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Onboard Etiquette
The unwritten rules of sharing a sleeper cabin with strangers.
Quiet hours
Most sleeper and couchette cars go quiet around 22:00. The corridor lights dim, conversations drop to a whisper, and the car takes on a collective understanding that people are trying to sleep. If you board after this point, move efficiently and keep noise to a minimum.
Getting into your bunk
Pack a small overnight bag — toiletries, phone charger, book, anything you'll want during the night — before the lights go out. Rummaging in a large bag at 23:00 while four strangers are trying to sleep is the fastest way to become unpopular. Middle and top berths are harder to access once the lights are out, so get up there early if that's your spot.
Shared cabins
Six-berth couchettes are gender-mixed by default on most operators (you can request a women-only compartment on some routes). You share the space with people you've never met. The unspoken deal: respect their space, keep noise low, and don't leave luggage on the floor where others need to stand.
Luggage
Large bags belong in the overhead storage above the corridor door or under the bottom berth. Don't leave a suitcase standing in the compartment aisle — it blocks access to berths. In sleeper compartments, the attendant will often help stow bags efficiently if you ask.
Arriving in the morning
Set your alarm for 15–20 minutes before your destination. Packing up while the train is still moving, before it pulls into the station, is much calmer than scrambling at the last minute — and less disruptive to anyone still asleep.