Trains in Europe
Discussion
seat 61 gives a good overview. I use https://www.trenitalia.com/it.html to plan routes and check fares and - usually - to buy tickets. It covers all of Europe, not just Italy.
audi321 said:
Thanks both, these look good if you know the start and end points, what I'm looking for is some kind of map which I can see where the main routes are (I have no planned starting or finishing points).
Have you tried googling 'European train maps'?Also, without wishing to sound even more sarcastic, you can get from any city/town or village with a train station to any other village/town or city with a train station. It's just a matter of how many trains you'll need to take. Knowing the route they'll take* is, in my opinion, not really necessary compared to knowing how long it will take and how much it will cost.
* apart from stations where you need to change trains.
Voldemort said:
Have you tried googling 'European train maps'?
Also, without wishing to sound even more sarcastic, you can get from any city/town or village with a train station to any other village/town or city with a train station. It's just a matter of how many trains you'll need to take. Knowing the route they'll take* is, in my opinion, not really necessary compared to knowing how long it will take and how much it will cost.
* apart from stations where you need to change trains.
I accept your sarcasm but you clearly don’t travel on trains much in Europe. Knowing the main train routes allows you to plan where you’re going to visit easier. Also, without wishing to sound even more sarcastic, you can get from any city/town or village with a train station to any other village/town or city with a train station. It's just a matter of how many trains you'll need to take. Knowing the route they'll take* is, in my opinion, not really necessary compared to knowing how long it will take and how much it will cost.
* apart from stations where you need to change trains.
For example, to give you a scenario in England - Peterborough to Northampton. 2 relatively big places separated only by about 40 miles. Try getting a train between them and it’s 2-3 hours. This is because they’re on completely different train lines (routes). A visitor might think it would be easy to travel between them when in reality it’s not at all. Theres many examples of this in England.
Knowing the main train routes allows you to avoid issues like this. Going cross country in England is a terrible experience on trains. North to south a different story completely.
I get your comment about Google. But then if everyone did this, a lot of PH would be kind of pointless.
You can buy EU (and uk leg) travel passes here (inc high speed and sleeper reservations), and also plot your journey.
https://www.eurail.com/en
https://www.eurail.com/en
Great thread OP..!
We’re planning to go inter-railing for our summer holiday next year. In spite of all the independent travel we have done (road trips being a favourite) and having done some rail travel in Europe, we’ve never actually done a whole holiday this way.
Our 13 yo daughter doesn’t much like beach holidays - nor do we much any more - so we figured that it would be fun to visit places and see things a different way.
We’re planning to go inter-railing for our summer holiday next year. In spite of all the independent travel we have done (road trips being a favourite) and having done some rail travel in Europe, we’ve never actually done a whole holiday this way.
Our 13 yo daughter doesn’t much like beach holidays - nor do we much any more - so we figured that it would be fun to visit places and see things a different way.
Mrs. DG and I have just got back from a 5 week trip around China and Vietnam. I’ve not done any long distance train travel since inter-railing in the late 70’s/ early 80’s.
A large chunk of this trip was done by train, and we both absolutely loved it, mainly traveling during day. We’re already panning our next train adventure.
A large chunk of this trip was done by train, and we both absolutely loved it, mainly traveling during day. We’re already panning our next train adventure.
I’m lucky enough to get free rail travel across the majority of Europe and I’ve used it quite a lot over the years, but I can’t think of an information source that does what you describe.
Seat61, already mentioned, is a great source of inspiration and information.
The DB Rail app is good for planning, as is the EU Rail app which also works when you’re offline which can be handy.
The Inferrail group on facebook is worth joining and is also good for inspiration, and a good place to ask questions such as “what is the best route from x to y”.
Seat61, already mentioned, is a great source of inspiration and information.
The DB Rail app is good for planning, as is the EU Rail app which also works when you’re offline which can be handy.
The Inferrail group on facebook is worth joining and is also good for inspiration, and a good place to ask questions such as “what is the best route from x to y”.
audi321 said:
I'm guessing its not a major route. I mean it's 1.5 hours to do 88 miles, so not really a major line is it?
Depends if you want to get from the South West to the North East - the route through to York isn’t shown either.I was just thinking of your original Peterborough to Northampton point, and an information source to assist with that type of situation in Europe. You can certainly plan trips to use high speed routes only, but some of the nicest places to visit and most scenic journeys aren’t on high speed lines.
12TS said:
They’re the high speed lines as defined by the EU.
I’ve no doubt they are, but if you relied on that map to plan journeys in the UK, you’d end up with some slow and expensive trips, when more direct ‘non’ high speed (but still reasonably quick) alternatives exist. And the same applies in Europe too. Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff