I think the whiteboard eraser is probably for cleaning your shoes.

Retro? Oh my goodness, I wish I had taken some video of when I was living in Slovakia in 2008. These trains were considered the modern ones back then! I would often take the "REALLY OLD SCHOOL" ZSSK train from Bratislava to Topolcany (about a 3 hour journey back then with all it's many stops) and they were REALLY old carriages. They had large wooden sleigh type bench arrangements with brown leather seating surfaces and wood everywhere. I LOVED my weekly journey to Topolcany in those old trains. There is something very nostalgic and romantic about those train rides! I wish I could do it again. I doubt it they use those old coaches, they had to be from the 60's I think, maybe even earlier! Love it, thanks for bringing back some memories for me of my Slovak days!

On a trip to the Soviet Union in 1985 we were advised to take a multi-size plug with us. True enough we needed it. Looks like it's still a tradition on Slovak sleepers too :-)

Great video! Nice to see ZSSK's sleeper, I didn't know that these WLAB coaches are still in operation .. the interior of the coach reminds me a bit of my grandmother's old apartment :-D

As for the beeping noise which is made by turning lights on, here is explanation. Long linear fluorescent tubes, here I assume 36W or 40W, need 220V supply to work, preferably alternating current. Old coaches like here mostly have 24V direct current, too low voltage to directly power fluorescent lamps. Therefore there is a need for conversion of 24V DC to 220V AC. Here it is done by a transistor inverters, each lamp has its own individual inverter. What is the source of beeping noise? It is the transistor inverter that powers fluorescent lamps. The ignition of arc inside the tube puts additional strain on the inverter which causes it to emit said noise. Once arc inside tube is stable, inverter operates within nominal parameters so it is quiet. Most trains in Europe with fluorescent lamps have them operating on the same principle, simply modern inverters have more advanced components which are quiet all the time. I have a question myself, is the full lighting setting two tubes lit, dimmed one tube lit and off means no tubes, just the small incandescent like at 6:28? Daytime ZSSK trains with compartment coaches have just two settings, all tubes or incandescent with no tubes. By comparison PKP Intercity compartment coaches have three settings. So I wonder how the sleeper here compares to the rest.

You missed the complimentary coffee / tea in the morning. Steward usually asks the passengers what's their choice in the evening and then he should serve it 30 mins before getting off.

Finally someone reviewed a ZSSK sleeper good to know what to expect when I’ll travel on one next summer, great video

I don't at all mind if a compartment is a tad old school. It sometimes helps make it feel more welcoming than the typical sterile modern interiors. Especially from the early 2000's. Plus if it keeps prices down that's even better

I really enjoyed that. I wouldn't mind trying that myself. Thank you, super video. 😊

Thanks for the great review. I would definitely take this retro sleeper - really cozy and brightened by the patterned bedding. I would also feel very safe with all those locks! I assume you can buy a hot cuppa in the morning? If not...one can always bring a thermos ☕

Great post, I love your sleeper train posts and this one really tickled me as it immediately put my mind back to a 60 s cross country espionage film the compartment was so retro I certainly would love to ride on it and so cheap to, I’ve said to my wife that our next continental holiday will be mostly rail travel with night trains and spending a couple of days seeing the sights and then onto the next city via the sleeper train, I’ll go through your posts and try and sort out an itinerary for 10 days European travel and if I have half as much fun as you I’ll be happy

Nice video! The "retro" that not so long ago was still an everyday (or everynight) nightmare for many passengers 😂 The wooden interior reminds me of my longest, hottest (no A/C) and loudest train journeys across Poland. Espiecially this sink, that seems to have a direct outflow on the tracks and conveying the noise into the compartment :D The price is ok, regarding a single occupancy, but from Polish perspective, I wouldn't be happy if I have to share the compartment with someone in such standard (regarding the car condition and lack of restaurant car/fresh breakfast). Honestly, I hope that more railways will try to adapt to NightJet's sleeping standards ;) Btw this closet with lamp inside also reminds me my grandmother's house! So "meblościanka na wysoki połysk" vibe!

The red and blue sink controls really cracked me up. Gave the impression they controlled some main water valve! Excellent report!

What a great trip on classic sleeper coach.

Omg! Thanks for coming to Slovakia❤️

Nicely done. You are right, it looks very cozy.

