Top 10 Trains for (daytime) sleeping on - rated!

Based on recent travels. Who doesn't like snoozing across Europe? Here's our top ten trains to kip on while beautiful scenery glides past.

Random picture of a steam engine

Please don’t spoil my day

I’m miles away

And after all I’m only sleeping…

(Lennon/McCartney)

10. EMR Sheffield to London. Collapsed uncomfortable seats, inadequate head support, noisy, cramped. Guaranteed to give you a neckache.

9 . Eskotren Hendaye - San Sebastian - Bilbao Modern poky narrow-gauge trains with basic seating, plenty of stops and an annoying video on repeat play, not conducive to snoozing. On the other hand, the scenery is interesting and a one-way with a travel card from Bilbao to Hendaye (100 kms) is only 2 Euros. What's not to like ? 8. Ouigo Narbonne to Barcelona. The low-cost brand for SNCF TGV's. Basic seating - comfortable enough and the trains are fast but not conducive for sleeping.

7. TER (French Regional Trains) Bordeaux to Hendaye. Comfy seats but the train stops too often for a decent kip. Also the train divides at Dax - make sure you're in the right part of it!

6. Renfe Vigo to San Sebastian. It's a long trip so you might as well get your head down. Don't forget to wake up to change trains in Vitoria though, or you'll end up in Barcelona.

5. Cross-Country HST Plymouth to Sheffield. These trains are now disappearing from the UK network so catch 'em while you can. 5 hours of wooshing swishyness!

4. Comboios de Portugal Faro - Lisbon. Portuguese trains are old school - a great big loco on the front and lots of carriages room for bikes and heavy luggage, friendly conductors all moving along at a brisk but not rushed pace. We travelled first class and settled down for a comfy nap. Make sure you wake up in time for the spectacular crossing of the Tagus - but don't get your luggage down yet, you're till a fair way from Oriente.

3. Frecciarossa (Trenitalia) Paris-Lyon TrenItalia have snuck into the French rail market, with services from Paris to Turin and Milan via Lyon. They are picking up unmet demand on this route - we ended up on it because the Paris-Lyon EnOui was full. Swanky new train with comfy seats and Italian coffee for when you wake up!

Frecciarossa lurking in Paris Gare Du Lyon

2. inOui Hendaye to Paris via Bordeaux. (1st Class) One of France's crack trains. It's worth staying awake for the first part (Hendaye to Bordeaux) for the views of the sea and the Pyrenees. After Bordeaux, though, you're good for some zzz's - get some energy together for crossing Paris!

An InOui awaits departure

1. Ave Madrid to Sevilla (1st Class) One of the deepest sleeps I've had anywhere, let alone on a train. I didn't want to get off when I got there! Tty to be awake for the bit through the Sierra Morena though.