Train Travel’s Enduring Appeal: From Hughes to a Post-flight World
London, UK – As air travel dominates modern connectivity, a renewed appreciation for train journeys is emerging, fueled by concerns over sustainability, a desire for mindful travel, and a nostalgic connection to a slower pace of life. A recent piece in The Guardian explores the ancient and contemporary significance of trains as spaces for artistic inspiration, social connection, and philosophical reflection, highlighting a lineage stretching from Langston hughes to James Joyce.
The article points to a historical moment of particular resonance: hughes’s observation in the mid-20th century that ”no Jim Crow on the trains of the soviet Union,” a stark contrast to the segregation he experienced in the United States. His journey on the Moscow–Tashkent express, a route now largely inaccessible to Europeans due to the war in Ukraine, underscored the potential for trains to transcend social barriers. This route, once a symbol of connection between East and West, is now effectively severed, limiting overland travel options for manny.
Beyond its social implications, train travel has long been a haven for writers. The author notes the communal yet contemplative nature of train journeys, offering a respite from the isolation often experienced in the creative process.”writers spend so long alone in caves (with our characters), it does good to remember that real people exist, with all their tuna sandwiches and taking off of shoes,” the piece observes. Virginia Woolf, whose work frequently touched on themes of impermanence and observation, is cited as another author deeply influenced by the experiance of watching the world unfold from a train window.The article also acknowledges the evolution of train travel itself. While class distinctions were once pronounced – with first, second, and third-class carriages offering vastly different experiences – today’s differences are more subtle, revolving around amenities like seat size and charging ports. The opulent interiors of the past have largely given way to more practical, easy-to-clean designs, and the demographic has shifted, with many contemporary writers finding themselves amongst budget travelers and, as the author wryly notes, “Dutch teenagers.”
However, the core benefits of train travel remain. The author emphasizes the possibility for observation, the embrace of lasting infrastructure, and the broader viewpoint it affords. Drawing on James Joyce’s sentiment of “all the worlds moving simultaneously,” the piece argues that slow travel encourages long-term thinking, allowing for a deeper understanding of both the past and the future. While acknowledging the advancements facilitated by air travel, the article suggests that its speed often comes at the cost of reflection and contextual awareness.
Key Missing Detail & Context Added:
The broader context of the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on Eurasian rail travel: The article mentions the moscow-Tashkent line being disrupted,but doesn’t fully convey the extent of the disruption. The war has significantly curtailed rail connections across the region, impacting not only European travelers but also those within Asia.
The rise of “slow travel” as a conscious movement: The article touches on the benefits of slower travel, but doesn’t explicitly frame it within the growing “slow travel” movement, which prioritizes immersion, sustainability, and connection with local cultures.
* historical context of train travel and social change: The mention of Jim Crow laws and Hughes’s experience could be expanded to include the broader role of trains in the american Civil rights movement and other instances where rail travel challenged or reinforced social norms.
