"It is almost axiomatic that the worst trains take you through magical places."

"Travel is only glamorous in retrospect."

"Mark Twain was a great traveler and he wrote three or four great travel books. I wouldn't say that I'm a travel novelist but rather a novelist who travels - and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places."

"Railways are irresistible bazaars, snaking along perfectly level no matter what the landscape, improving your mood with speed, and never upsetting your drink."

"Truly, the worst trains take one across the best landscapes."

"The amount of hassle involved in travel can be overwhelming."