The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe SM

Rail, Road, and Waves
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry

Finding your way in European rail stations, train car numbers, seat arrangements, train facilities, crime, stowing luggage, toilets, cart service, and dining cars.







How To Europe The Complete Travelers Handbook by John Bermont
How To Europe
The Complete
Travelers Handbook
by John Bermont



Europe on a Shoestring Lonely Planet
Europe on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet



European RaiI Timetable Winter 2007 Thomas Cook
European Rail Timetable
Winter 2007
Thomas Cook




Shopping easy at

The links in this green field take you directly to a page at Amazon.com. That page details the item, and in some cases includes candid and critical comments from others who have bought the item.

Amazon.com pays my site a small commission when you click and order an item, if you put it in your shopping cart within 24 hours based on the cookie they set on your computer. If you don't want to make a quick decision just put it in your shopping cart, think it over, and come back later. You benefit when buying here because Amazon.com has a 20% to 30% discount on many items plus a free shipping deal. The third bonus is that there is no sales tax on internet purchases in most states. Delivery is fast even when it is free, and returns are easy if you are not happy with the product.

You win we win. Thanks for your support!!

Have a good trip in life,
John Bermont



Traveling the Eurail Express by Jay Brunhouse
Traveling the Eurail Express
by Jay Brunhouse



Rail Map Europe, 16th (Thomas Cook Rail Map)
Rail Map Europe
Thomas Cook Rail Map



Rail Map Britain & Ireland (Thomas Cook Rail Map)
Rail Map Britain & Ireland
Thomas Cook Rail Map



Europe by Eurail 2007, 31st: Touring Europe by Train by LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski
Europe by Eurail 2007
by LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski



Michelin Guide 2007 Main Cities of Europe
Main Cities of Europe 2007
Michelin Guide




Skyway Sigma 2 22"
Vertical Expandable
Carry-On Case
Available in 4 colors




JanSport Luggage Set
22" Rolling Carry-on
24" Rolling Upright
and Tote Bag
Purple Suede Bubbles




Samsonite 3 Piece
Ballistic Luggage Set




Gusset Tote with Zipper
by Augusta Sportswear



Andis 75230 1875W Quiet Travel Hair Dryer
Quiet Travel Hair Dryer
1875 Watt
Andis 75230




Electrical Plug Adapter
USA to Continental Europe




Grounded Adapter
USA to Continental Europe




Grounded Adapter
USA to England & newer buildings in Ireland




Adapter Plug
Great Britain




Grounded Adapter
Europe to Swiss




Grounded Adapter
UK & Australia to Europe




Grounded Transformer
USA to Europe
50 Watts, 220v to 110v




Worldwide Battery Charger
with 4 AA NiMH Batteries
by Sony




Belkin F8E449 Universal AC Travel Adapter.




The Stormbreaker
by Turfer Sport




Traditional Lambswool Sportcoat
by Lands' End




Women's Petite Macintosh Commuter Coat
by Lands' End




Women's Long Sleeve Cotton Turtleneck
by Lands' End




Woven Corduroy Blazer
by ClassicCloseouts




Women's Wool Walking Coat
by Lands' End




Women's Teva
Ventura Cork 2




Birkenstock
Arizona Two Strap
Sandal




Men's Riva
Comfortech Slip-on
by Florsheim




Rip Curl
Samara ABS Digital




Casio G-Shock Watch
G100-1BV



Olympus Stylus 750 Digital Camera 7.1MP 5x Optical Zoom
Olympus Stylus 750
Digital Camera
7.1MP 5x Optical Zoom



Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)
Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP
Digital SLR Camera with
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens



Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR with 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Lenses
Olympus Evolt E500 8MP
Digital SLR with
14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5
Zuiko Lenses



Adorama CLAMP-POD SMALL 4001
CLAMP-POD
Adorama SMALL 4001



Energizer - AA Lithium Batteries - 4 Pack
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack









