So, I have a lot of opinions and information about the train system in Europe from an American’s perspective. So, bear with me because the thought process and structure of this paragraph may not be what you’ve hoped for. There is a lot you need to keep in mind here:
I am not a big fan of the train system for long trips here. It simply takes too long and is very confusing- especially for your first time. Unless you are visiting some place remote, or a city not traveled to by RyanAir or EasyJet, I would avoid them. That being said, I think they are the greatest thing for short trips! You can virtually get anywhere without using a car here and short trips also do not call for a lot of changes/layovers in general.
If you are having an extended stay in one country:
If you are staying for a long time in one country, you need to check out the different passes offered by that country. In Belgium, they offer something called the “go pass” which allows you to take 10 train rides anywhere in the country for only 50 Euros, high speed trains excluded. Other countries offer similar deals.
Keep in mind that if you purchase a pass, it usually only covers certain types of trains. If you want to go to any particular destinations, you will need to do your homework in detail before purchasing a pass. Otherwise, your trip from Amsterdam to London might not count because the trip is only offered by a high speed train, etc. If you are lucky, some passes will only make you pay a supplementary amount of such trips. Again, check this before you buy.
Reading your train ticket
Your train tickets will be printed in whatever language they speak at the time of your purchase. (For example: German, Dutch, etc.) If you only speak English, you will need to ask for help, especially if you have layovers. Some trains assign seats which are written on your ticket in another language, while some trains split. By split, what I mean is the train will literally split in half on the way to your destination. You may have gotten on the right train, but if you are in the wrong car, you are going to the wrong place. I have been here a month and I still can’t figure out how you know if the train splits. I have resorted to asking every time.
Your ticket may also request that you sit in a certain seat. How do you know if you have a reserved seat? It will say on your ticket. (I will go over that later in another post.) The seat numbers are generally listed on the sides of the car above your seat, similar to how they are listed on most airlines.
When purchasing your tickets online, the company will frequently ask you if you would like to pay an additional amount for a reserved seat. Here’s how I see this, if it is a short trip, do not pay the extra amount. The chances that every seat is reserved are very slim. However, if you are on a long trip (of a couple hours or more) on a particular train, I would say yes. In the off-chance that every seat has been sold, it would suck to stand or sit on the nasty floor. It’s up to you, but I would pay the extra buck.
Later on, when I get the chance, I will post an additional blog explaining how to read the train station’s tickets. Usually, they are written in another language. Thus, for us English only speaking people, there tend to be problems. Do not fear, I will highlight boxes for you and tell you what certain things mean so that you have an idea what you are looking at whenever you purchase one.
How do I know when to get off the train?
Some trains will tell you what the next stop is using a digital display above the car’s entrance. Older trains may not have this. Sometimes it’s written down, but generally you can’t read it anyways because it’s in another language. So really, you need to know which stops come before yours. I just ask. It sucks asking and being so dependent on others and it’s hard only speaking English sometimes, but I have never gotten on the wrong train (knock on wood).
When purchasing tickets.
If you would like to travel to other countries by train check out these sites and view the passes that they offer:
Great Britain:
Belgium:
Germany:
Other railway networks that go all over include:
*Both of these are high speed trains.
Travel Safe,
Some Study Abroad Girl
Travel Safe,
Some Study Abroad Girl
Thanks for explaining this, the whole system seems really overwhelming. Do you know if England has a similar train system? I can't seem to find anything within England, just going to and from Europe.
ReplyDeleteYes, the best website to review train fares within England is: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.
ReplyDeleteThis site was actually recommended to me by a British woman I met on a train in Germany. The site is a little rough looking, compared to most other companies. However, it will provide you with a list of each arrival and departure time, along with their respective prices. I highly recommend you review, plan, and book your tickets a few days before your departure. Booking even a few days ahead saves you a significant amount of money compared to what you would pay the day of your trip.
For example, my trip from London to Chatsworth House (in Chesterfield) cost me 79 pounds. I was told it might have been over 150 pounds if I waited until the last minute. When you convert that to dollars, the difference seems even more substantial.
Also, if you're visiting London, they have an underground train system known as "The Tube." Their website can be found at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx. I will be writing a whole post to explain the London Tube system soon, so if your interested check back to see that as well.