Rail

Planning a rail trip

What this page covers

This page collects stories for people who travel by train: new routes and night trains, scenic journeys, rail passes and the service changes that affect travellers. We filter out most railway industry and procurement news, so what remains is about riding trains rather than building them.

Passes or point-to-point tickets

A rail pass can be good value for a trip with many long journeys, and it adds flexibility. For a few fixed journeys booked early, point-to-point tickets are often cheaper. In Europe, Interrail passes are for European residents and Eurail passes are for everyone else. Compare the cost of your planned journeys against the pass before you buy.

Reservations are separate

Holding a pass does not always guarantee a seat. Many high-speed and night trains need a reservation, sometimes for an extra fee, and popular routes can sell out in busy periods. Booking windows differ by operator, so the cheapest fares on one line may go on sale months before those on another.

Night trains save a day

An overnight train covers a long distance while you sleep and saves a night's accommodation. Options range from seats to shared couchettes to private sleeper compartments. Night train services have been expanding in several regions, and new routes and timetable changes appear in the stories on this page as they are announced.

Connections and luggage

Allow generous time for connections between different operators, because a missed connection on separate tickets may not be protected. Most trains have no checked baggage, so pack what you can lift onto a luggage rack yourself. In large cities, one line can arrive at one terminal while the next leaves from another, and the transfer across town can take longer than it looks on a map.