Back in 2018 I undertook a single train journey in Turkmenistan, from the capital to Mary in the east of the country.

We were informed that we were not allowed to take photos. I however got permission to take just one, though as you might expect I sneaked a few more in!

Ashgabat has many outlandish buildings including a ferris wheel encased in marble and a spaceship looking neutrality monument with an external lift. The train station was up there for futuristic design.

The journey itself was fun. We had a carriage to ourselves and as the only Westerners on board were treated like VIPs. The guard insisted on lending us his china teapot and cups for our samovar made tea.

Of course , the loco was of the monster diesel variety.