Rail Europe: The Only Way to Travel

Having grown up in Europe, we never flew anywhere; we always went by train.  Even today, family and friends still travel by train since it's much easier. The main European airports like Heathrow, Paris and Rome are a mad house at any time of year.

I always say that the shortest air flight, even a 45 minutes one, really takes five hours when you count in travel to and from the airport, check in, security, and waiting for the flights. Not to mention that, in the end, an air flight means cramped uncomfortable environment.

With the latest high speed rail lines, traveling at 200 miles per hour is now the fastest in Europe. Travel time between thirty destinations has been reduced by one third to one half. Services have increased 20 percent.

You now step on a train in Paris and 45 minutes later you are in Reims, in the heart of the Champagne country. Reims is famous for its magnificent cathedral where 26 French kings were crowned. A very important point is that the hotel prices in Reims are 40 percent less expensive than comparable Parisian hotels. With these fast trains you can now stay in a less expensive area and do your day trips by train.

By comparison, here are some sample train times which are always city center to city center.

            London to Paris: 2 hr 15 min

            London to Brussels: 1 hr 51 min

            Paris to Amsterdam: 3 hr

            Paris to Lyon: 2 hr

            Rome to Florence: 1 hr 40 min

            Madrid to Barcelona: 2 hr 38 min

            Frankfurt to Paris: 3 hr 40 min

Of course you can always get a point to point ticket locally. However, the railroads are now implementing airline style yield management which means that in general terms, last minute tickets tend to be expensive just like last minute air tickets so you must plan in advance.

When the high speed line is complete, you will be able to travel from Seville in Southern Spain all the way to London.   Rail passes still have enormous potential for savings.  However, be warned that the railroads are limiting the number of seats available to pass holders so it is important to make the reservation as far in advance as possible.

Today, I always pay the extra and reserve a seat. I don’t want the bother of trying to find a seat in a crowded train. As a student, I spent many nights going across Europe in a couchette (sleeper) or sitting on my suitcase with my skis in a corridor. I hated having to keep producing my passport as we kept crossing a border going from England to Switzerland. Because of the Common Market, you don’t have to do that today.

It’s worth booking thru a travel agent who is an expert with European train travel.  You will save time and money.  You travel in style, watching the countryside go by.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel

650-941-5810