How To Travel By Train In Europe

Want to know the easiest and best way to travel in Europe — Trains!

#1: Why Should I Take the Train?The European rail system is very reliable and an excellent method for experiencing Europe. Trains go from city center to city center, as well as to small, intimate villages.  Taking the train from the city centers can actually get you to your destination faster than air travel and is a lot less expensive. Many European airports have train stations in them, so you can begin your train trip as soon as you walk off your TransAtlantic flight. Traveling by train keeps you from driving in an unknown area and gives you time to relax and enjoy the passing landscape.  When riding on a train, you can get up and move around at any time, plus, you usually have more seating space than on an airplane. In addition, zooming down the tracks gives you a chance to interact with the locals and other travelers on the train.

#2: Where Do I Find the Train Schedules?Each country’s rail system posts the schedules on their own websites, but the German company, Deutshche Bahn, posts schedules for almost all of Europe.  (www.bahn.com)  After you have consulted www.bahn.com, you can explore the rail sites for the countries you will be visiting.  For instance, if visiting Italy, you can explore the schedules of  Trenitalia, the largest train operator in Italy. (www.trenitalia.com)  If traveling to the United Kingdom, check out the train schedules for BritRail. (www.britrail.com) When available, choose the fast trains between major cities, and choose the regional trains to travel to smaller cities in the region.

#3:  Do I Need a Eurail Pass or Point to Point Tickets?A Eurail Pass may be a more economical choice if you are traveling in several countries.  The pass can be valid for travel from 3 days to 3 months.  You can check out pricing for the Eurail Pass at www.eurail.com. Next, decide how many days you will be riding the train and how many countries you will be visiting.  Then, check out pricing for point to point tickets on the websites of the countries you will be visiting, and decide which option is best for you.

#4:  When Do I Purchase My Ticket?Point to point tickets can be purchased at the train station or in advance online. If you plan to purchase a Eurail Pass, purchase the pass before you leave for Europe. (www.eurail.com)  Watercolor Boutique Travel will be glad to assist you with the purchase of rail tickets. Choosing a First Class ticket will assure you an assigned seat and give you room to store your luggage. Plus, snacks are served on some routes!

#5: What Do I Do the Day of Travel?Arrive in time to check the screen that lists the departures.  Look for your specific time of departure and which platform to load from.  Some tickets require validation before travel, so be sure to find the validation machine at the station.  Stamp your ticket to be on the safe side.  Be ready to board the train as soon as it stops — it will only be there several minutes before heading to the next stop!

When you are near your destination station, have your belongings and luggage ready to get off — there will not be enough time to gather everything once you stop! If connecting to another train, go straight to the large board overhead at the station to see which platform you need to head to.  Sometimes there are only minutes to spare!  Don’t worry if you miss the train– there is usually another one in an hour or so.  Remember — it is all part of the Adventure!

If you have never traveled by train, especially in Europe, I encourage you to give it a try!  If London is on your Bucket List, but you would really like to experience Paris also,  you should consider taking the Channel Tunnel, better known as “The Chunnel,” over to Paris for a day or few days.  “The Chunnel” is the Eurostar train that will take you under the English Channel from London to Paris in only 2 hours and 15 minutes!  Keep in mind that France is one hour ahead of the UK, so it will feel like you got there in 1 hour and 15 minutes!