This has been the subject of a lot of controversy. Most people don’t believe it happens, but a few do and claim to know those to whom it’s happened. In any event, I don’t think anyone has posted a first-hand account.

It would be wise to figure out safety tips and techniques in advance, no matter which route you’re taking by train.

From what I can gather through articles is that ‘gassing’ has happened at least once on trains in Eastern Europe. But I get very suspicious when I keep hearing ‘a friend of a friend of mine told me’ or ‘someone told me’. Where are the first hand accounts if this is so prevalent? It may happen but extremely infrequently but I think you would be much more likely to be hit by pickpockets than a gassing. My opinion.

One article I did read said (paraphrasing) if you are really concerned, tie your luggage to your bed and sleep on top of it. That doesn’t sound too comfortable but it may work.

to deliver the amount of gas necessary to render someone unconsious would require a fairly bulky cylinder and time to introduce it into the compartment from the corridor. the intruder would also have to wear a mask or respirator. the compounds are’t that cheap or easy to come by either. i don’t doubt that at some point a traveler has been gassed by thieves, but i think it alot of effort to go to for a couple of cameras and a few hundred dollars. i think more likely is exhausted travelers simply didn’t hear an experienced thief make off with their valuables.

the only real way to prevent this is to sleep in shifts, which is a good idea anyway, and be alert. it’s for this reason i don’t recommend ear plugs. actually i guess you could wear a gas mask but they become uncomfortable quickly.

It’s an urban legend. And the train route is always different, hadn’t heard about this one yet!

This suggests it’s real, at least on the St. Petersburg – Moscow midnight route: http://www.ricksteve…

I don’t doubt that it happened, lots of things have happened. The state department even lists it as a concern on overnight trains. I simply think that worrying about it is somewhat akin to wearing a crash helmet to protect from meteorites. Watch your gear, jam the door, and travel in groups.

hello all,

Though I have heard the same stories, I have travelled on the trains on eastern routes and have NEVER experienced any problems, and I felt very secure on them. For example, people have warned about the train from Krakow to Prague, but when i was on it (the night train) there was the conductor who checked in often to see if everyone was ok (in the sleepers) and he offered assistance if needed. He was ultra friendly and made rounds all night. The train was also clean and I felt more safe on that than some trains in western Europe.

Don’t worry about gasing, I think it may be a ploy from some people to prevent the masses from travelling to these regions.

Be safe and happy travels

quote:
This suggests it’s real, at least on the St. Petersburg – Moscow midnight route: http://www.ricksteve…

Apparantly, that’s where the rumour originated. A journalist claimed it had happened to her on this train, but when asked more questions she had to admit she made it up, but her purse still got stolen.

Doors to train compartments don’t close completely – when you’re awake, you’ll notice a sliver of light coming through between the wall and the door. That also means fresh air enters constantly, thus unless they would gas an entire car (which I don’t think is quite possible either), it’s impossible to do it. And why would thieves go through so much effort when it’s relatively easy to nick things of sleeping passengers anyway?

Also, as funkyj said, they would have to gas the conductor first.

And do a search. This has been discussed over and over and over again.

Here we go again. It’s crap, read more here:http://eurotrip.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=95264

Or here: http://eurotrip.com/…
Or here: http://eurotrip.com/…
Or here: http://eurotrip.com/…