Making Train Travel More Enjoyable

Before airplanes and automobiles exploded onto the scene, rail travel was the ideal way to travel across the country. Train travel is enjoying a revival in North America, while in some parts of the world it’s still one of the standard modes of travel from one city to the next.

Train travel lacks the speed of air travel and the flexibility of driving an automobile, but it compensates by giving you more room to move around, while someone else does all the driving. It is also more comfortable than air travel for those who don’t like the thought of being suspended 30,000 fee above the ground. For distances between 100 to 800 miles it may be the fastest way of traveling, especially if you travel from city center to city center. It provides you will a ground-level view of the territory you’re visiting and it allows you to stop along the way.

Ticketing
Be aware that in some countries train travel can be expensive, especially high speed trains. If you can, book in advance. In many countries you may benefit from a substantial discount. In some countries, fares are calculated by market, not by distance. In the United Kingdom, it is accepted practice to take full advantage of loopholes, such as it being cheaper to buy separate tickets A-B and B-C for a trip from A to C. Other countries may or may not allow this practice. Many countries offer passes, allowing several journeys to be made within a region. Inter Rail (for Europeans) and Eurail (for others) are good value for those who qualify and wish to travel extensively through Europe.

When to Travel
If possible, try to avoid business rush hours. However, trains during rush hour are usually more frequent, and if you don’t mind standing, you’re more likely to have good connections in rush hour periods. In western countries, Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons and public holidays are also not good choices of time. Be particularly careful when traveling on Sundays and public holidays, as services are often reduced or non-existent.

On Board
Trains offer a wide variety of amenities. Some trains offer airline style entertainment systems. Others offer very little by way of facilities. Train toilets around the world offer varying standards so be prepared. During the day relax and enjoy the scenery. If you are traveling during daytime, you could see sights that might not be possible to see if you are traveling by plane, bus or car.

Luxury Train Travel
Train travel has evolved from a means of transportation to luxury vacations. From luxury trains touring the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, India or Africa, the opportunity is now here to experience a country or area in total comfort receiving royal treatment and attention. Feature articles on Luxury Train Travel are being prepared for future issues of TalkTravelMagazine. Watch for them.