Really good price for a single sleeper cabin and the service looks more than decent. In the future I want to try a ZSSK sleeper, never did yet. Great video. Like it.

Great Video and yes i would love to go that sleeper maybe one day.

Enjoyable, as always!

As a Slovakian/Scottish railfan I really enjoy these videos, I would say these old sleeper coaches are very likely about to become the next target of some EU-assisted modernising programmes - in Slovakia traditionally coaches are refurbished by stripping everything above the wheels but keeping the chassis.

Great video !!

Great Video good job👍

Nice journey did you find the sleeper quite comfortable still I like the interior of the compartment it is nice I do agree with you that is it a great experience.

Hello i live in Slovakia also the 350 units are known as: Metropolitan

I was on the Zemplin train the other night, which uses the same sleeper coaches. Ancient is one way of wording it. That said, it was a comfortable sleep, bar some violent rocking of the train at one point.

Enjoyable video, thanks. The only overnight service I've travelled on was many years ago from Basel to Calais and that was in a standard compartment (very uncomfortable). Must try out some night services.

Lovely video! Top marks from ZSSK in my opinion there (except for their very bad French translation at 10:39 lol). Mega bargain for a sleeper train with absolutely lovely stock!

Seem comfy if a bit dated. Refurbishment due? SJ in Sweden are refurbishing old sleepers some of which were built in 1964 and suffer from corrosion of the doors. Presumably way cheaper than buying new sleepers.

Awesome video

Great One Superabls

Well. I am quite surprised with the sink. I travelled with sleeper train 2-3 times, but with WD Rail and only in 6 bed carriage to the Prague. Anyways, I used ZSSK train more often in last 4 years-almost every train is late and when you have Tatra Studénka (Pantograf) as an Os train, it gets even more...lets say interesting.

I once stayed in a hotel consisting of a set of 1950s British sleeping carriages with wooden veneer interiors, north of York. I think they combined two cabins for each 'room' - but it still felt a bit cramped, to be honest, and was not all that comfortable. I think there was a breakfast provided (perhaps in a buffet car? but I can't recall it at all). As a novelty, it was interesting, but cost the same as a normal hotel, so I only used it once.

The “whiteboard eraser” is a cleaner for leather shoes.

Looks like a great deal, considering that you didn't have to pay for a hotel that night. That was a lot of food for one person. Lucky you!!!

Yes man, lock the door, they can steal your dreams hehe. BTW, How can you sleep with "So many" Loco changes and directions? 🤔 ? Cool retro ride, yes I would do it for the fun of it.

Was the whiteboard eraser a shoe polish sponge?

Love ur vids, i wish to go traveling by trains as well when i get older!

Looks like they still use a fair bit of the old Czechoslovakian Railways (CZ) rolling stock.

Pilsener Urquell 12% for 2.50 :) I'd love that

Sure would go!!!!

Great video. Tbh I was surprised that Slovakia, being small, even had night trains

Fascinating insight to ZSSK railways. The retro sleeper is a bit too retro for me although it did look comfortable enough. I also wonder why station platforms are so poorly lit? Are nuts a national dish? I could be tempted though...

Great one! Also, can you make a video about the new Heathrow Express trains?

So they've finally built the train? Or this is not the one to Berlin?

Because this Trip Report i will test it from Bratislava to Kosice 😅

Who is Bert, and why aren't you allowed to manipulate him? (10:33) Looks like I might need to put this on my ever growing to do list. At this rate, I'll have plenty to keep me occupied until I'm 90.

I only want to say, that there is still less and less of these old sleeping cars in the country, because of continual modernisation and rebuilding of them.... But sure these old are still on routes....

2:41

Wow the station at Bratislava isn’t very well lit up at all.

Whiteboard eraser is to take care of your shoes

Well the absence of hot drinks is pretty bad. The breakfast you showed is also not ideal for everyone.

Cant believe no one is pointing out how much the loci in the thumbnail looks lake a class 59/66

ah; you seem to be far from home; The fares of this domestic Slovak sleeper trains and the fares of the caledonian sleeper train --> two worlds;

Do a review on c2c 357

Are Slovakia’s railways the most efficient railways and the trains are mostly on time.

I would liks to take this trip. Washroom?

2:03 This driver doesn't care your body.He drives like nothing happens,just time

From my experience Bratislava Nové mesto is always empty.

I’d take a hard pass on this I’m afraid 😒