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European trains
Dingz - 18/2/25 at 09:17 PM

Has anyone much experience of travelling by train in Europe? We’re looking at going to Bologna but initial costs look pretty high, any suggestions of where to start looking please let me know.

Mr Whippy - 18/2/25 at 10:55 PM

yes, every time we boarded we were at the wrong end! damn annoying dragging our luggage right through the whole thing.

russbost - 19/2/25 at 09:57 AM

My son did a couple of large tours around Europe on trains, I imagine they would have got student rates, but pretty sure there is a sort of "global europe" ticket you can buy which is fairly reasonably priced & entitles you to book up to a certain no. of journeys - should be seeing him at the w/e I'll see what else I can find out for you

McLannahan - 19/2/25 at 11:55 AM

I've not done it - but it's on my bucket list!

Interrail still offer their tickets which looked like a cheaper way to do it - but not sure on the limitations?


https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/global-pass?

adithorp - 19/2/25 at 01:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by McLannahan
I've not done it - but it's on my bucket list!

Interrail still offer their tickets which looked like a cheaper way to do it - but not sure on the limitations?


https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/global-pass?


I was going to suggest that. The age restrictions have gone. One issue is you have to exit UK by end of your first day (midnight). You might slso need to reserve seats on some services and the seat reservation fee isn't included in the ticket.

Alternatively, look up your route and check prices via different national sites or booking sections separately can be cheaper.

gremlin1234 - 19/2/25 at 06:39 PM

I am guessing that you would be stopping at various places on your rail trip.
I did once go to Leon by rail and it took all day, would have been much better to fly, and Italy is significantly further.

I have also done LeMans classic by rail, and again I would generally recommend against doing so, unless you could plan for say: 2 nights in Paris on the way there and another 2 on the way back. I was starting in London, but you could have London as your stopover instead of Paris...

Dingz - 20/2/25 at 11:28 PM

Thanks for the replies so far, yes interrail seems to be the system, problem is some countries are like here you just buy a ticket but others you buy a ticket, then have to reserve your seats at additional costs, also means you can’t necessarily travel when you want to. An initial rough costing seem to be 5x the cost of flying which when trying be a bit green isn’t a great incentive.

russbost - 12/3/25 at 09:04 AM

Sorry it's taken me so long to come back to you, yes it was Interail my son used, back then he got a student deal, but he did say that they do special deals for a set no. of journeys at special prices for all travellers, not just students.

He said he got a lot of his info from http://www.seat61.com/ which I've checked & still operates, it's a sort of travel blog but based all around train journeys - tons of useful info on there

Dingz - 12/3/25 at 12:59 PM

Thanks, I know of the man in seat 61, but prices in uk are a mess too. We went on a train trip yesterday, my wife went on line and used her railcard and was charged £11, I used my bus pass (yes I’m old) at the station and it was £7.50 for the same journey!