Ok so the shower is permanently locked and the video screens don’t seem to do anything – but it is still a pleasure. Customs and passport control at both borders was without hassle but we were not allowed off the train so could not change the last of our Mongolian money (will have to write the £20 off).

Since the Russian/Mongolian track guage is bigger than the rest of the world our train was rolled into a massive workshop and the carriages split. From inside we could barely feel it as the jacks lifted all the carriages about 1.5m off their bogies (wheels). The wheels were then all pulled out from under us and replaced. Efficient and very cool. After much clunking and re-attachment of carriages we were on our way again (the border crossing took a total of 4 hours – departing around 1am).

[Pictures: V’s Phone. Love the network operator tag top left]

– Posted from my iPhone