While living in Europe one of the things I certainly needed to change my thinking about is the best way to get around. In the US a lot of us most likely list traveling using train down significantly from the options of air travel and by car. For many reasons Europe has built greater infrastructure around train travel, and this makes getting around Europe, particularly for the quick and medium-distance trips a great deal less difficult. Western as well as central Europe features a dense system that is widely used, however about any town of 50,000 or greater will have train access.
Here are a few reasons why train travel beats other methods of transportation within Europe:
1. Promptness with travel. Populations within western and middle Europe are very compact in comparison to the United States. Train stations usually are based in or near city centers, whereas airports could be very removed from these urban centers, particularly by American standards. Going through security is much faster with trains, and particularly for the western half of Europe their trains are high-speed. Train travel is getting faster every year, and now they’re reaching speeds of 200 mph.
Since many journey using the railroad there are several alternatives to reach most destinations. To take the railroad in America they operate so seldom any activities will have to be plotted out in association with the train schedule. For Europe you will find so many additional possibilities that one is going to be available near the time you will be.
2. Comfort. You’ll frequently get the more modern, comfortable trains in western and central Europe, as more continues to be invested in the infrastructure there. It can get fairly congested in second class all through peak times, but first class almost always has sufficient space. Several countries contain so-called “silent” cars where mobile phones as well as other unnecessary disturbance should not be made, and I have seen most of the time it is observed.
3. Cost. That’s where it will help to plan forward and have a little knowledge. Most countries have a website for their national railways which are extremely helpful with helping you to prepare a trip. Also, on our travel website you can log into railways that service the majority of Europe. Bear in mind that prices will vary greatly, largely depending on how far ahead of time you book. Which means you can save money by planning your trip well ahead of time.
4. Observing the sights. Europe is amazingly beautiful, and you’ll see a lot of it from the train (as opposed to flying over it). Why wouldn’t you want the added benefit of observing that beautiful scenery when it takes you no more time to take that trip?
Glen Wheaton
