20 Easy, but Incredible Day Trips by Train

Btw I have spent hours trying to make the text below stay within the format I set when I created this post, but I can't make Blogger publish the edited/updated version in IE, Chrome or Firefox!

Some of the most fabulous destination towns and cities in Europe are also blessed with easy access to journeys by train that can compete with more typical attractions for wow factor status.

So as an alternative to museums and galleries, head for the station and make spontaneous journeys of a lifetime that don’t require an itinerary

The journeys listed below have the following in common:

1: They commence at stations near to the town/city centres 
2: Trains depart at regular intervals during the day – at least hourly on the routes journeys marked* and every two hours on the routes marked with a ** 
3: Are used by trains that don’t have to be reserved in advance, you can hop on board as long as you have a ticket  
4: The views from the train are fabulous 
5: You won’t be on the train in each direction for more than two hours (ish), so making a day trip is easy. 
6: Ticket prices won’t break the budget - the typical costs for the journeys is less than €20, so they can be bought at the station just before you head off on a day to remember!

And in many instances the final destinations of the trips will also be a delight.

Mountains:

Munich – Fussen/Garmisch **
There are regular trains from Munchen hbf to multiple destinations in the Bavarian Alps. Once the trains are passed Buchloe you’ll soon be travelling through spectacular mountain passes and wishing that these journeys were your daily commute. 

Journey time = Fussen; 2hr 10mins; Garmisch, 1hr 25mins

Innsbruck – Garmisch **

As I said on my guest post for GotSaga, Innsbruck is a great base for exploring by train. 
The city is located where two of the most spectacular long distance European railway routes; (1) Munich – Verona and (2) Zurich  - Salzburg cross, but even better than these is the route that winds its way over the mountains and across the border to Garmisch in Germany.

A picture postcard day out at any time of year.  

Journey time = 1hr 25 mins (you may have to change trains in Mittenwald (connections are guaranteed) 

Innsbruck - Brenner * 
A contender for Europe’s most spectacular commuter route, it’s also a stress free way of seeing the infamous Brenner Pass.

Apart from grabbing a bite to eat there’s little to do in Brenner itself, except for catching a train on to Italy (see below). But the journey there and back is great way of spending a morning or afternoon. 

Journey Time = 40mins

Verona - Bolzano*

I’ve cheated a bit here because there are two different train services that head north from Verona on arguably Europe’s most spectacular express train route. The Regionale (REG) trains have cheaper ticket prices than the alternative EC express trains, but they only operate at hourly intervals in the afternoons.

Two good reasons for not taking the EC trains; they're much more expensive and require a reservation.

The REG trains also break another rule, as they take 2hr 10mins to reach Bolzano, but you won’t want the journey to end!

And yes Verona is beautiful, but getting into the mountains you can see from the city by train is a must.
Journey Time = 2hr 10mins

Salzburg - Zell Am Zee** 
This route offers the easiest access to spectacular views of the Austrian Alps from Salzburg, as the train follows the River Salzach as it carves its way through the mountains.

The trains that depart every hours and have Innsbruck as a final destination, travel along the east bank of the journey before crossing over to the west at Bischofshoffen, so simply sit on one side going there and the other coming back.

Journey Time = 1hr 37mins

Bilabao - San Sebastian/(Donastia) 
Yes the journey takes more than two hours, but for virtually the entire journey your jaw will be dropping as you pass through a mountain landscape that’s a world away from the beaches of Spain.

You’ll be on the Euskotren, the narrow gauge railway that departs from Axturi station in Bilbao and Amara station in San Sebastian. (The railway uses Donastia, the Basque name for San Sebastian)

Journey Time = 2hr 38mins

Lakes:

Milan - Colico*  
Colico is on the eastern shore of Lake Como and can be reached by local trains Milano (Centrale) station that are heading for Tirano.

This route gives the best views of any of the Italian lakes that can be seen from a train. Many people head for Lecco, but carry on to Colico to see the best of the scenery. 