Chapter 17 (part 2 of 4 parts) of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition. Photographs by the author.
A page from Enjoy-Europe.com by John Bermont
The main departure board for international trains from station Zuid/Midi, Brussels, Belgium.
The departure board for international trains at the station Zuid/Midi in Brussels, Belgium shows trains departing for Paris, France, Köln (Cologne), Germany, London, England, Zurich, Switzerland, etc., etc. Doesn't this sign just get your blood excited. You can go anywhere! My train was the second in line, the 10:40 Thalys to Paris Gare du Nord (North Train Station) departing from platform 6. That Thayls, what a beautiful train. By the way, Brussels has three major train stations — Nord, Centraal/Centrale, and Zuid/Midi. The Thalys stops only at Zuid/Midi, the southernmost station. If you are visiting Brussels you probably want to be near the Grand-Place/Grote Markt which is near Centraal/Centrale. Local trains take about two minutes between these stations but don't pay if you are on an international ticket. Notice that everything has two names in Brussels, including the city, Bruxelles/Brussel, because the city is officially bi-lingual, Walloon (French) and Vlaanders (Dutch). [p1020015]

GOING TO THE STATION

Find Your Station

Know which station your train departs from. Major cities usually have more than one. London and Paris have at least half a dozen. Go over to your station the day before departure and do a little exploring. Some stations, especially in Spain and Italy, are poorly posted. The non-Latin alphabet in some of the eastern countries will give you pause. You don't want to be mad-dashing around, lugging your suitcase and working up a sweat trying to find your platform at the last minute, or after the last minute. The beautiful Atocha train station in Madrid, Spain is unique. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1050253.jpg


Madrid has a couple of major train stations, Chamartin and Puerta de Atocha. This is the interior of the beautiful and unique Atocha. It looks more like a tropical garden, which much of it is. [p1050253]
There are two basic designs for train stations. In the majority of them the trains come in at one end and exit at the other end, straight through. In the rest, primarily in major cities, the trains come in and exit from the same direction. If you are continuing a trip through one of these stations you will need to change seats if you still want to face forward, or backward.

The train departure schedule is posted at the West Train Station in Vienna, Austria. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1090020.jpg
Abfahrt at Westbahnhof in Wien (Vienna) is translated into English, French, and Italian, except for the small print that really counts. Detailed departure information is usually posted on yellow or buff colored posters like this one in train stations throughout Europe. The columns from the left give you the Zeit (time), Zug (train number and type), Nach (destination and intermediate stops), and track/platform number. A similar poster, though white, for arrivals is posted nearby. If you are doing serious time on the trains of Europe carry a Thomas Cook European Timetable. Click on the picture to see it in greater detail. [p1090020]

Find Your Train

As you enter major train stations you will usually see a large airport style departure board hanging about a mile high in the main hall. Scattered around on the station walls will be poster size schedules of departing trains. Smaller stations usually have only the posters. Locating your train is most easily done by using departure time and destination, rather than by train number. The track or platform number will be with the train identification information, though you will not see the word "track" or platform. It will be the local name, e.g. voi, spoor, etc.

Sometimes, while you are standing on a platform, everybody around you grabs their bags and starts trotting toward the exit stairs. They probably just heard an announcement over the public address system saying that there has been a change and your train will depart from another platform. Quickly find a conductor and ask for help. Failing that, ask one of the local citizens in the migrating herd. You are bound to find an English speaker very quickly.

Find Your Car

Platforms in major stations of some countries have boards showing the complete assemblage of each train. The train number, departure time, and destination are shown, followed by an outline of the train with engine, first class cars, second class cars, diner, mail, etc., in the same order as on the train. An indicator on the board shows where the board is located relative to the train when it stops. In Germany there are also zones A, B, C, D on the board and above the platform to further help you find your car. The car location board also shows the car numbers. You can be standing next to your car when it stops and not have to haul your luggage through the narrow, crowded passageways of several other cars.

