Navigate: MustDoTrips homepage -> Ride the rails
Lots of people look at you with pity if you tell them you are planning any long-distance train travel. I reckon they just haven't figured out how to enjoy it. We love it - we've done various trips on Amtrak and Eurail and one day will get around to doing some of the classic Oz train trips. Train systems have a character, a pace, that is all their own. The key is to get on the right wave-length.
Tip: The great Eurail inter-city trains exude cool, slick efficiency. Suited-types, hunched over their laptops (plugged into the power outlet next to the airline-type seat) can often be seen travelling on them. Know that these trains will arrive on time and leave on time. Be there or miss out.
Tip: Some of the German trains have video screens in the back of the seat in front in first class. Ordinary earphones (the sort you might buy at a discount shop to plug into a Walkman) will work in the slots on these trains (or you can buy a set on board).
Tip: Amtrak trains are friendly and laid back. All sorts of people travel on them. They might leave on time, they might not. Almost certainly, they will be delayed somewhere along the way, usually because of problems with freight trains up ahead. If you're lucky, this might mean the train gets shunted onto some obscure back-country lines and you'll end up going past tiny little towns that you've never heard of. Or you might just take a breather in a siding somewhere for a few hours. One time we were delayed so long the train ran out of food! (lesson: take some food!). All part of the drama. Best approach is to make sure you don't book plane or other travel connections for the same day your train is supposed to get in. That way you won't get stressed if everything doesn't quite go to plan (and yes, if you do have urgent business, they make other arrangements to get you there, but I'm assuming you're on holiday). Of course, quite a few of the trains actually run on time. When this happens, we tend to feel a bit let down - it means nothing happened.
Tip: Splurge and book a sleeper - with your own loo and shower if possible - for overnight or longer trips. We do this partly for comfort and the guarantee of our own big window to catch all the scenery, but also because we like checking out all the dinky fittings.
Navigate: MustDoTrips homepage -> Ride the rails
|