Thread by @jonworth

Right

Take a deep breath

Rather than just critique other maps, I have now made my own "Longest train journey" map - here it is

And there is a *huge* blog post to explain it! 👇
jonworth.eu/the-longest-tr…

I use geodisic distance to calculate the longest trip - basically the two points on the globe furthest apart nominally connected by rail, taking into account the curvature of the earth

Any such really long route is impossible without a bit of walking in a few places

But I have two workable variants...

Heavy rail and walking *only* is
Cascais 🇵🇹 - Woodlands 🇸🇬
11904.73 km

Add trams and metros and it's
Praia das Maçãs 🇵🇹 - Changji MRT 🇸🇬
11923.23 km

There are a few problems

Even though I found a route into Russia - by routing north of the Baltic Sea - there are no trains into China currently

I have hence mapped the route that is *most likely* to become possible, post COVID

There are two gaps

4.6km to walk between Haparanda 🇸🇪 and Tornio 🇫🇮

18.6km to walk between the new Vientiane 🇱🇦 and the start of the Thai rail network at Thanaleng

These routes require
30 trains, 4 changes of gauge, 23.9km walking - heavy rail & walking version
1 tram, 29 trains, 6 changes of gauge, 25.4km walking - heavy rail, trams, metros and walking version

As to how long each would take, and indeed how the hell to book tickets... sorry, but I did not get that far

This took long enough to calculate as it was!

And thanks to @DavidFengTrains @po8crg @TrainTracksEU @OnTheRails @seatsixtyone for helping me get this far

If there are any errors in this now, do tell me

And if any of my followers ever attempt this, DEFINITELY tell me

/ends

And there are 2 possible errors: apparently there are building works in Malaysia that might mess this up. And despite the fanfare it’s possible no passengers are allowed China to Laos. But I’ll check both of these tomorrow…

Oh and if you’re about to tell me Haparanda - Tornio is due to be electrified by 2023, and through running possible, I know. Thanks. By 2023 routes south of the Baltic might work too ;-)

Slightly updated version now available!