A Wagonstandenzeiger sign indicating where the individual cars of a train will stop at Westbahnhof station in Wien (Vienna) Austria.
The Wagenstandanzeiger is literally the "rail car position indicator," auf Deutsch (in German). This is a typical one at Westbahnhof in Wien showing you where to find the 1st class (yellow with number 1), 2nd class (white with number 2), sleeper (blue with bed), and restaurant wagons (red with crossed knife and fork). It shows train type and number, times for arrivals and departures, car numbers, and the destination for each car. If you have a reservation, stand by your car. Click on the picture to see it in greater detail.
[P1090022]

These boards are not evident in some countries. Often, track numbers are not even posted in Spain and Portugal and you must ask at a ticket window where to go to get on your train.

In Italy, car locations are stated on the yellow departure posters, Treni in Partenza. They tell you where the first class cars are located: testa (front), centro (middle), coda (rear), verso testa (toward the front) or verso coda (toward the rear) is about as descriptive as it gets.

A Composition des Trains sign in Marseilles, France. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1070328.jpg
Here is the Composition des trains board for departures from platform F at Marseilles, France. The red dot indicates the approximate position of this board. All pertinent information about the train is shown: departure time, train number, and destination, number, class of service for each car, and type of train. On this platform all trains are TGV type, the high speed trains of France. [P1070328]

If the train is originating in your city it will probably be in position long before departure time. Get to the station a half hour early, get on board, and pick a good seat. If the train is passing through, get there early enough to locate the track, eyeball the board giving the Composition des Trains, and position yourself near the designated stopping point for a first or second class car (as your case may be) going your way. If there is no board showing car locations, ask a conductor on the platform or at the station master's office before the train arrives.

Double check to make sure you are boarding the correct car. Almost all cars have a signboard near the door, either outside and/or inside, showing the car number and origin and destination of that particular car. Some will have a sheet of paper with the destination taped to a window and visible from outside.

Just because a car is sitting on the track from which your train departs does not mean that it is going your way, or that it is going all the way, or that it is going at all. Trains are split and portions are sent in different directions along the way. Sometimes the first few cars nearest the main hall are not even attached to the train. If there are no signs on the cars, go to the head of the train and ask a conductor or engineer. Just point to the train and ask "Madrid?" or whatever city you are bound for.

Find Your Seat

When the train stops, move quickly to a door and scramble on board, not waiting for other travelers hauling six oversized suitcases up the narrow steps. Get a seat, stash your bags on the overhead rack, spread out, and don't budge until the train has pulled out of the station and the seat grabbing flurry has settled down.

If it's night and you want to sleep but have not reserved a bunk, get in an empty compartment if available, pull the seats down, turn off the lights, and pull the curtains closed. This discourages other travelers from intruding into "your" compartment and cramping your sleeping style. However, don't hesitate to open the door and pull back the curtains of other compartments at any time. Often you'll find one person comfortably occupying a curtained compartment while five may be stuffed in the next one. Park yourself where you will have the most comfort.

Try to get a seat on the shady side of day trains. On the shady side the sun is not glaring on your window, perhaps giving you a sunburn, and it's much easier to see out and photograph the countryside. Don't immediately sit down on the shady side though. When the train leaves it might toot toot north for a few minutes and then head south. Know your route and which way the train is going. Sit on the north side of east/west trains, the west side of morning trains, and the east side of afternoon trains.

