Travel into the past on futuristic European trains

Eurostar train exits the Channel Tunnel connecting
 London to Paris in about three hours  
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

EUROPE — As flying becomes an increasingly tedious means of travel and driving gets more and more expensive, savvy American travelers are rapidly waking up to the idea of using trains as their primary mode of transportation in Europe.

Rail Europe is easily the best one-stop shop for information about rail passes and just about anything else you will need to stay on track while traveling by rail on the continent.

Germany's sleek ICE
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

So what are the big advantages of using trains over some of our more traditional American methods of movement?

·      Frequency of service

·      Comfort

·      Speed (most trips of 3 1/2 hours or less are faster by rail)

·      Arrivals and departures are usually city-center to city-center

·      Food services on board

·      Wi-Fi access

Most of Europe's larger countries continue to expand high speed rail services with trains that typically speed through the countryside at 186-miles per hour. France, Germany and Italy alone have a combined total of nearly 55,000 miles of track.

TGV in the French Riviera
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

Some countries such as Italy, which could not justify the expense of building dedicated high speed rail lines, cleverly adapted many of their best trains to tilt, thus making them capable of utilizing existing tracks to accommodate higher speeds.

If there is a drawback for inexperienced travelers, it may be the seemingly overwhelming number of rail passchoices since each country has individual services which suit their specific needs. That can also translate to confusion about which rail pass is best for your purposes or if individual point-to-point tickets are a better option.

Trains operate throughout the day with plenty of service to 
every corner of Europe  
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

Today the Eurail network encompasses 31 countries, which can be intimidating for someone to navigate through the myriad of passes to locate the proper ticket at the best price?

For starters, Rail Europe's prices run from calendar year to calendar year...the price of a pass on January 1 will be the  same until December  31.

Rail passes are user friendly
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

Next, and this is the single most important thing to know about rail passes, there really are ONLY two main types of pass; Consecutive Days and Flexipasses.

A Consecutive Day Pass is good for travel every day during a specified time period. For example, an eight- day pass that is validated on the first day of a month will expire at the beginning of the ninth day. You are not required to use the pass each day but you do forfeit any days of rail time that are not used during the eight day time frame.

Panoramic train in Switzerland
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

A Flexipass, on the other hand, allows riders to select when they want to travel during a given period of time. If you purchase three days of travel during a 15 day period, you can then choose which three days you will travel during the time period of two weeks plus one day.

That's it! EVERY rail pass is a combination of one of those types.

From that point on you can purchase single country passes, combination passes, multiple country passes and so on. Therefore, if you will only be traveling in Switzerland, why buy a pass that also includes France and Germany? It makes no sense.

Some trains, like the Cisalpino, tilt for extra speed
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

Just keep in mind that, generally, the more countries you add and the more days you buy will determine the final price.

With that said many passes have some excellent discounts. Be sure to check for senior or children's discounts.

Saverpasses offer discounts for
2 to 5 people traveling together
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

A Saverpass is another way to reduce the fare. Two to five people traveling together qualify as a group as long as they travel with each other.

Some people try to save money by going second class rather than first. Let's face it, if you're going to spend the money to go all the way to Europe, this is not the place to cut corners.

First Class interior of a Thalys, often called "Big Red"
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

The main difference between first and second class is comfort. Seating configurations in first class means fewer seats and more space, and there are fewer people in the compartment so travel is quieter and less crowded.

Again, each country has its own way of doing things so services will vary. In fact, the time of day you travel can also determine which services are offered on similar types of trains within a single country.

Some trains offer meals served at your seat and complimentary drinks, adding to the advantages of first class, and even before departing some stations there’s priority check-in and access to lounges.

Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare du Nord in Paris hearkens to
 a Golden Age of travel  
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

 Of course, it's always up to the individual traveler, but it is probably better to skimp o costs elsewhere. With the added benefits, it’s often advisable to choose first class to enjoy the perks.

It's important to note that some high speed trains like the French TGVs do require reservations which have an additional small fee. It is always best to check in advance.

Timetables are released six months in advance, and reservations can generally be made three to six months before the travel dates. Savings of up to 80 per cent are not unusual when booking early fares.

With a Swiss Travel Pass you can visit the Castle of Chillon 
for free  
(Courtesy: MySwitzerland.com)

One of the most overlooked aspects of traveling with a rail pass is the bonuses. Some passes can just about pay for themselves by taking advantage of free or reduced fares that come with pass. In Switzerland, for example, a Swiss Travel Pass offers free admission to over 500 museums throughout the country.

Atocha Railway Station in Madrid with its botanical garden in the center  
(Courtesy: Rail Europe)

 Riding the rails through Europe is travel as it should be...clean, comfortable and positive. Don't let the quantity of passes overwhelm you. You will be richly rewarded if you simply take the time to "train yourself."