Journey Time = 1hr 27mins

Basel - Berne - Interlaken*
There a numerous must see destinations that are within easy reach of Basel by train, but the simplest and fastest journey that guarantees a fix of stunning Alpine scenery is this one. 

Once the train is past Berne, you’ll be speeding along the southern shore of beautiful Lake Thun (Thunsee), so if you’re staying in Berne itself you’ve got no excuse for not making this journey.

If you’re travelling from Basel sit on the right of the train as you face the direction of travel, the train will reverse direction in Bern station.

Journey time = 1hr 58mins (from Basel); 53mins from Berne

Zurich - Luzerne*

Not one but two spectacular lakes surrounded by mountains can be seen on this journey that provides the fastest access from Switzerland’s biggest city, Zurich, to the heart of The Alps.

Sit on the left of the train, as you face in the direction of travel, when you depart from Zurich hb station, the train will initially head north for a short time before turning south to run along the shore of the Zurichzee.

Journey time = 45/50mins

Rivers:

Koln - Koblenz*

South of Koln/Cologne the River Rhine flows through a spectacular valley lined with vineyards and dotted with fairytale castles. On both side of the valley there are railway lines that hug the river, providing a near continuous supply of spectacular views for hours.

Take the slow train (there’s no need to rush) from Koln hbf to Koblenz on route RE8 or RB27 to Koblenz via Troisdorf  sit on the right of the train when your facing in the direction of travel, you’re going to heading south on the east bank of the river.

From Koblenz you can travel back to Cologne/Koln on the opposite back on trains on route RE5. These trains commence their journeys in Koblenz so when you board you can guarantee you can be sat on the right to make the most of the views.

Journey time = 1hr 38mins

Frankfurt (Main) - Koblenz*

Due to a rare quirk of the German rail timetable, it’s easier to make this journey on Mon-Fridays, the hourly Regional Express (RE) trains that depart from Frankfurt(Main) hbf, don’t operate at weekends.

Once the train is past Mainz you’ll be travelling on the west bank of the Rhine river, so sit on the right to make the most of the spectacular views.

Then head back to Frankfurt (Main) on the opposite bank of the river, on the hourly trains that travel via Weisbaden.

Journey time = 1hr 47mins

Luxembourg - Trier - Koblenz*
The capital city is packed with attractions that make it a U.N.E.S.C.O World Heritage site, but getting out of the city by train is a great idea.

To see the best of the incredible Moselle River valley, you’ll need to change trains in Trier to travel on to Koblenz, but this is no hardship as Trier is near the top of any most beautiful towns in Germany list.

Journey time = 2hrs travel time, plus the wait for the connection at Trier

As you’ve probably worked out by now, if you ever spend time in or near Koblenz then some day trips by train are a must!

Dresden - Bad Schandau*

The railway line to the south of Dresden hugs the west bank of the River Elbe, so sit on the left of the train as you face the direction of travel when the train departs.

Don’t take the EC express trains, it’s highly they’ll already be packed with other travellers heading to Prague from Berlin, but if you board the local trains you can guarantee a view across the stunning river gorge.

Journey time =  46 mins

Coasts:

Paignton - Exeter*

The multiple delights of South Devon are a constant lure for holiday makers and it’s impossible to stay in the area and be unaware of the wonderful journey by steam train between Paignton and Kingswear (Dartmouth).

But a cheaper and even more spectacular option from a scenery point of view, is to take a regular local train to Exeter from Paignton or Torquay.

For much of the journey there’s nothing between the train and the sea apart from a beach and there’s also great views to be had over the estuary of the River Exe.

Journey time = 55mins

Napoli - Sorrento*

Italy’s Amalfi coast is world famous for its resort towns that seemingly cling to the cliffs between the mountains and the sea. Driving along the coast is not for the faint-hearted, but regular trains shuttle between Napoli and Sorrento and the views over the sea for most of the journey are incredible.