When you get settled, make a note of your car number and seat number so if you forget something it will be much easier to find it or report it. I saw one worried man telling the conductor that his coat and luggage were stolen while he was in the restaurant wagon. He was simply looking in the wrong car, which the conductor pointed out after looking at the passenger's reservation receipt.
Information near the door of a rail car in Germany. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/pa100062.jpg

The sign next to the door of a wagon on a German ICE, InterCityExpress, gives you the paticulars of this car. The big number 1 tells you that it is a first class car. For the rest see the next photo. [PA100062]
Here is the detail of the sign above. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/pb100062.jpg


The sign next to the door in the previous photo is too small to read, and fuzzed anyway because it is an LED display. It reads that this is car 27 on ICE 611 from Dortmund to Munich. Smoking is not allowed but those pesky cell phones are OK. I'd rather have a fly on my nose than one of those within earshot. Hbf is something you will see fairly often in Germany. It means Hauptbahnhof, the main train station in that city. Many German trains stop at Flughafen. Those are airports.
[PB100062]


ON THE TRAIN

Smoke Zone

The smoking situation has really changed in Europe over the past decade. Indoor smoking is now forbidden or severely restricted in most countries. Where smoking is allowed, train cars are divided into smoking sections and non-smoking sections. Sometimes the whole car is nonsmoking. Sometimes the whole train is non-smoking, as in Italy. My train tickets in Germany even had a notice that smoking is forbidden on all trains in Italy. Smoking is prohibited almost everywhere in Spain. Nonsmoking is always posted, and smoking usually is.

In addition to the multilingual notices, look for the cigarette symbol with or without a line through it. A cigarette symbol is usually posted at each door, and again in the car. Cigars and pipes are allowed, and common if you are in a smoking section. Be prepared for beaucoup plenty of smoke. When requesting your reservation, specify non-smoking or smoking.

You can sit in non-smoking and then go to the smoking area when you want to puff. Even smokers get burning eyes if they sit in that haze too long. If you want to relocate to another seat after getting on the train, just do it as long as your chosen seat is not reserved.

Information icons in the Krakow, Poland train station. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1200188a.jpg
Information icons in the Krakow, Poland train station second part. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1200188b.jpg
A typical train station tell-you-where-it-is board, courtesy of the Krakow, Poland station. At the left is an exit to Nowa Huta, money exchange, platforms/tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, exit to the center of the city, restaurant, and toilets. In the next photo is the continuation of the sign showing luggage storage, waiting room, ticket windows, taxi stands, and the smoking zone. Pretty easy, huh? These modern day hieroglyphics are used throughout Europe, an almost nation with about four dozen languages. It is interesting that so much communication these days uses the oldest form of writing known, pictures. Everybody knows this language. [p1200188a&b]

Luggage

Luggage can sometimes be checked, but almost everybody carries theirs on board. The only exception I ever saw was a Saudi princess who, with her 20 servants, filled an entire baggage car with their stuff.

There are one or two luggage racks above the seats which easily hold any bag which you can carry on a plane, plus a smaller bag. Can you lift your luggage and put it on a narrow ledge six feet above the floor? If not leave it on the floor.

The newer airline-style coaches operated on some trains, especially the premium trains, have luggage compartments near the doors in addition to luggage space above the seats. Some have space for a bag between back-to-back seats. I prefer to keep my goods close at hand. If you leave your luggage in a luggage area near a door keep your eye on it when the train is making a stop. Never leave any valuables in your luggage.

Bicycles

Many people, locals and tourists, bring a bicycle on the train. I have done this a few times in Holland. If there are not many people on board you can stand with your bike in the entryway area of any car, so try to avoid the rush hours. However you must pay to bring your bike aboard. The fee is rather steep, especially if you are making a short one-way run. The pay period runs from midnight to midnight so it would be worthwhile to do this if you wanted to take a day trip on the train to ride around another city in Holland. The Hague is a beautiful city for bike riding. If you have a fold-up bike it has a free ride, but those little things cost a small fortune.

For an excellent discussion of bringing your bike on trains go to the web site of Brian Wasson at Bikes on trains in Germany, Austria and Czech Republic. The first-hand details in this report will save you time and plenty of anxiety. You'll be an expert before you get there. To learn about taking your bicycle for a ride on the trains of France, Italy, and a few other countries visit the European Trains and Bicycles section of Q. May's web site.

