We took the day train about 6 weeks ago and were really looking forward to relaxing in the fully air-con coaches with comfortable wide reclining seats to watch Egypt roll past the windows. The pictures on the web site looked great. Where do I begin? The coaches were filthy. Don't get me wrong, I'm used to a bit of muck and dirt, but if I wet my finger, I could write my name on the walls. The seats were stained with years of something or other and the curtains were hanging in tattered rags. As for looking out the windows, most of the outside panes had been smashed. It was like sitting in a long cold dirty tube for nine hours. The air con was working with a vengeance.
Enjoyed Luxor,though, and the Hotel St George was fine. We dropped and broke our camera on the third day,but the man who owned the jewellers in the Hotel lent us his for the duration. A lovely gesture from a fine man.
Had a good taxi service from a guy who likes to be called Mr Chips. I promised that I'd put his e-mail on this site. I hope it's allowed. t-alaa111@yahoo.com. Charged us 100le for as long as we wanted on the West Bank.
Flew back to Cairo. Sheer luxury!
Helen.

Only nine hours?

In 2006 it only took us 18 hours to go from Cairo to Aswan - I'd say you did good!

You obviously missed my earlier posts recommending to all that they FLY instead of taking the train.

At least your no worse for wear, happy to hear you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

The photos on the website and the description give a totally different picture form the reality. I always recommend people fly and since the prices went down the price is the same for the sleeper train as a flight. And only 9 hours, I have waited for people coming off the train at 5am until 10:30!!!!!!

As I remember it's 9 hours to Luxor and 13 hours to Aswan. I took it with the Uni in 2001 and it's wasn't horrible! Wasn't very clean but wasn't very dirty either. It arrived on time or may be an hour late or so.

I travelled on the old train in 1979, it said Budapest Railway Company 1892 and I swear to God it had not be cleaned since. The new train was lovely ........at first. the toilets are the worst IMHO, after a while they do not flush and if the person before you has Ramases Revenge you know!!! The delays are phenomenal. Serious I regularly wait 1-3 hours and as I said the worst was 5 1/2. Once I got the day train to Cairo due at 5pm and I was late for a 9pm meeting!!!!

And viewing sugar, donkeys and palm trees is ok for an hour or maybe two but not for 10!!! You do not see a single site from the train


FLY FLY FLY FLY