Don’t head for the main Napoli Centrale station, the trains that are termed the ‘Circumvesia’ depart from their own city centre station, Napoli, (Porta Nolana) station

Journey time = 60mins (average)

Nice - Cannes and/or Menton

There aren’t many French journeys on this list, as few local trains outside of Paris offer a stress-free regular interval service, but fortunately for visitors to the French Riviera, the railway line along the coast between Cannes and Menton is an exception!

Twice an hour during the day local trains travel in both directions on a Cannes – Antibes – Nice – Monaco – Menton route with amazing views down to the sea.

Journey times; Nice – Menton = 35mins; Nice – Cannes = 41mins

Bridges:

Edinburgh - Dundee* 

The spectacular Forth Bridge is a world famous monument to Scottish engineering and can be seen from many of Edinburgh’s numerous viewpoints.

Instead of admiring it from a distance why not take one of the trains that depart from Waverley and Haymarket stations to Dundee.

You’ll soon be at the handsome city on the river Tay and you’ll have travelled over not only The Forth Bridge, but The Tay Bridge too. The views from both from either side of the train are incredible and the journey between the bridges is also charming. 

Journey time = 1hr 18mins

Koebenhavn - Malmo*  

Considering the length of the journey it’s comparatively expensive to travel by train from the Danish capital, Copenhagen to Malmo in Sweden, but that’s because in effect you’ll be paying a levy to travel the length of arguably Europe’s most impressive engineering achievement – the Oresund Bridge.

Looking down from such a great height on a train on to the sea below is awe-inspiring.

Journey time = 37mins

Cities:

Venezia - Padova*  

I’ll admit you’ll need to use your imagination on this journey more than most, but if you sit on the right of the local train as you face the direction of travel; (avoid the more expensive ‘Freccia’ trains) when the train departs Venezia (St Lucia) station, you’ll immediately find yourself seemingly gliding across the lagoon to the mainland.

Journey time = 23mins

London Charing Cross - London Bridge* 

You won’t find the journey I take every time I travel to/from my day job in any guide books of London, but trains that give great views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye; Festival Hall, the bridges over the Thames, St Pauls, Borough Market; Southwark Cathedral and The Shard just couldn’t be missed off any best journeys in Europe list!

 Journey time = 8mins

Missed Connections

It won't come as a shock to discover that I believe the positive aspects of travelling around Europe by train hugely outnumber the negatives, but train travel can on occasion be frustrating experience.
Frustration levels can build at the planning stage of a trip, particularly for some journeys that involve changes of train.

Good connections are built into the railway timetables of certain countries including Switzerland and The Netherlands, but it can be no easy task for those that compile timetables, to ensure as many people as possible have simple journeys.

However, sometimes a change of train and the 'connections' between then can see maddeningly illogical. 
Here's 10 examples that can catch out unwary travellers and result in hours, and not minutes, being spent in stations.

1. Connections at Lille

Lille is connected to the majority of the other major cities in France by daily direct TGV trains. The majority of these TGVs depart from/arrive at Lille (Europe) station, which is the station in the city that Eurostars call at.

For the good citizens of Lille it would be arguably more convenient if these TGVs used the city’s other main station, Lille (Flandres) that’s closer to the city centre; and connections to/from trains to other cities in northern France and Belgium would be simpler.
Particularly as the connections at Lille (Europe) between the TGVs and Eurostars are generally very poor. 
A casual glance at the London To Lille and onward connections info on ThereByTrain.com reveals that waits of an hour or more between trains are common.

It’s generally quicker to travel between London (and Ebbsfleet/Ashford) and other cities in France via Paris, despite the need to make a transfer across Paris by the RER or Metro from the Gare Du Nord to other stations in the French capital.

Surely it doesn’t have to be like this, after all there’s been more than 15 years to improve the connections, but in the most recent timetable change in December the situation actually got worse!

2. The Spanish border on the Atlantic Coast

Now that Spanish high speed trains operate between Figures and Madrid, it’s possible to make connections at Figures between these AVE trains and TGVs to/from France, this route via the Mediterranean coast is now the quickest daytime journey by train between the French and Spanish capitals.