Windows

On most of the older trains, you can pull the window down for a better look and a breath of fresh air. Newer cars are air conditioned and have sealed windows.

Windows have blinds. Some are like curtains, some are like shades, and some cars have manual or electric venetian blinds between the inner and outer sealed windows. Play with them for a minute to see how they work.

Newspaper

Carry a newspaper or magazine. Put it on your seat while you are in the dining car, the toilet, or just roaming around. This will discourage others from rearranging themselves into your window seat. A newspaper is also handy for relaxing your feet. Put it on the seat opposite and prop up your leathers. Otherwise you must take your shoes off, which could spoil the appetite of others nearby.

Plumbing

Rail cars usually have a unisex toilet at each end with a locking door. Floor pedals, levers, or push buttons activate the flush and basin water. The basin water is nonpotable. Do not drink it or brush your teeth with it.

Use of the toilets is normally forbidden while the train is stopped in a station. The reason is that they flush right down onto the tracks. Stations would soon start smelling like construction site porta potties. Some of the newer premium trains have enclosed sanitary systems so toilets can be used at any time. Check to see if there is a notice in the toilet advising against use in a station.

On some trains in Spain, the toilets are locked at the origin until the train is out of the station. When the conductor comes around to check tickets, which could be a half hour later, he unlocks the toilets. Don't drink coffee until the toilets are unlocked.
Typical wash basin and pottie in a European train toilet room. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1040222.jpg

Functioning toilet and hand wash facilities are found on virtually every train. Bring your own butt wipes or tissues because you never know if there will be TP in the toilet. There is usually a 220 volt electric shaver outlet. See chapter 11 to get juiced up on electro info for Europe.
[p1040222]

Crime

Keep your seat and keep your eye on your luggage while the train is in a station. Professional thieves loiter on some platforms, board trains, walk through the cars, grab what they can, and jump off before departure.

Keep your valuables under your control at all times. Elizabeth had her purse rifled while we slept on an overnight train from Venice to Vienna, probably by a fellow passenger. A friend of mine went to the toilet and had his cash and camera taken out of his bag by a new-found "friend" on a French train. Never leave money or valuables in your bag anytime anywhere anyway.

I have heard reports of other problems, including a bizarre story of a couple who were offered oranges by some other travelers on a train in Portugal. They ate the oranges and the next thing they remember was waking up with no wallets and no luggage. At least twice I have heard the story of a gang which operates on trains from Milan. They open the train compartment door, mace the passengers, and grab their wallets and suitcases.

As discussed in other parts of this book, do not stand out as wealthy or as an American. If you do you are making yourself a tasty target for the vermin. Most Americans are open and trusting by nature and are the easiest pickings on the street. Orientals should be aware that pickpocket professionals know that you are likely to be carrying a large quantity of cash. It's part of your culture. Less cash and more credit cards would be advisable when traveling in Europe.

Please see chapter 8 for more examples of the underworld at work, and sure-fire means of defense against these lowlifes. Typical reservation card holder on European trains. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p10700370.jpg



This is a plexiglass bracket designed to hold reservation cards. You'll see it on the window facing the corridor of train compartments. All of the seats in this compartment are reserved for at least part of the journey, though none was occupied at the time I came on board this train from Geneva to Milan. [p1070370]

Seat Reservation Card

Never sit in a seat displaying a reservation card, unless it's yours. However if the reservation card indicates that the seat is reserved from say Karlsruhe to Frankfurt, and you are going from Basel to Karlsruhe, just help yourself to the seat. The reservation card will be attached to the seat, or be in a holder on the outside of the compartment. On those reservation only trains in Sweden and Norway, though, reservation cards are not evident. Ask the conductor if there is a seat available. On a train with reservation cards, all seats without a card are available. First come, first served.

