Planning train journeys in Europe

Trains are one of the best ways to travel in Europe: city centre to city centre, no security queues, and the scenery is part of the trip. Planning is straightforward once you know a few things about how European rail works.

Book high-speed and long-distance trains early

Many high-speed and international trains — such as Eurostar, French TGV services, Spanish high-speed trains and Italy's high-speed services — sell tickets at prices that rise as the train fills. Booking weeks or months ahead often saves a lot. Booking windows differ by operator, so check when sales open for your route.

Regional trains are different: they usually have fixed prices and you can often buy on the day.

Know which trains need a reservation

• Reservation required: most high-speed and international trains, and night trains. Your ticket comes with a specific train and often a seat.
• No reservation: most regional and local trains. You can usually take any train on the route on your ticket's date.

If a train needs a reservation and you have a rail pass, you'll need to book a seat and may pay a reservation fee on top of the pass.

Rail passes: when they're worth it

Passes such as Interrail (for residents of Europe) and Eurail (for visitors from outside Europe) cover many countries and can be good value if you plan many long journeys and want flexibility. They are often less useful when:

• most of your journeys are on high-speed routes with costly or limited pass reservations, or
• you can book point-to-point tickets early at low prices.

Compare the total of individual advance tickets against the pass plus reservation fees for your actual route.

Make connections work

• Allow enough time between trains, especially when changing between operators or countries, or between stations in the same city. Paris, Brussels and many large cities have several main stations.
• Know your ticket type. A through ticket from one operator may protect you if a late first train makes you miss the second. Separate tickets usually don't.
• Check the platform on the departure board shortly before departure; it can change.

Validate where needed

In some countries, paper tickets for regional trains must be validated in a machine on the platform before boarding, and travelling with an unvalidated ticket can mean a fine. Digital tickets and reserved seats usually don't need this. Check the rules on your ticket.

Night trains

Night trains save a hotel night and a daytime travel day. Options range from seats to couchettes (shared bunks) to private compartments. Book early, as the most comfortable options sell out first.

Luggage

Most trains have overhead racks and luggage areas near the doors, with no weight limits in practice, though you must be able to lift your own bag. Keep valuables with you.

On the day

• Arrive at least 15–20 minutes before departure, more for international trains with passport or security checks (such as Eurostar).
• Check that your coach number matches your reservation; long trains can split and go to different destinations.
• Download tickets to your phone and keep a screenshot in case the app doesn't load.

Elio Travels can show live departure boards and connections for Belgian rail, plan journeys elsewhere with timetable data, and work out when you need to leave for the station.