiable. Of course we could have paid $10 to get tickets delivered to our office but their emails about ticket pick up were very detailed concerning office hours etc. The first class train was definitely not to same standard as those we have used in Thailand or Vietnam. I was glad I had booked all 4 beds in our carriage so we could relax and spread out. The trip took 19 hours in the end from Yangon to Bagan. Very bumpy journey but I must have slept more than I realised. Food we bought on the train was actually very tasty with dinner and breakfast delivered to us, which was just as well as we could not move from our carriage! Not for the faint hearted but a great way to see the countryside and relatively cheap dinner, bed and breakfast with transport included!

Train is really old and dirty. It’s really loud and sways a lot as well. The only plus point is that you get clean sheets. It would be fun to experience it once, but you probably wouldn’t want to go through it again.

Except of clean sheets nothing was first class. Train was very old, super slow, overall quality was disappointing, but it was still fun to do it once as an experience, but would rather not do it again...

Did train 12 0500 Mandalay - Yangon in Upper class ie comfort seat. Ticket service from 12Go was excellent. Seat comfortable for the whole 18.5 hour journey. No restaurant car but plenty of on train vendors. I just wish Myanmar Railways would make life a bit easier by having accurate information on train times in English available at stations & on the net. Staff at Mandalay were very helpful. All the information in English that was at Yangon has now disappeared.

Really rough ride. Took about 20 hours. Nice to be able to lie flat (unlike on airplane), but still tired and sticky upon arrival. Compartment was spacious enough for 3 people, and seats/beds and toilet functional. No air conditioning, but open windows provided nice breeze and good view of countryside and people and activities in villages and fields. Compartment completely isolated from rest of train. No food or water available except for few hawkers at occasional stations( very brief stops)- glad we brought our own water, peanuts and crackers. Interesting cultural experience, but wouldn’t choose to do again.

Previous comments regarding this trip are factual. The train trip is a long (19 hours in our case), grubby and jolting journey but we have no regrets. It was truly memorable and provided a reality check regarding train travel from days gone by plus an opportunity to see rural living. Make sure you take plenty of water and other provisions even though some items can be purchased along the way. Useful to have a longyi/blanket and insecticide as carriage is fully airconditioned (open windows!) Another suggestion is don’t wear white. Collection of tickets from Pegu has already been accurately described.

More uncomfortly ,unclean, nasty toilet than expected ,from a 1. Class sleeper

1. Hassled by MR porters at Yangon station who demanded large sums for minimal work. The porter was not requested or required. 2. The windows on the carriage were extremely difficult to raise or lower. 3. At dusk the carriage filled with midges, flies, mosquitoes attracted by the light. 4. The sleeper bed was extremely hard. 5. Above all not knowing if one can buy a ticket until a couple of days before ones journey is stressful. (Unable to get return ticket as all taken by others earlier on day of sale). 6. 12Go Asia agent for purchase of ticket was pitiful.

Travelers should be aware though that, oddly enough for a travel agency, Pegu Travels, the ticket-distributing affiliate in Yangon, closes on Saturday at 12:30, all day on Sunday and on public holidays. Pegu Travel will not give any information until it has tickets in hand three days before departure, and the office will leave tickets to be retrieved from a lockbox in their office building basement if travelers are not able to retrieve tickets during opening hours. Finding Pegu Travel can get complicated, but these clues can help. Pegu Offices are located in the Grand Nawaday Condominium on Nawaday Street. The Grand Nawaday is not to be confused with the Nawaday Condominium a few doors down, nor is it to be confused with Fantastic Condominium, the only building with a Pegu Travel sign and through whose basement I sloshed in three inches of water with no sight of a lockbox! Rather, the Grand Nawaday Condominium is indeed the El Dorado of Mayanmar golden train tickets. To find its hidden location, head west from the eastern end of Nawaday Street. The Grand Nawaday is tucked back in an alley on the left a few buildings from the eastern end of Nawaday Street. There is a “Grand Nawaday Condiminium” sign over the alley, but it cannot be seen from the same side of the street. Head into the alley and down the ramp into the garage. On the left by the lift, there is a lockbox in which you will find your ticket. Security had not been informed that I would be coming, so there was a bit of an awkward moment as I struggled without my glasses to dial the correct code into the combination lock. But lo-and-behold! the elusive tickets appeared after a 90-minute treasure hunt! And what a treasure traveling on the Yangon to Bagan Line is!

Excellent service, sleeper train tickets to bagan we’re waiting in our hostel the day before departure.

Seats were cramped.. never book the first 2 seats in the compartment as they have no leg space and no fan.. very in convenient for long journey

You should take the train if you want to go for a slow jurney, see the countryside and just relax. Expect a bumpy ride, no AC and no punctuality, but thats part of the charm. Sleeper Class was fine. You can order food on the train and the staff is helpful. If you are on a schedule and expect a lot of comfort, you are better off flying or taking the bus. Ticket was issued and there was no problem with picking it up. Of corse you pay for the service if someone is going to stand in the line and get the ticket for you. Price was ok for me.