(1) I opted for the three-bed couchette , as opposed to the two, as I'm always slightly paranoid of being alone with someone on the European trains.

(2) The company takes off on the sleeper - cue for much squabbling among the bunk-hopping young lovers as to who sleeps with whom in which couchette - which makes a timely departure in a convincing billow of smoke.

(3) At Belgrade I was left looking after the luggage while my husband went off to organize a couchette or wagon-lit for the rest of the journey.

(4) It has yet to install couchette carriages and, after several failed attempts to fall asleep in their seats, most people head for the on-train bar and drink the night away.

(5) To avoid the hard-seat alternative, you have to do a quick deal with a guard before getting on the train - a little like booking a last-minute couchette in Europe.

(6) Sleeping on overnight trains is common (though couchettes cost extra).

(7) The fully loaded walk through five cars to the couchettes was amazing.

(8) Once again this entailed another overnight train journey enjoying the couchettes .

(9) To avoid hotel bills, we took overnight trains and booked couchettes .

(10) We had couchettes (lie down chairs) on this train, but I slept poorly because of all the stops we were making.