But as this map shows, the shortest route in terms of distance when travelling by train during the day by train between Paris and Madrid, is on the Atlantic route with connections at Irun in Spain and Hendaye in France. 
But these connections on the Atlantic coast have gone from bad to worse, as I explain at some length here under the 'to Spain from France' header'! 

The Spanish have stuck rigidly to the timetabling of the direct trains between Madrid and Irun/Hendaye,but the French have consistently altered the timing of the TGVs from Paris over the border to Irun in recent years.

3. Port Bou and Cerbere

For rail pass users there are two good reasons for not taking the high speed lined between Barcelona and France; (1) avoiding the compulsory reservations/supplements on the TGVs and (2) the scenery on the non-high speed route is much more dramatic – these trains are comparatively slow because they hug the coast.

However, there’s a snag when trying to cross the border between Port Bou and Cerbere by train. The Spanish trains travel over the border to Cerbere in France, but then shuffle back to Spain without carrying passengers.
Most of much less frequent local French trains cross the border and terminate in Port Bou, but then they all disappear back to Cerbere to ‘start’ their journeys in France!

If that wasn’t maddening enough the French and Spanish train controllers apparently conspire to make most of the onward connections at both Cerbere and Port Bou inconvenient, seemingly ignoring the fact that these local trains cross the border at all!

4.The TGVFI trains in Milano

Virtually all of the long distance express trains from/to Milan depart from/arrive at Milano (Centrale) station – except the TGVFI trains between Milan and Paris!

Back in 2011 they were diverted to Milano (Porta Garibaldi) station, it may be only one Metro stop from Centrale, but it’s a hassle for anyone with luggage and first time users trying to make connections to travel to/from other Italian cities – particularly as in contrast, connecting between trains in Centrale station is comparatively easy.
There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason for this, Milano (Centrale) station is enormous and rarely, if ever, packed with trains. 

Yes connections at Torino (Porta Susa) station are available to to Bologna, Firenze and Roma are possible when travelling from Paris by train and from Roma on Mondays-Fridays, but most other good connections are sacrificed.

5. Tirano

The ‘Bernina Railway Line between Tirano in Italy and St Moritz in Switzerland, that’s operated by Swiss company Rhb, is so fabulous that it’s been declared a U.N.E.S.C.O world heritage site!
It’ also not that far from Milan and every two hours (or so) during the day there are trains between Milano (Centrale) and Tirano and at Tirano these trains arrive at/depart from a station that’s next to the station used by the Rhb trains.

Which would be ideal, except that connections between trains from Milano are often scheduled to arrive in Tirano at exactly the same time as the trains to St Moritz are due to depart from the Rhb station!
On a good day you’ll be able to dash between the two stations and maybe make the connection, but it’s a gamble and if it doesn’t pay off you can be hanging around in Tirano for two hours

Fortunately not every train FROM Milano has a bad connection, and if you’re travelling until Oct 20^th (2013) you can depart from Milano (Centrale) at 08:20) have a day trip to St Moritz and be back in Milano at 21:40.

6. Domodossola

The express EC trains that travel between Milano and both Geneva and Basel call at Domodossola, but they’re comparatively expensive, due to an apparent lack of discounted tickets, and rail pass holders have to pay a €10 supplement to use them.

There is seemingly an alternative available when travellling across the border on this route in either direction between Italy and Switzerland - there are fairly frequent regional REG trains between Milano and Domodossola and local trains also shuttle across the border in both directions between Domodossola and Brig in Switzerland.

There are also trains between Brig and both Basel and Geneva that operate more frequently than the international EC trains.

EXCEPT that the connections in both directions at Domdossola between the trains to/from Brig and the trains to/from Milan are generally useless. 
Domodossola station isn’t the greatest place to wait for more than an hour between trains!

