Last Carriage

The BBC reports that the Eurostar has set a new record speed of 325km/h on the new high-speed line in the UK.

The Eurostar is easily the most convenient method of travel between London and Paris/Brussels, but has been held back for many years by the conventional tracks on the British side of the line. The new line will open to the public on November 14th, and is expected to cut 20 minutes off journeys.

Remember to book well in advance, if you’re planning on taking the Eurostar – you’ll get a much better deal than if you purchase tickets close to your date of travel.

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The Independent has an article on the ten greatest rail journeys in Europe. While I haven’t travelled on all of those in the article, I’d like to add a few of my own:

• Tirano to St Moritz: like the Glacier Express, this part of the Bernina Express route, from Tirano to St Moritz ,provides you with amazing views of snow-covered peaks, as the stereotypically bright-red Swiss train winds its way up the peaks. Unlike the Glacier Express, this train is covered by your Eurail pass – no expensive supplement required.
• Salzburg to Villach: if you’re heading to the Balkan region from northern Europe, then this route through Austria is a good choice, as it takes you through the eastern Alpine region, with views of a spectacular gorge.
• Ã…ndalsnes to Dombas: while not as well-known or well-travelled as Norway’s highly popular Oslo to Bergen route, the Raumabanen travels past more of Norway’s mountain peaks, including the famous Trollveggen.
• Koblenz to Mainz: If you’re travelling from Cologne to Frankfurt, avoid the fast intercity express trains, and instead catch the slower, regional trains which take a different route with wonderful views of the Rhine and the surrounding gorge.

What are your favourite European rail routes?

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Waiting for a train in Gronau, western Germany

With the news that several high speed European rail companies are forming a partnership to integrate routes and ticketing, under the name of Railteam, my first thought was to wonder if the fun was going from travelling by train. Obviously, this partnership is good news; any way to avoid flying is a good thing, and it’s very true that trying to buy tickets for multiple routes in Europe is an exercise in frustration.

I find high-speed trains to be quite sterile, however. The interiors aren’t much different from those inside aeroplanes, the windows tend to be small and much of the time, they travel through cuttings that block out the scenery. Compare this to the slower Eurocity trains, that travel long distances between capitals, without any intention of breaking land-speed records. The mix of travellers aboard is far greater than their high-speed counterparts, you get time to see the countryside that you’re passing through, and much of the time, they’re more comfortable.

Taking that concept even further, I’ve often deliberately travelled over reasonably long distances using only slower regional express trains. Obviously, you don’t get far fast, but it gives you a much better feel for the places you’re travelling through, and you can meet the locals.

Travelling this way gives you the freedom to jump on and off the train whenever you feel like it, and it forces you to be flexible; it’s hard to book accomodation ahead of time if you don’t necessarily known where you’ll be at the end of the day. Furthermore, it’s relaxing. You’re not rushing anywhere, you’re just having a leisurely journey across a region. It’s certainly one good way to combat travel fatigue.

It helps to be prepared, however. If you’re planning on doing this, I’d recommend carrying one of the Thomas Cook rail timetable books; even just for the route maps, they’re invaluable. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a small town and finding there’s no train out until the next day!

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The Trans-Siberian railway has long been a goal for many a dedicated traveller, but has a reputation for fairly poor accomodation standards.

Now, a new luxury service has started, for anyone who has a cool $10000-$17000 to spare.

The Age takes a ride on the new Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express.

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