Merhaba!
Welcome to this new trip report, that's a trip I wanted to do since a long long long time. The Optima Express, probably the most unique auto train in Europe, it's not a adventure it's a whole odyssey!
Enjoy :)

- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN JULY 2022
Railroad company: Optima Tours GmbH
Train type : UIC-X, AB30 and various engines
From : Edirne to Villach Hbf
Time : Around 35 hours
Price : 205€

LINK TO THE NEW CHANNEL : Minitrak by Simply Railway https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgV2...

- PATREON PAGE :   / simply_railway  
- INSTAGRAM -   / simply_railway  
- TWITTER - https://twitter.com/simply_railway?la...
- SIMPLY RAILWAY PRODUCTS : https://teespring.com/stores/simply-r...

Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Claudio Bickel ; Martin Haynes ; Laurent Gilson ; Louis Haywood ; D Austin Horowitz ; Thomas Alfred Roell ; Captain Ginyu ; Andreas Konrad ; Christopher Style ; Dick DeBartolo ; Brian Sikorski ; Sandeep Ayyappan ; Nicholas Torres ; Peter N ; Nick Reed , Randy Dean ; Philippe Branco ; Tom Van Baren ; Ian Earle ; Robin Roemisch ; Michael Romero ; Fin Ross Russell ; Vel ; Benny AndTheJets ; James Pickup ; Frederic R Merchant , Jeremiah Pettus ; Roy Hunte ; Robyn Jackson ; Jeanette ; William George ; John Michael Dornoff ; Trevor Key ; Fabricio ; John Christopherson ; Linda Vainomae-Hoffmann ; Jeffrey Williams ; Shane Edmonds ; Dave Ferrell ; Joe Hoeft ; Bea Dan ; ; Yes! ; clearingrubble ; Charlie Myers ; Chris Roberts ; Bill ; jpjh ; Larry Phenis ; David Bonet ; Eric Schmidt ; John S Baldyga ; Will Ho ; Sam Couch ; Dennis Field ; Raging_lemons ; Daniel De Marta Ijurco ; Jack , Shawn Morse ; DiscoKazuma ; Benny Wong ; Amy ; Jason Rabinowitz ; Szeming Lau ; ; Peter ; Dining Car ; Robert Badgett ; Brett Babcock ; Ronald Ozio ; Paul Hurst ; Leonard McCants ; Johannes.R ; Garl Boyd Latham ; Ian Whitcomb ; TravelBlogger.com ; Jaymar7456 ; Nick Russo ; RJ B ; Parigino 48 ; Raymond Shobe ; Magikarp ; James O'Donnell ; Danny Anderson ; Marc van der Lee ; Pierre Bourry ; Mark Schutter ; John Fleckles ; cinema girl ; Jennifer M Zukawski ; Joshua Esposito ; Pierre Chevalier ; slrpnls ; pgmoser ; Caracole ; Tommy Penner ; ursus arctos ; Joe Grubbs ; Matthew Edwards ; Lee M Geller ; Peter Harrison ; Kevin Kotula ;Arthur Sievers ; Gilbert Le Blanc ; Geogast ; Mind K ; Stephen Moore

00:00 : Intro
01:29 : Check in at Edirne station
02:40 : Loading the car
03:10 : Boarding in the last two coaches ?
04:20 : Waiting for the departure
05:40 : The weird auto carriers
06:55 : We're getting ready
07:50 : Departure from Edirne
08:35 : Goodbye Turkey 🇹🇷
08:58 : The short ride in Turkey
09:27 : Changing our engine
10:50 : Compartment review
11:57 : Some delay in Kapikule
12:17 : Why the Optima is so slow ?
12:52 : Welcome to Bulgaria 🇧🇬
13:30 : Passport control
13:59 : Time to sleep
15:17 : Good morning from Serbia 🇷🇸
16:32 : Engine swap in Nîs
17:16 : Mid roll ads
17:39 : A chill morning by the window
18:54 : Tunnel vision
19:14 : Seeing Serbian MUs
19:56 : Europe's most unique train
20:22 : Walkthrough of the train
21:30 : Lunch at the dining car
22:12 : Smoking is allowed !
22:34 : Serbian countryside
23:12 : Approaching Belgrade
24:06 : Belgrade central
24:39 : The brand new line to Novi Sad
25:36 : The WORST moment
26:09 : Šid, last station in Serbia
26:42 : Hi freight train
27:11 : Sunset at the border
27:29 : An annoying control
28:03 : Are we on time ?
28:43 : Nighty night n°2
29:01 : Dobova, border with Slovenia
29:18 : Waking up in Slovenia
29:42 : Toilets Time
30:14 : Sneaking up in the sleeping car
31:38 : Last engine switch
32:11 : Off to Austria
32:54 : Karawanks tunnel
33:17 : Welcome to Austria
33:42 : Arrival in Villach
34:11 : Unloading the cars and conclusion
35:09 : Outro