7. Genoa/Genova

Travelling around the Mediterranean coast by train in Italy is one of the great travel experiences to be had in Europe. 
Hopping on and off the local trains is recommended, but you’ll need to check the timetables before you head off. 
The local trains operate to an erratic schedule, particularly through the ‘Cinque Terre’ towns between Pisa and Genoa/Genova

The alternative is using the IC trains; there is a daily direct train in both directions between Ventimiglia and Roma, but it departs from Ventimiglia at dawn and travels back over the most scenic section of the route in darkness.

Other express IC trains operate every two hours (ish) between both Roma and Genoa/Genova and between Genoa/Genova and Ventimglia. 
Both of these services call at Genova (Piazza Principe) station, but if you want to ‘connect’ between them you generally have to hang around in Genova for more than an hour!

8. London to overnight trains from Koln/Cologne

I’ve heard travel experts give advice more than once suggesting that the best way of journeying between London and many cities in Europe is take the Eurostar to Bruxelles (Midi) and connect there for an overnight train.
But there aren’t any overnight trains from Brussels/Bruxelles at all; they were all discontinued several years ago.

The most convenient route when travelling from London to a host of other cities by train – including Copenhagen, Prague and Warsaw is to take the Eurostar to Bruxelles (Midi), connect there into a Thalys (THA) train to Cologne/Koln hbf station and change again there for the overnight trains.

A bit of a drag, but not impossible, but what may make people think twice is that the ‘best connections’ can involve spending two hours in Cologne/Koln; or more than an hour in both Bruxelles and Koln!

9  The Thello train at Barcelona

All long distance trains from and to Barcelona depart from/arrive at Barcelona (Sants) station, with one exception. 
The Thello overnight train between Paris and Barcelona arrives at and departs from Barecelona (Franca) station.

So what would otherwise be fairly straightforward overnight journeys to/from the French capital and the likes of Alicante; Tarragona and Valencia involve the hassle of taking local trains between Franca and Sants stations.

Not a particularly enticing prospect when you’ve just stepped off the train from Paris, slightly bleary eyed and with the temperature already soaring! 

10. Brussells/Bruxelles (Midi)

It may seem a tad churlish to criticize the connections between the Eurostar and ICE trains at Brussels/Bruxelles (Midi) station; after all the ICE trains to Germany generally depart only 20mins (ish) after the Eurostars from London arrive – what’s wrong with that?

Well, arguably 20 minutes just isn’t enough time. 
Eurostars are long trains and the platforms at Midi inevitably become crowded as soon as the hundreds of passengers leave the train. 
It can therefore take 10 mins from stepping off the Eurostar and on to the ICE, so if the Eurostar is delayed by only 10mins, the connection becomes impossible.

If you miss the connection, it will be at least another 4 hours until the next ICE departs and you’ll also have a long wait for the alternative connection by Thalys (THA) train to Aachen and Cologne/Koln; the connections between Eurostar and virtually all Thalys trains at Bruxelles (Midi) have a lot of room for improvement!

It’s also a shame that the EC trains from Basel, Strasbourg and Metz arrive in Bruxelles after the last Eurostar to the UK has departed.

25 Eurail/InterRail Rail Pass Facts, Tips and Myths Busted

Considering using a rail pass to travel by train in Europe? Want to have a relatively stress free trip, but don't want trawl through the pages of advice published on ThereByTrain.com. You've come to the right place!

1. Rail passes can save you money
Travel far enough (I reckon an average of 4hrs per journey) and you will save money with a rail pass, even in comparison to discounted train tickets which will have sold out days/weeks/months before you head off on your first journey
Eurail
InterRail

2 . Be Wary Of The Info You Can Find Online
You don't have to look too hard to find blog posts, forum comments, travel articles claiming that rail passes are a rip off etc etc. Maybe they weren't the best option for the respective authors, but every trip is different - including yours!

Many of these adverse comments fall into the trap of comparing the cost of using a a rail pass against the price of the cheapest discounted tickets.

