The journey begins with the only international long-distance train that leaves Zurich's main station from underground. Unfortunately, the EuroCity trains Zurich-Munich tend to be overcrowded. I was surprised that there had been unsreserved seats one day in advance, which wasn't the case for the ICE trains from Zurich to Hamburg on this day. Our EC is getting full anyway. People without seat reservations like the Eurail tourists in front of us, can hardly find any free seats. #WrigglingIntoWinter

In Munich, it is time to change trains. I would have had preferred taking one of the next two ICE Sprinter connections to Berlin. They are faster than the other ICE connections and operated with ICE 3. As they seem to be full, we take the slower, but more quite connection via Leipzig with a longer ICE 4 train. There are only a few other passengers travelling from Munich to Berlin, almost every passenger leaves at Leipzig. #WrigglingIntoWinter

"Unfortunately", our journey into winter has to stop in Berlin in order to find a suitable connection. This city never ceases to amaze me. It makes my almost home town of Zurich seem like a small village. And of course it is a paradise for vegan food. We skip the tourist attractions and head for some new lines to travel on, as it is rainy and cold. #WrigglingIntoWinter

I have never been on the short S47 service before. It runs from Hermanstraße to Spindlersfeld, using a single track line between Schöneweide and Spindlersfeld. Other than that, the ride was very unspectacular. #WrigglingIntoWinter

The tram line 68 from Köpenick to Alt-Schmöckwitz is Berlin's most "woody" tram line. In the beginning, the "Schmöckwitz–Grünauer Uferbahn" was its own company. From 2006 to 2011, the existence was endangered.
But now, every 20 minutes, a tram disappears into the forest between Grünau and Karolinenhof. (Luckily, it reappears 2 km later at the other end usually. 😊) #WrigglingIntoWinter

However, the 68 tram line is diverted in the centre of Köpenick due to construction work. I had to look twice to see why the replacement buses running through the historic centre are marked with six digits. #WrigglingIntoWinter

Finally, I could visit the Strausberger Eisenbahn. It is one of the three tram or tram like lines east of Berlin (Straßenbahn Schöneiche, Woltersdorfer Straßenbahn and Strausberger Eisenbahn). The line 89 runs from the S-Bahn station Strausberg to the historical center on a single track line. The only two working switches outside of the depot are located at the turnout stop Hegermühle. #WrigglingIntoWinter

S-Bahn Berlin... 😍 #WrigglingIntoWinter

Unfortunately, there haven't been many opportunities to use Berlin's metro system this time. #WrigglingIntoWinter

And of course, I have to show you #Berlin 's transit diagram, since... just so! #WrigglingIntoWinter

After two days, it is time to leave rainy Berlin, looking for more winter. #WrigglingIntoWinter

The next leg of our journey is realised by #SJ 's #EuroNight service Berlin-Stockholm. I finally made it! Tonight - well, actually it was three days ago - there are still couchette and 2nd class sleeping compartments in this #nighttrain available. #WrigglingIntoWinter

Our sleeping compartment in #SJ 's #EuroNight is rather narrow, but our two small suitcases fit into the overhead rack just exactly. I miss some coat hooks, we don't know where to put our jackets and clothes. Otherwise, the compartment is fine. The signs clear up every doubt: We are on the way up north. #WrigglingIntoWinter

Some hours later, it's breakfast time. If you travel on the #EuroNight northwards, breakfast is provided in #SJ Bistro car. First class passengers are served in the compartment, we have to walk across a couple of coaches. You can even get 🌱 vegan breakfast boxes today. #WrigglingIntoWinter

The weather isn't very friendly and there isn't even snow. The grimy windows make the view out of the train worse than it is. #WrigglingIntoWinter

With a delay of 67 minutes, we are arriving at Stockholm C. As we haven't planned anything on this day, we don't mind. There was an extra stop at Kathrineholm for passengers catching a train to Karlstad and Oslo. I try to get a delay compensation. However, I cannot use the online form, as I don't have a Swedish personnummer (international customer on an international night train... what a surprise, #SJ 🤡). #WrigglingIntoWinter