Train Travel in Europe

Europe by Rail

Traveling by train is an easy way to see Europe, and can be both relaxing and romantic. It is a delightful departure from America's car bound culture and will create memories that last a lifetime.

Benefits of train travel in Europe

More frequent departures than planes
Train stations in every major city and most small towns
Travel from city center to city center
No transfers needed to downtown
No traffic headaches driving in and out of big cities
No expensive paid parking or tolls
No need to learn foreign road signs
No liability like that with a rental car
Makes complex itineraries hassle free
Social atmosphere
You can enjoy the breathtaking scenery

Airport Connections

Most large European city airports have a direct rail link to the city center. From there you have access to Europe's vast train network. (European airports that have train stations include Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Birmingham, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Genève, London, Malaga, Manchester, Munich, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Stuttgard, Vienna and Zurich.)

The Train Station

When traveling by train, the station is your first impression of a city. Most stations are centrally located and have a full range of services and facilities such as ATMs, bookstores, currency exchanges, luggage carts, lockers, metro or subway connections, postal services, restaurants, restrooms, taxis, telephones, ticket offices, tourist board offices. One of the most important services is the Information desk. Look for the blue and white "i" sign where you'll be able to get almost any question answered.

Luggage

Our rule of thumb is that you travel with only one suitcase or backpack and one personal bag or carry on. You should be able to carry your own bags, whether up a flight of stairs or across a busy street. Good wheels help a lot! On every trip, we follow this rule and on every trip, we still bring too much. Pack as light as possible, you will be glad you did, especially when traveling by train.

You are allowed to bring as many bags as can fit under your seat or in the luggage rack above you. Some trains have special racks for bags at the end of the car, but you are always responsible for them. Many stations no longer have porters, but if they do, you'll easily recognize them by their uniform or official badge.

Timetables & Finding Your Train

Major rail stations have computerized boards that list arriving and departing trains, similar to an airport, but on a much larger scale. The board will list the end destination city for the train, its time of departure or arrival and the track number where the train is located.

You will also find poster timetables for all departures each day. As a rule, departure timetables are printed on a yellow background and arrival timetables are on a white background. Fast trains are shown in red rather than black ink. Military time is used and schedules are listed chronologically from 0 to 24 hours. Next to the time you'll see the name and number of the important intermediate stops, as well as the track and platform number at which the train departs and arrives.

Finding the Right Car

Once you have found the track your train is on, you still need to locate the correct car. Some trains will split at certain junctions, one part going one way and the other heading in a different direction, so it is important to be on the right car. If you have a reservation, you may be assigned a specific car and seat number.

Many train stations have diagrams located on the platform that illustrate the location of each car on the train. These diagrams will help you determine where to stand on the platform so that you are close to your car, when the train arrives. Each train car has an identification panel on its side, indicating:

on top: the city where the train originated
in between: the names of the most important stops
on the bottom: the final destination
beside the door: the car number

This may sound a bit confusing if you have not done it before, but trust us, it is really quite simple.

If you will be getting off a train in a small town that is not noted on the side panel, ask a conductor which car you should be on before boarding.

Each car is also marked first class or second class by a number 1 or 2 displayed on the side of the car. You will also find smoking or non-smoking symbols on the side of the car. This, however, is not always strictly followed or enforced.

To learn about some of the train passes available, please follow this link Types of Passes .

Travels with Friends: Learn more about other European destinations and tips for traveling within Europe. www.TravelsWithFriends.com

Private Guides: See Europe and learn about its history with your own private guide. www.PrivateGuidesInEurope.com