However, if you want to spend the early hours of the morning on the date 3 months before your first journey booking multiple tickets online AND don't mind being locked into taking specific trains for your entire holiday, then rail passes may not be the best option.

3. Stop off somewhere amazing on the way
Rail passes give you much more freedom to explore than using ordinary tickets, particularly when you're travelling on a route that has regular trains that don't have to be reserved.

4. Keep your total travel distance to a minimum
Even if your not one of life's planners try to apply some logic to your trip, travel too far on one adventure and you'll begin to wish you'd never seen a train.

The most casual glance at this map, any map will show you that a Paris - Amsterdam - Berlin - Munich - Milan - Basel - Paris trip is shorter than a Paris - Munich - Amsterdam - Milan - Basel - Berlin - Paris trip etc etc.

 5. You CAN get on almost on any daytime train
A travel myth that's gaining popularity is that, 'rail passes are a waste of time because you can use them on hardly European trains these days'.
Not so, Eurail and InterRail passes can be used on the red, yellow and pink routes shown on this map and on the blue routes you can use a use a pass if you pay a supplement (well nearly always - see item no.7).

When Eurail passes and InterRail passes were first launched the best and fastest trains in Europe were Trans Europe Express (TEE) trains which didn't accept any passes at all, so 'these days' is probably better than many people think!

6. You can avoid trains that charge a supplement (that are a con, a hassle etc)
You can travel a long way in Europe by train and without having to pay for any supplements/reservations  - these itineraries show you far you can go without having to pay any extra fees.

7. You don't have to travel by trains that can be a problem for a rail pass users
Note the use of the world 'almost' in point No.5, some high speed trains have limited quotas of seats available to rail pass users.
This supplements guide shows you what those trains are; and explains the alternative trains/routes that can be taken instead.

8. Taking a seat
Boarding a train with Eurail or InterRail pass doesn't entitle you to a seat.

If you want to be sure of having a seat for a long journey, on an express train that doesn't have compulsory reservations, you can reserve it in advance for an average of €3s.

This isn't discrimination against rail pass users, ordinary ticket holders have made the same choice of whether to reserve or not.

Standing for hours in train corrdidors on long journeys is something else that fuels the anti rail pass debate, but these scenarios can be avoided for the sake of a few euros.

9. Plan ahead for the overnight train
As this overnight trains guide shows, taking the night train can be complicated for rail pass users, never simply turn up at the station and board an overnight train.

Beds in sleeping cabins, berths in couchettes and special reclining seats all now have to reserved in advance and standard seats, of they type that can be found on day trains, may not be available.

10. Overnight trains often aren't a money saving option
As this overnight trains guide shows, a rail pass covers the costs of the journey on an overnight train, but not those compulsory reservation fees for a any type of bed etc.

On many overnight train routes, particularly those served by 'hotel trains', you can't save the cost of a hostel etc, by taking the train.

11. Make Friends and swap travel tips on the night train
Many rail pass users opt for the couchettes on night trains, if you can get past 'What! I'm expected to sleep in here with all these other people?!?' then those people you've never met before, can actually help you have a great trip.

12. Crossing borders from one country to another can be hassle free
I got a bit carried away with the international trains guide, but rail passes can be a big plus when crossing borders, particularly when avoiding the supplements charged on many international express trains.

Rail pass users can hop on and off the alternative local trains, everyone else has to buy up to three separate tickets each time they change trains.

13. Don't make assumptions about trains (particularly in Italy, France, Spain, Hungary, The Czech Republic and Poland)
I'll admit I'm struggling to explain this, but trains that look similar to each other in these countries, may be actually very different.
Always try to double check before boarding whether you have to pay a supplement etc, if you don't you can find yourself being treated as though you haven't bought a ticket at all.

Don't assume that because the train you're about to board, looks sort of similar to a train that you hopped on to earlier with no problem, that the same 'rules' for using a rail pass will apply this time around!

14. Don't make assumptions about stations
The station you arrived at may not be the same station that your next train will depart from.