Typical train car door sign indicating the class of service, seat numbers, and smoking or not. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1210324.jpg Typical train car door. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1210313.jpg







The photo above shows the outer door area of a car ready to go from Prague to Berlin Lichtenberg station, with stops in Decin, Dresden (where I got off), and at Berlin Schönefeld airport. In case you have a seat reservation notice that seats numbered 81 through 116 are at this end of the car. The cigarette symbol indicates that smoking is allowed. The hl.n. stands for hlavni nadrazi (main station). Flugh is short for Flughafen, German for airport. D378 is the train number. [p1210313]

The photo at left is from the inside showing the handle you push down to open the door. The warning on the floor in front of the door is serious. I was standing on the top step when the door suddenly closed and this thing flipped down on top of my feet. The car number, 265, should be prominently displayed on the outside of the car. [p1210324]

If someone claims that you are in their reserved seat (though the seat does not have a reservation card), politely ask to see his/her reservation receipt and make sure to check the car number. The car number will be posted in large numbers on the outside and/or inside of the car near the door and it will be indicated on the reservation receipt. Being in the wrong car is the most common mistake made by people with reservations. The reservation system is computerized, and it works better than you would expect. Request a window seat if you want it.

Seat Numbers

Seat numbers in compartments vary from country to country. The numbers may be in sequence from the door or from the window and may have odds and evens on opposite sides. Numbers normally start with 11, 21, 31, etc. in each compartment, but you can find some like 1, 2, 4 opposite 5, 6, 8 and other combinations around Europe.

Back and Forth

Train cars travel in both directions. With a reserved seat, you are just as likely to be traveling forward as backward. In those stations where the train comes and goes at the same end of the station a new engine will be attached to the former rear and the train will take off. On one train in Spain when it reversed in a station, the passengers got up, pushed a lever at the base of each seat, and rotated all the seats so they faced forward. This feature was unique. I've never seen it on any other train.
Azulejos tiles on the wall of the Vilar Formoso, Portugal train station. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1040167.jpg


Even if you aren't using the trains, many stations in Portugal are worth a visit just to see the azulejos (tiles) on the walls. This is at Vilar Formoso.
[p1040167]


EATING ON THE TRAIN

Dine Well

At the moment of writing this (which was many years ago) on a TEE (Trans-Europe Express) train from Amsterdam to Paris, the head waiter came through the car, suitably attired with menu in hand and announced the first sitting, speaking in French. Immediately the stampede to the dining car started. Late arrivals do not get much attention. If you wish to eat, get up and get moving with the locals. American deference, courtesy, and service are pretty rare in Europe.

TEE trains don't exist anymore and my nostalgia for a by-gone era will never be cured. On the successors to the TEE, the InterCity, TGV, ICE, and others, the dining cars are very nice and the food is generally very good, though it costs more than in a normal restaurant. Dining is pleasant on these trains. It's a nice way to pass the travel hours and presents opportunities to meet others. Most eaters are European businessmen or relatively well-to-do Europeans. Occasionally a few drops of wine may splash out of your glass, thanks to rough tracks.

The dining car of my night train from Fulda, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1110111.jpg Breakfast was served in my compartment on the overnight Fulda, Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark train. Later I went for a coffee in the diner. It cost €2.70, equal to about $3.25, for one cup of coffee. Ouch!! Most of the dining cars I have been in are much better appointed than this one. [p1110111]

If you intend to have dinner on the train make sure that there is a dining car. Consult a timetable and look for a crossed knife and fork. For example, expecting a nice meal on a TGV train in eastern France one Sunday evening, the conductor said that the dining car only ran on weekdays. Weekenders are served from a small bar and can get a croque monsieur or pizza. Severly disappointed was I.

One of my most pleasant European diners was on an IC coming down along the Rhine River from Essen en route to Frankfurt. Not only was the meal great, but the moving scenery along the river is outstanding. Utterly relaxing.

Before boarding inspect the train composition board to locate the diner. It is often placed between the 2nd class and 1st class cars. On some trains, the head waiter will accept reservations for a seat in the dining car. Ask as soon as possible. Specify nonsmoking or smoking for your comfort.

