Avoid Central Asia’s most CORRUPT train!

This journey was something I wasn't expecting! I took a train from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, with an old and outdated interior. But things got worse, as the staff asked me for something that I've never been asked for on a train before... 😳

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Journey Details:
Origin: Astana-Nurly Zhol
Destination: Bishkek-2
Company: Kyrgyz Temir Joly (KJD)
Train: Various + Ammendorf
Accommodation: Kupe Sleeping Carriage (C4)
Distance: 1286 kilometres / 799 miles
Price: 157,244₸ (£271.90 / €317.30 / $346.90)
Time: 25 hours 28 minutes, arrived 84 minutes late

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Find me elsewhere:

[SuperalbsTravels]

What would you do in this situation? Let me know in the replies! 😁

[efimovx]

Kyrgyzstan Railways didn’t disappoint. They tried to receive a bribe from my grandmother a few years ago for an “overweight” luggage, without even trying to weight it 🤦🏻‍♂️

[Matticitt]

The juxtaposition of the ultra-modern station looking like an airport, elevated rail coming out of it, burger king and escalators with the ancient Kyrgyz train which looks like it's been on fire at one point is truly something else.

[michaelbauer]

„Being delayed for hours“ while showing German ICE, is the greatest of the greatest.

[andrewinnj]

One of my favorite things about English people is how good they are at describing horrible things in a completely straightforward and seemingly unaffected manner. Thanks for taking this journey so I know not to! 😅

[NerdX]

Reminds of the Copenhagen-Berlin sleeper in 1988. It had 4 carriages. The 4th carriage went to Moscow and was always "fully booked", because the compartments were used to store all the TV's and washing machines that the embassy workers were sending home to their families in Russia. My dad and I had booked a compartment in the old german MITROPA sleeping car for Berlin. At the border, the East German police wanted an extra "entrance fee" and got annoyed when my dad handed them some Ostmark, because local currency was considered useless. They only wanted dollars. We ended up giving them a bottle of wine and a watch that they could sell, and we were allowed to continue to Berlin.

[kevanhubbard]

That attendant was probably annoyed with you booking all the bearths as he probably planned unofficial rents to passengers along the way.I have had the odd similar experience in eastern Europe but not that common.Unfortunatly there are crooks in every walk of life.

[rbaleksandar]

In countries where corruption is wide-spread and viewed as "normal", always remember the rule:

high class/private compartment = customer with above average income = higher bribe potential

If you want to stay out of the corruption schemes, try traveling like a below average local citizen. Still not a guarantee you'll not be approached (especially since you are a foreigner), but still.

[antonnurwald]

I spent a semester in Romania, but that was twenty years ago. Back then they were always very helpful in pointing out when they wanted a bribe. Once i rode a night train to Bucharest and the conductor actually offered me a cabin for myself for a bribe. I took that offer immediately.

[praevasc]

It's like the classical joke from the Soviet era, the Trans-siberian express stops in the dead of the night in the middle of nowhere, and just stands there, and just stands there. Time passes, there is some movement outside, and one passenger shouts out the window: "why are we waiting?"
A voice from outside: "We're changing the locomotive!"
"What for?"
"For vodka!"

[marsillinkow]

3rd class really brings me back to my time in Russia. Travelled the entire Trans-siberian railway in 3rd class in 2022 and only managed to ride coupe for shorter trips due to their lower cost. They all DID have airconditioning though

[randomactpg]

That downstairs area at the station looks like a parking lot they decided they could make more money renting to the dealership.

[plonss]

The "good" old times ... In Romania in the early 1990s staff sometimes also charged bribes ... In Europe this is now impossible. Has something to do with poverty I guess and the idea that foreigners are rich. My worst experience on a train was again in Romania in that period. As I refused to pay a bribe to customs officials they called the police to take me off the train. Eventually they were satisfied with German marks and coins I threw at their feet. The train had 30 min delay because of this incident. Recently I was in Romania again, it so much changed and was so agreeable, at last these bad memories were effaced.

[eisenbahnerharthausen]

They discovered that you are a rich english person, so corrupcy kicks instantly

[LetsMakeaTrip]

‘*correct at time of bribing’ loved that 😂 Pretty shocking though, certainly puts me off doing something similar.

[katankya]

I traveled from Moscow to Bishkek with Kyrgyz Railways in 2017 and had a really great experience. The provodnik has always been ready to help. After a couple of days of travel, we became friends and (tried to) talk a lot. Just before reaching Bishkek, we exchanged out contacts.
A couple of days later, he called me and invited to go eat shashlik with his family somewhere in the mountains. That was really kind.
One year later, I needed to travel from Chimkent (kz) to Moscow, so I called him some months in advance to ask on which day he would have been on that route, and then I booked accordingly in order to be on his carriage. And so we met again :).
Therefore, I wouldn't suggest to AVOID Kyrgyz railways.

[wouterpaap]

"What's the worst thing that's happened to you on a train?"
Nightjet train Munich-Venice, that didn't go, missing the ferry connection to Greece and thus forcing me to travel alternatively, via Vienna and from there by airplane.
Instead of passing through Austria sleeping, I had forced stays in Salzburg and Vienna, discovering how nice Austrians actualy are. That was a nice touch.

[Nadia]

To all those complaining about the bribe, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made the trip very uncomfortable for those who don’t pay, like getting the worst travel companions or treasure hunting with your belongings when you go to the toilet.

[ChrisH-]

Another chance to enjoy an unpleasant journey vicariously 😄. As usual, a really well presented video with a great commentary.

[Tom-Lahaye]

1 hour for the train to be rescued is not bad at all. In a small country like the Netherlands it often takes longer, due to the fact that there are almost no standby locomotives anymore at stations and almost all trains are EMU with different couplers than the locomotives have.
Strangest thing I had on a train was in Zimbabwe, we left Rutenga station on the Way to Bulawayo, after half an hour and well over 35 km away from Rutenga the train stopped and reversed all the way back to Rutenga! Turned out that a freight train was underway at this single track line which didn't fit in the passing loop where we normally would have crossing it.