It's tempting to rush off to find where you'll be staying and see the sights, but taking 10 minutes to double check what time the next train you want to take is leaving; and from what station; and whether it is still running etc can save a LOT of panicing.

15. Leave more time you think to get to the station and board the train.
So the station isn't that far from you where you're staying and you've got a rail pass, so don't need to queue up and get a ticket etc - if only life was that easy.

You've probably never travelled TO that station before, or taken a train from it. It's easy to get lost on foot, take the wrong tram, head in the wrong direction on the metro, get stuck in traffic etc.
And you might need a reservation after all, so that booking office queue could unavoidable.
Racing to catch a train against the clock isn't fun.

16. Have the journey(s) of a lifetime
Some train journeys in Europe, can be very dull, but others are magical and can massively enhance your whole trip. This will tell you where and how!

17. Make the most of Switzerland
Like many things in Switzerland travelling on its incredible network of tourist trains through the mountains isn't cheap.
But one of the best benefits of a Eurail and InterRail passes is that they can be used to travel for FREE on many of these lines - including those that you will take you right across Switzerland.

18.  Make the most of the reservation desks at major German stations
If trying to arrange your reservations before heading to Europe or boarding your first train would be a hassle (check out these options/hints for Eurail and InterRail), then include a German city towards the start of your trip!

Major German stations (the hauptbahnhofs) have reservation/information desks that can sell you reservations for most day and night trains across Europe, including those that don't travel anywhere near Germany - and you won't be charged any booking fees!


19. Think twice about heading to Greece
Getting to Greece by train has always been an experience to endure rather than enjoy, but now that they aren't any trains at all -  forcing rail pass users to take a bus from Sofia; or a ferry/bus/train combo from Italy -  the balance has tipped even further towards endurance.

20. Think twice about heading to Turkey
Night trains, that are somewhere towards the bottom of any 'most comfortable trains in Europe list, and having to leave the train to queue at the border in the middle of the night, can make getting a train to Turkey something of an ordeal.

However, sadly the balance has tipped even further of not taking the train for the time being. Work is being carried out on the line, so most nights passengers are being transferred between buses and trains in the middle of the night.

21. High Speed trains can be good value for money
Arguably Europe's most fabulous trains, German I.C.E. trains, are the only type of European high speed train that rail pass users don't have to pay a supplement to travel by, so make the most of them!

But paying those supplements to travel on high speed trains can actually be a bargain. Tickets for these trains are (a lot more) expensive than for ordinary trains, which is one of the reasons why Eurail and InterRail users have to pay a supplement to use them.
Pay the €10 supplement and you could be sat next to someone who has paid more than €80 for their ticket.

22. Rail Passes Aren't Just For Backpackers
Anyone can use a rail pass, you don't have to be about to graduate from college.
If you can afford it take advantage of of a 1st class Eurail or InterRail pass, particularly if you want to maximise the use of pass on a long itinerary.
The extra cost IS worth it and a big plus is you can avoid reservations on trains that don't have compulsory reservations, seats are virtually always available in 1st class!

23. The hidden costs of 1st class passes
You may have spotted that sweeping statement about 1st class passes being worth every euro, but there is a downside to having a 1st class pass, namely having to pay supplements at the 1st class rate -which can  be more than double the 2nd class rate!

A friend told me that they'd spent more than £100 on airline style meals in plastic trays, none of which they touched!

24. Buy food/drink before you board the train
If you're not going to have the 'luxury' of an airline style meal set down before you, it's a good idea to take food and drink on board with you for long journeys
Not only will it cost twice as much on the train, you can't be 100% certain that the food counter will be open at all.

25. Take epic day trips
All the constant unpacking and moving on can be a drag on any rail pass itinerary. So take advantage of the pass and base yourself in fewer cities, but make epic day trips by train to multiple other towns and cities in a single day.
Cities that are good bases for all day excursions by train include Amsterdam, Basel, Brussels, Florence, Milan, Munich and Zurich