Europe is investing heavily in trains as a way to bypass short-haul flights and appeal to those with a passion for green travel, reports The New York Times.
Rail travel, however, has always been a popular mode of transportation in the EU, owing to the scenic nature of routes in destinations like Switzerland, Italy, and Scotland. If you are currently planning your European holiday and train journeys sound like your idea of the perfect way to view the beauty of the landscapes in your destinations of choice, what considerations should you keep in mind to ensure you make the most of your time away?
The InterRail and Eurail Passes
One of the first thing frequent rail travellers may advise you to do is to purchase a pass to reduce total costs. For those wishing to visit many countries in Europe, passes like the InterRail (for EU citizens and residents) and Eurail (for non-EU citizens and residents) allow you to travel to 31 countries for just one fee. Before automatically buying one of these passes, though, it is important to list your itinerary down in as much detail as you can, so you can calculate the costs of different options. There are three main types of Eurail pass. The Global pass enables you to travel through the EU, the One-Country pass is targeted at those wishing to see just one EU country, and the Premium pass covers Italy and Spain. A typical second-class Eurorail pass for adults costs as little as $313 for five days within the same month and as much as $1,0001 for three months.
Passes Sold by Individual Countries
Countries that are famous for their scenic routes (such as Italy and Switzerland) have their own passes, which may be of greater interest than the InterRail. Switzerland has the famous Swiss Travel Pass, which gives holders access to all public transport (including buses and trains). Popular tourist destinations like the UK, meanwhile, have passes like the BritRail, which allows travellers to visit all countries in the UK—including England, Wales, and Scotland. Whether or not a pass like the BritRail or Swiss Travel Pass is worth your while ultimately depends on how many rides you will be taking. It may be cheaper to buy individual tickets, using the split ticketing system. Split My Fare (https://www.splitmyfare.co.uk/cheap-train-tickets/) explains that by booking two or more tickets, you can travel on the same train in the same seats while enjoying big savings. You can simply use an online calculator to work out the best combination. By buying split tickets, for instance, you can save £17 when travelling from Manchester to Edinburgh and you don’t have to change trains or even seats to make big savings.
Europe’s Most Famous Train Routes
Those who buy passes like the InterRail or BritRail are as interested in nature as they are in the many cities and towns they visit. For them, few things beat the joy of sitting in a train while watching green pastures, rolling mountain ranges, and serene lakes outside one’s window. Just a few routes you should check out include the Rauma Line in Norway (from Dombås to Åndalsnes), the West Highland Line in Scotland (Fort William to Mallaig), and the Bernina Express in Switzerland and Italy (from Chur to Tirano).
Travelling by train is a magnificent way to capture the lush beauty of European landscapes. Travellers have a wide array of passes to choose from, ranging from the InterRail to single-country passes. In order to ensure you pick the best pass for the places you want to see and the number of days you will be travelling, write down your itinerary and invest time in crunching numbers.
