Riding the rails anywhere in Europe is an experience that everyone should have. You can just sit back and relax and enjoy the ride while you look at the beautiful scenery or talk to fellow passengers. There are different kinds of trains including overnight sleepers, high speed trains (TAV in Italy), and other special trains.
Getting a rail pass beforehand is a good idea. There are several kinds of rail passes to choose from. There is the Flexi Pass which is good for a few days within a certain length of time. The Saver Flexi Rail Pass saves you more if you are traveling with a friend. For those under 26 years of age there is the Youth Rail Pass. If you want the luxury of train travel combined with independent car travel then you can get the Rail and Drive Pass. There are brochures at your local travel agents office which tell you how each pass works and how much they cost. After learning all the options, then you can decide which one is best for you.
Riding the trains is very economical and reservations are recommended. Be sure and purchase a rail map so you can find out if a certain train goes all the way to your destination or will split up at a certain point. You can also purchase a Eurail Pass if you wish to visit more than one country during your stay in Europe. If you decide on a sleeper train you can expect to pay around $90.00 per night per person. For a couchette you will pay on average of $30.00 per person. Regular passes can range from $200.00 and up for a few days of travel.
When boarding a train always present your rail pass and passport. Also present reservation information you may have. Always get your rail pass validated at the train station before trying to board the train. It is a good idea to use the European style of writing dates on your rail pass. For instance for November 1, 2004 you should put 01/11/04. Use the day first, then month followed by the year.
Always be careful when traveling to European countries, or anywhere for that matter. Wear a money-belt under your clothes. Keep your passport safe also. Keep a copy of your passport in another safe place in case you lose it or have it stolen. Be aware of your surroundings and also of women and children making a commotion trying to divert your attention away while they do some quick pick pocketing. When sleeping on a train, use your day pack as a pillow, for safe keeping.
When riding a train it is a good idea to pack a few snacks and some drinking water. Also you may want to have some handi-wipes, and eye shades (if you plan to sleep). A lot of trains run out of toilet paper so carry some with you just in case.
Enjoy the trip and talk to fellow passengers, even if you don’t speak the language very well. It is a good idea to try to learn some of the language of whatever country you will visit. The locals will appreciate that you are trying to speak their language.
Talk to your travel agent about rail travel through Europe. Plan ahead and be prepared. You can have a very enjoyable and safe trip.
Train travel in the United States is a little different from European train travel, although still enjoyable and safe. The U.S. has lots of tourist trains which are very popular. Tourist trains take you on short trips such as riding on authentic steam locomotives. There is the Grand Canyon Railway, the Napa Valley Wine Train, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway and many more. All of these offer a slice of the American experience. Most tourist trains travel through very scenic areas of America. Your travel agent can find just the right trip for you. Most trips offer rail passes and discounts for veterans or seniors and even students.
Amtrak is the United States largest passenger train system. They travel in 46 states and their route system is about 22,000 miles. It first began in 1971 and keeps growing. An average of 23 million people ride Amtrak trains each year. Amtrak has 184 trains with 314 destinations. Contact Amtrak or talk to your travel agent to find out where these destinations are and just where the route would take you. Many lines will take you to National Parks.
Commuter trains in the eastern U.S. are usually Amtrak trains. There is the MTA in New York, the CTA in Chicago and the Metro in Washington D.C. Commuter trains are not used much in the southern states.
Amtrak's first train in 1971 connected New York with Philadelphia. The train was named Clocker #235. Each Amtrak train will have a unique name and a number. The even numbered trains travel north and east and the odd numbered trains travel south and west. About 500 train stations belong to Amtrak and they continue to add more. Train travel in the U.S. is very nostalgic and continues to draw more and more passengers.
