Is the night train (from Koln)to Krakow safe? I was reading a Let's Go book, and they cautioned against taking night trains to Poland because of the old "thieves with gas cannisters" story. I thought that was just a myth?
Posted by
Seattle, USA
990 posts
The "gassed on a train" stories are almost certainly urban legends. Anyone familiar with anesthesia knows how delicate the balance is between puttting someone out and killing them.If there really were thieves doing this, we'd hear a lot more about "mass deaths on night trains" and we don't. Gassed on a train? Only in 60's spy movies.
Having said that, there's no question that people can get victimized on night trains. They're noisy and lurchy enough that, assuming you can sleep at all, you will probably sleep through a thief sneaking in to steal your stuff. (I once awoke to meet someone rifling through my back pack!) And there are also pretty believable stories about people slipping stuff into drinks, food, etc--accept no snacks, drinks, gum etc. from people you don't know! And keep your own drinks and food with you at all times.
I do still take night trains when appropriate, though the discount airlines are making them more and more of an anachronism. But when I do, I tie the door knobs together on my compartment with dental floss. Anything that makes slipping into your compartment more difficult will deter a thief, and I sleep better regardless. My moneybelt stays on me, with passport, credit cards, and money inside my pajamas. And any technogoodies--Ipod, digital camera--are in a little pouch under the covers with me.