My trip to North Korea by train

[Memma]

I was lucky enough to experience what must be the most surreal train journey in the world - from Beijing to Pyongyang (Obviously pre-COVID). Despite the obvious, it was really fascinating experience.

If you're interested I just finished my article on it - https://trainreview.com/article/rid...l-train-our-adventure-in-the-dprk-north-korea

I hope everyone is staying safe and well!

 

[tbwbear]

A very interesting read.

I made almost the same trip in the opposite direction back in 2018: I flew into Pyongyang and took the train out to China.

Fascinating to learn how it works in reverse. I was left by the tour guides to catch the train / you were met off the train by them etc..

The country is certainly almost made as a defintion of the word - "surreal". A trip there is not for everyone but I will certainly never forget my visit either.

I didnt make it to the DMZ like you but I took part in the Pyongyang Marathon along with a lot of other foreigners.


I think the metro uses ex-West Berlin "Dora" trains - they still have the German signs on them don't they - "Zuruck Bleiben" etc...

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The Pyongyang Metro has one new train that was (almost certainly) rebuilt from a "Dora".

 

[tbwbear]

The Pyongyang Metro has one new train that was (almost certainly) rebuilt from a "Dora".

I actually think that is quite cool looking. I know what you mean about the Dora though. It sounds similar too.

If you're interested I just finished my article on it - https://trainreview.com/article/rid...l-train-our-adventure-in-the-dprk-north-korea

In case you are interested here is an account of my own trip too - https://trainstobeyond.com/2018/06/04/2018-dprk-train-28/

Probably the same train as you took but in the opposite direction.

 

[Farang]

A fascinating read. Many thanks!

 

[F262YTJ]

Fantastic read about the enigma that is North Korea.

 

[trainmania100]

Nice article thanks for sharing. I'd be afraid to get my camera out my pocket incase I got noticed by officials, dont they prohibit photography over there or something?

 

[tbwbear]

Nice article thanks for sharing. I'd be afraid to get my camera out my pocket incase I got noticed by officials, dont they prohibit photography over there or

They do not prohibit photography as such. In fact when we were picked up at Pyongyang Airport our local guides told us that we could take photographs of pretty much anything we liked. Most of us spent the whole bus trip into the city doing that - only to have to delete quite a lot of uninteresting photographs afterwards.

They don't like pictures that show poverty, millitary personnel or local people who have not given you their permission to photograph. You also have to be careful of how you frame photographs of the leaders - no heads cut off etc..

I took a digital camera, an iphone and an ipad and took photos with all of them. The customs people checked all the camera photos on the way out. I had most of my good photos on the iphone as a precaution and I had even deleted some of them and then saved as attachments in mail - just in case. They never touched them. They were fine really. It is actually a surprising place in many ways: you can take any amount of duty free in with you but you are not allowed guide books of the country !

Photographing trains seemed to be okay. I took a picture of the train to Beijing at Pyongyang station in front of the guards on the platform. By contrast I got stopped by a Network Rail official at Paddington just before Christmas trying to take a picture of a class 800 ! (I had to call his supervisor to explain I was within my rights). The irony eh !

This is a little off topic but my own more general experience in North Korea is here - https://trainstobeyond.com/2018/06/03/2018-dprk-pyongyang-metro/

 

[Vespa]

I went there 2008, flew in and train home, no dramas you can take photos of almost anything except military of course, fascinating communist time warp, Pyongyang underground railway, DMZ (visited the south side via Japan as well), Kaesong, a military trench system facing South look out post, war museum, Mausoleum and museum full of gifts to the leader.