The Longest Train Journey In The World: 19,000 KM, 13 Countries, And 21 Days Of Adventure That Were Interrupted

Written by Rafaela Fabris

Published on 10/01/2025 at 15:48

A viagem passaria por Portugal, Espanha, França, Alemanha, Polônia, Bielorrússia, Rússia, Mongólia, China, Laos, Tailândia e, finalmente, Cingapura. Seriam 13 países ao longo de quase 19.000 quilômetros.

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An Epic Train Journey of 19,000 Kilometers, Crossing Three Continents for Just 1,200 Euros, Promised to Be the Adventurers’ Dream, but Was Destroyed by Conflicts and Logistical Barriers.

An epic journey, crossing 13 countries over 19,000 kilometers by train. This is the proposal of the world’s longest train trip, a route connecting Lagos, Portugal, to Singapore. But unfortunately, this dream has been interrupted – and Vladimir Putin bears a large part of the blame.

The idea of a trip that would take 21 days, costing around 1,200 euros, seems fascinating. However, logistical factors and, above all, the conflict in Ukraine make this adventure unfeasible. Let’s explore the details and understand why this route is currently impossible.

The Route from Lagos to Singapore

The planned route is a true spectacle: it would start in Lagos, Portugal, and travel through Europe, Siberia, and Asia until reaching Singapore. The idea was to traverse various cultures and breathtaking landscapes, providing passengers with a unique experience.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Logistical Obstacles for This Train Journey

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has blocked the rail connections from Europe to Moscow, which was an essential point of the route. Sanctions and instability in the region have made it impossible to travel through this area safely and continuously.

The main barrier to this epic journey is logistical complexity. Unlike buying a single ticket to one destination, the train journey would require about 20 separate tickets, purchased on different platforms. This would already be a significant challenge for any traveler.

Many key routes, such as the famous Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian trains connecting Moscow to Beijing, have been suspended since 2019. Thus, the itinerary is not only complicated but also depends on a series of factors beyond the passengers’ control.

The Role of War in the Impossibility of the Journey

The biggest factor preventing the trip is the war between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict has made it impossible to travel from Western Europe to Moscow, a crucial point of the route. Sanctions and instability in the region hinder any attempt at rail connection with Russia.

For many, the war is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a barrier to ambitious projects like this one. Without the ability to cross Russia, the dream of the world’s longest train journey remains distant.

The Myth of the Direct Journey

The idea that this journey could be made easily is, in fact, a myth. According to Mark Smith, a railway travel expert, it would require organizing an intricate itinerary with several transfers. He satirized the notion of a “little man in a tent” selling direct tickets from Lagos to Singapore, emphasizing that the reality is quite different.

Smith explains that, even with all the trains running, planning would be complex and engaging. Crossing borders, especially in politically unstable areas, would turn the journey into a logistical nightmare.

Despite the challenges, the idea of such a lengthy train trip continues to fascinate enthusiasts of trains and adventurers. If the war ends and routes are restored, maybe this dream could become a reality. Until then, initiatives like this remind us of the importance of peace and global cooperation to make grand projects viable.

The Longest Train Journey In The World: 19,000 KM, 13 Countries, And 21 Days Of Adventure That Were Interrupted

An Epic Train Journey of 19,000 Kilometers, Crossing Three Continents for Just 1,200 Euros, Promised to Be the Adventurers’ Dream, but Was Destroyed by Conflicts and Logistical Barriers.

The Route from Lagos to Singapore

Logistical Obstacles for This Train Journey

The Role of War in the Impossibility of the Journey

The Myth of the Direct Journey

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The Longest Train Journey In The World: 19,000 KM, 13 Countries, And 21 Days Of Adventure That Were Interrupted

An Epic Train Journey of 19,000 Kilometers, Crossing Three Continents for Just 1,200 Euros, Promised to Be the Adventurers’ Dream, but Was Destroyed by Conflicts and Logistical Barriers.

The Route from Lagos to Singapore

Logistical Obstacles for This Train Journey

The Role of War in the Impossibility of the Journey

The Myth of the Direct Journey

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

A German architect built a cylindrical house in 1994 that rotates to follow the sun throughout the day, generates 5 times more energy than it consumes, and was the world’s first energy-positive house.

Two African countries will inaugurate in 4 days an 825-meter bridge suspended 90 meters high over a reservoir — it is the largest of three bridges of a megaproject that will supply millions of people.

A company that drilled for oil has drilled 4.8 kilometers of rock in Utah and found a never-ending heat of 290 degrees — now it is building the world’s first next-generation commercial geothermal power plant, with 100 MW connected to the grid in June 2026.

China has just successfully tested the world’s first ground effect maritime vehicle, a craft that flies up to 6 meters above the water at 200 km/h, uses quantum technology and 6G communication, and can rescue patients in the middle of the ocean.

Brazil spent R$ 1.9 billion on a giant bridge to Paraguay, and it is already finished, but no one can use it properly because the access points are not ready, and traffic remains blocked months later.

US spends $1.6 billion to renovate a 90-year-old dam in Pennsylvania that controls the shipping of 23 million tons per year on the Ohio River.

Germany turns on a “giant underground radiator” with up to 90 km of boreholes at a depth of 5 km, betting on a closed-loop system without fracking and transforming hot rocks into electricity and heating to open a new phase of clean geothermal energy in Europe.

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Butterfly robots, giant bees, and even a mechanical serpent are attracting attention in Germany and show how industry is copying nature to create faster and smarter machines.

US spends $1.6 billion to renovate a 90-year-old dam in Pennsylvania that controls the shipping of 23 million tons per year on the Ohio River.

Impressive record in sight: B diesel is expected to reach 70.8 million m³ in 2026 in Brazil, while biodiesel grows 7.2% and boosts the economy, according to a StoneX projection.

CNA asks for a R$623 billion Harvest Plan, calls for a multi-year model and R$4 billion for rural insurance, while credit default more than triples and pressure from interest rates, costs, and climate risk raises alarm in the agricultural sector.