When I travel I prefer not to drive if I can avoid it. I don’t find anything relaxing about driving, especially in countries where I am not able to understand traffic signs. Whenever I can, I take the train.
Traveling by train in Europe and the UK is fast, comfortable and affordable. I have lived in Europe for over 10 years, but have been a tourist visiting European destinations for decades. I first started taking the train for the novelty. However, I quickly discovered that, unlike Canada and the US, trains in Europe serve virtually every city, town and village, are inexpensive, and operate on schedules that no North American mode of transportation can handle. My conversion to a fanatic train passenger came about because traveling by train allowed me to relax, see the sights, meet other passengers, and disembark when and where I wanted. Many times, other passengers told me about interesting architecture, landmarks, attractions, or events that I decided right then and there to take. I left the train, spent some time at the recommended destination, and when I was done, I boarded another train to resume my travels. Some of my most memorable travel experiences were the result of such spontaneous stops. Of course, when I travel I make sure that I don’t have anyone dictating where I’ll visit, when I’ll visit, or where I’ll stay while I’m there. In all my years of traveling, I took a package tour. It was to Rome, and I had to leave much earlier than I wanted.
Why do I take the train to tour Europe?
Train travel is convenient throughout Europe, with underground trains and buses picking up or dropping off train passengers. Also, most international airports are serviced by trains, so you can start your train journey immediately upon arrival.
Traveling by train in Europe is ideal for both personal and business trips. Many times I have been on my way to a conference, convention, trade show, or meeting and have used my time aboard the train to review documents, go over a presentation, or review agendas. When traveling as a team member, rail transport provides the perfect setting for panel discussions or brainstorming sessions. Plus, when it comes to getting leads in a controlled environment, nothing beats a compartment on a train. I was once representing a company at a trade show in Essen, Germany, and had the opportunity to ride with some of the local distributors who would be at the trade show booth. By the time we got to Essen, I had helped a distributor with a $42,000 sale that we closed on the way, and I was able to facilitate an inventory trade between two others so that each ended up with a product better suited to their markets. Nowhere else, except perhaps on a golf course, can anyone have a captured audience of business colleagues aboard an intercity train.
Booking train travel couldn’t be easier now, thanks to the Internet. Virtually all European railways have an online presence offering scheduling, travel coordination and ticket purchase. No matter if all you need is to book a ticket from point A to B, or arrange ticketing and seat reservations for a group sightseeing tour, it can be done quickly and easily online.
Many ticketing websites allow you to book airline tickets, car rentals, train travel, and hotel accommodations all at the same time. A well-planned trip can be especially important for group travel or corporate travel. Discounts on train fares are even available for groups of more than ten.
Eurostar, whose official name is Eurostar International Limited, or EIL, is a high-speed rail service that connects London with Paris and Brussels, through the Channel Tunnel that connects the United Kingdom and France. The service is operated by eighteen-car trains that travel at 300 kilometers per hour on a network of high-speed rail lines. Eurostar’s rail service offers express check-in for short journeys between London and Paris or Brussels and allows you to travel comfortably at high speed between the UK and mainland Europe.
Eurail, officially Eurail Group GIE but often called Eurorail, is a Netherlands-based company registered in Luxembourg and is owned by a group of European railway lines and shipping companies. The company sells passes and tickets for European railways. The company offers two main products, the Eurail Pass, formerly “Europass”, but informally called “Eurorail Pass”, and the InterRail Pass. However, InterRail passes are only available to European residents.
Eurail passes available for non-European residents allow travel through two, up to five, neighboring countries. Discounted passes are available for groups of up to five people traveling together or for those under 26 years of age. Passes that provide unlimited travel for a fixed period and passes that provide a fixed number of days of travel over a longer period are also available.
Train travelers, including those using Eurostar and Eurail, can disembark and board the trains to continue their journey. It’s wise to plan for major stops so you can coordinate seat reservations, especially if each leg of a trip is long. However, if you don’t mind taking the risk of reserving seats right before boarding and perhaps having to wait a bit for a vacancy, visiting dozens of cities while en route is entirely possible.
The only drawback to constantly getting on and off trains is that departing passengers have to carry their luggage with them. I prefer to travel light, carrying only one or two pieces of luggage. This way, if I choose to stop, I can easily do so because I will likely find an available luggage locker.
Most train stations in major urban centers have spacious luggage storage lockers or secure luggage storage facilities. However, smaller stations tend to have few storage lockers and never have staffed baggage storage facilities. Being able to conveniently store luggage and then pick it up just before departure makes stopping somewhere for a few hours to sightsee simple, so fewer bags need to be stored the better.
This traveler quickly learned to take advantage of rail freight when traveling long distances with more than a small backpack or shoulder bag. He carries the necessities with me in something not much bigger than a school bag and sends larger pieces of luggage as freight to pick them up at my destination. Cargo items are securely stored, and the daily cost of storage is much less than it would be to place coins in self-storage lockers or pay to have them stored in a staffed facility.
I once traveled from Amsterdam to Rome, which I stretched into three weeks of travel. I didn’t count the number of times I got on and off the trains before reaching my destination, but it was always at least twice a day, and often three times. In fact, all I did was take night trains to continue my journey in my sleep and use the facilities on board to wash up every morning. I would then jump to breakfast at the first stop that looked interesting.
Train travel in Europe is ideal for short trips, as well as longer journeys that last several days. Sleeping cars are available on many train routes, allowing for a comfortable night’s sleep. Long-distance train services in Europe generally offer first-class services that include more comfortable seats, tables, drive-thru dining, and other amenities.
Train travel is actually more convenient than air travel when traveling across Europe. Record times to board trains that then travel at high speeds between European city centers will often translate into a shorter journey than the flight. Traveling by plane requires driving to airports where travelers must queue to buy tickets, collect boarding passes and go through security checks. Then, once at your destination, it takes more time to collect luggage, clear customs and immigration, and then usually travel by car, bus, taxi, or train to the city center. Also, trains in Europe are rarely delayed, let alone cancelled. Air travel in Europe is much more reliable than elsewhere, but it’s not as reliable as trains.
Train passengers are generally allowed three pieces of luggage, two larger items and one smaller carry-on item. Excess luggage can be carried at an additional cost, as can some larger items. Check-in for train travelers is generally fast, usually taking less than 30 minutes. Online ticket booking and seat reservations, where available, can further reduce check-in times.
All in all, taking the train around Europe is the way to go because no other transportation option compares to the comfort, convenience, and versatility of rail travel.
