An independent rail journal

Slow travel by rail across Southeast Asia — written from the seat, not the brochure.

R7 Rails began as a notebook. After one too many trips where the train turned out to be the highlight rather than the means, we started writing the notes we wished we'd had: which berth to book, where the coast appears, how long a leg really takes once you account for the slow Southeast Asian clock.

Everything here is first-hand. We ride the routes, take the overnight sleepers, miss the occasional connection, and write it all down honestly. We're not affiliated with any railway operator or booking agent, which means we can tell you when a leg isn't worth it as freely as when it is.

What you'll find

• Route notes — leg-by-leg accounts of journeys we've actually taken.
• Field guides — the practical stuff: booking, classes, packing, borders.
• Honest timing — how long things take in practice, not just on paper.

Have a route you want covered, or a correction to share? Get in touch — we read everything.