Cart Service

If there is no diner car or snack bar, a waiter pushes a cart through the trains. Food and drink are sold on virtually all of the international trains and on most other long distance trains. Selections are normally limited to coffee, milk, beer, wine, soft drinks, yogurt, cold sandwiches, and sausages which resemble hot dogs. Service is available for only part of a journey, even though the attendant is on board for the duration of the trip. However even though there is cart service, the "service" may be less than you expect. I saw a young man push his cart into the far end of a car I was in and then he had a call on his cell phone. He stopped right there for half an hour talking his important business while the customers in the car watched the dork. Fortunately I had brought my own beer on board.

Service at Your Seat

Diner can be served at your seat on some trains. On a Talgo in Spain the head waiter came through the car at about noon to see who would like to have lunch. I volunteered. An hour later he put a tray on my seat similar to those on some airplanes. Then followed a delicious fish with pimentos, a pork chop, peas, a half bottle of vino tinto (red wine - very good, but the train shook up the sediment), roll, sweet roll, banana, and coffee. Total cost for a great meal was about the same as you would pay in a restaurant at home. Spain still has good values compared to the nnorthern countries.

Brown Bag It

Budget travelers, including most Europeans and usually me, bring a sack of bread, cheese, ham, and beer on board and fix dinner at their seat. Do the same. Can your trash. The symbol on the window of all trains, with windows that can open, means "Do not throw bottles out the window." Don't throw anything out the window. Don't stick your head out the window either, unless there is nothing in it.

Train information sign on the platform in Germany. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/p1100065.jpg
This sign for the DB, Deutsche Bahn, (German Rail) train at the Frankfurt Flughafen (airport) train station shows the continuing route. The train started in Köln (Cologne), not indicated here, and stops in Mannheim, Stuttgart, Ulm, and Augsburg on its way to München Hauptbahnhof (Munich main train station). The scale A through G indicates where the first class (yellow), second class (green), and bar/diner (red) cars are located relative to the corresponding zones on the platform, in this case platform 5. This is an ICE, InterCityExpress, train number 611, requiring a supplemental fee if you have a regular ticket but no supplement is required for Eurailpass holders. Seat reservations are not required. Ab (departure) is 16:54 which is 4:54 PM. Don't be late because only trains can do that, and they do that even in Germany. [p1100065]

This is the end of Part 2.
To continue reading chapter 17 click to Part 3.

This internet edition of chapter 17 is in 4 parts due to its large size.
Part 1 classes of service, train tickets, Eurailpass, other rail passes, reservations, official business
Part 2 finding your station, finding your train, finding your car, luggage, on-board train facilities, eating on the train.
Part 3 sleeping on night trains, night train reservations, night train facilities, departure and destination procedures, potpourri, train station facilities.
Part 4 international buses and ferry services. Sometimes there are no train tracks!


Who wrote this?



Home and general index.

Read half of the book for free:

HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Europe Intro
Clothing
Packing List
Luggage
Guidebooks
Electricity
Photography
Trains
Driving
Telephones
Moving to Europe
Living in Europe
Shopping
Languages
Metric System
Seeing Europe

Learn the basic infrastructure:

Prime Travel Data
Elementary Travel Information for Europe
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland

France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Utilize John Bermont's exclusive:

TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES
A Directory of Links to Products, Services, and Information
Airlines to Europe
National Tourist Offices
City Tourist Offices
City Information and Tours
Country Information and Tours
Luggage and Backpacks
Discount Air Travel
Villas and Homes for Rent
Hostels in Europe
Hotels in Europe
Auto Rental in Europe
Rail Services of Europe
Eclectic Travel Sites
Internet Search Engines
Photography
Guide Books for Europe
Educational Programs
Newsletters from Europe
Personal Travel Pages
Personal Trip Planning

Get open hours, costs, locations, and more:

