How To Travel Europe By Train
Why fly over a country when you can pass through it, experiencing its beauty up close? Europe has the finest and most technologically advanced trains in the world. Understanding the ins and outs of rail travel on the continent will ensure a seamless vacation.
Europe’s vast network of rails is fast, efficient and comfortable. Distances are short in Europe, so in many places it’s quicker by train than plane to go from city center to city center. There is no better way to leave airport and highway hassles behind. But there are a few details you’ll need to pay attention to - besides the common errors of missing your train or boarding the wrong one.
Reservations
Seat reservations assure passengers a seat by a window, in smoking or nonsmoking, or in a car where lunch or dinner is served. Some trains, especially high-speed ones, do require reservations, so be sure to check before boarding. Trains that require advanced reservation are indicated in timetables by a capital R inside a box. It is absolutely necessary to reserve a sleeper or couchette – a sleeping compartment for several people. These overnight accommodations are sold on a first- come, first- served basis. Keep in mind that any reservation costs – including day or night travel – are not included with the Eurail Pass or Europass.
Purchasing Tickets
A travel agent can help you purchase your tickets. You can also order them yourself online. Most rail products are now universally available throughout the world with guaranteed prices in U.S. dollars for each full calendar year. If you choose one of the many multi-day passes it won’t take long for the pass to pay off. Some pay for themselves in just one day of travel, or about 800 miles.
Important Documents
Present your rail pass and your passport at any rail office before the first time you use it so it can be validated. Crossing borders into other countries is not difficult. However, appropriate papers and visas are the responsibility of the traveler, not the railroad. Have all documents properly prepared and ready when officials come on board for inspection. In addition, you may be asked if you have anything to declare. As a foreign tourist, you’re shown proper consideration, and most likely between countries of the European Economic Community, you may not even see a customs officer.
Luggage
Luggage carts are readily available in train stations to make a smooth transition to your train or to other forms of ground transportation. Experienced travelers always emphasize the importance of traveling light. Train travel is no exception. Heavy baggage can easily become an unwanted hassle. Although luggage carts are available, there will be moments when you must deal with your belongings yourself, and at those times, less is definitely more. If you do need to store extra luggage, coin-operated lockers are usually available for storing small items for a period of 24 hours.
Timetables
Timetables are important and most stations post departure and arrival times with platform numbers. As a rule, departures are printed on a yellow background, arrivals on white. All trains are listed chronologically in universal (or military) time, which uses a 24-hour clock instead of the a.m./p.m. convention and expresses hours and minutes in a four-digit group. So unlike the Stateside convention that starts the clock counting again at midday, just keep counting: 1:00 p.m. would be 1300, 2 p.m. 1400, and so on. All numbers higher than 1200 constitute p.m. So if the timetable reads “2235 hours,” simple subtraction will help you find a time you can deal with: 2235 - 1200 = 10:35 p.m.
The railway clock runs from midnight to midnight each day. If you are traveling with a Europass or Eurail Flexipass, don’t forget to enter the date of travel before boarding the train. If you’re traveling on an overnight train after 7 p.m., you may enter the next day’s date on your pass. European trains are punctual, arriving and departing on schedule, even in foul weather. Unlike other forms of travel, trains operate even when the elements do not cooperate. Next to the times are the names and numbers of the trains and tracks; and beside the trains, you’ll find the routing to the final destination, and the most important intermediate stops.
Train Designation
As silly as it may sound, it is important to board the correct car on your train. Each car has an identification panel on the side. The top name is the city of origination and the bottom name is the final destination. Important stops on the route are listed, but not necessarily all stops. Keep in mind that some international trains can be split at certain stops. If you happen to board the wrong car, you could find yourself headed in the wrong direction. Concest Boards can be very helpful. These diagrams can be found on many platforms and provide the configuration of each train, so you can be certain where first and second class, and the dining cars are located. First class cars frequently have a number “1” on the side or a yellow stripe above the windows. Second class cars are identified by a number “2” on the side.
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