Travelers Portfolio
Essential Visitors Information for the Top Sights of Europe
       Amsterdam       
Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House)
Rijksmuseum (National Museum)
Van Gogh Museum
       London       
British Museum
Buckingham Palace
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
Palace of Westminster
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
       Paris coming soon       
Arc de Triomphe
Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)
Hôtel des Invalides (The Invalides)
Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum)
The Opera
Montmarte
Cathédrale Notre Dame
Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Louvre

Exchange rates, weather, maps:

Up-To-The-Minute
Be informed before you go.
       Money Exchange
Currency exchange rates, including the euro, British pound, Swiss Frank.
       Weather in Europe
Current European weather conditions and forecasts. Good luck.
    Maps and Time Zones
Free online maps of Europe. Guide to setting your watch ahead.

Didn't find what you need yet?
Google It !!
 

Copyright
Internet edition
© 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001 James J. Broad
© 1987, 1986, 1984, Murphy & Broad Publishing Co.
All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés.
This is copyrighted material. Do not reproduce, copy, plagiarize, store, modify, extract,
transmit, or purloin any part of this publication in any nation in any form or by any means
or for any purpose whatsoever without permission in writing.
Webmasters:
You may link the URL http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail2.htm freely. Please do. When you link please send the URL for your linking page and a crosslink will be installed in one of the categories of the TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES to your site if it has significant content for travelers in Europe.

Travelers:
You may print one copy of this chapter for your personal use. To order the complete book with all of the captioned photographs see the next section below.

Permissions:
If you want to copy any of this material to your web site, book, article, or term paper ask first. Note that plagiarism includes paraphrasing text and even copying ideas. Everything on this page is original. At least one other travel writer has plagiarized heavily, claiming and getting credit for writing a few dozen books every year. Some of his books include my work, without credit. If you don't want to go to Hell don't steal and don't lie (the two pillars of plagiarism). Permissions are freely granted with acknowledgement so you don't need to steal. For permissions contact: publisher@enjoy-europe.com.

Privacy Policy:
No personal information is collected when you visit this site. To read the complete privacy policy go to Privacy Policy.

Site Map:
To see everything on this site in one compact listing go to Site Map


Buy it here:

The original
do-it-yourself
travel guide to
Europe.
SM


470 pages
7" x 10" softcover
345 b/w photos
Last Call checklists
detailed index


ISBN 0-940792-69-9
$28.50


Order from

  Amazon.com

The cover of How To Europe shows the interior of Centraal Station in Antwerp, Belgium.

Read more about it at:
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
2008 — Our 26th Anniversary!


Utilities:
            Home to www.enjoy-europe.com
            To the top of this page
            E-Mail to John Bermont
            Meet the Author
            Type Ctrl d to bookmark this page.

enjoy-europe
with John Bermont
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *

FLAGS of EUROPE

Flag of Austria
Austria
Flag of Belgium
Belgium
Flag of Czech Republic
Czech Republik
Denmark flag Denmark
Flag of Estonia
Estonia
Flag of Finland
Finland
Flag of France
France
Flag of Germany
Germany
Flag of Greece
Greece
Flag of Hungary
Hungary
Flag of Iceland
Iceland
Flag of Ireland
Ireland
Flag of Italy
Italy
Flag of Latvia
Latvia
Flag of Lithuania
Lithuania
Flag of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Flag of Monaco
Monaco
Flag of the Netherlands
Netherlands
Flag of Norway
Norway
Flag of Poland
Poland
Flag of Romania
Romania
Flag of Russia
Russia
Flag of Sweden
Sweden
Flag of Switzerland
Switzerland
Flag of Turkey
Turkey
Flag of Ukraine
Ukraine
Flag of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
(Serbia & Montenegro)



Keywords for this chapter:

rail, rails, europe, train stations, train, rail cars, train seats, train restaurants, eating on the train

Rail, Road, and Waves:
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry