Tips for Train Travel

As a sustainable adventurer, I’ve discovered that train travel isn’t just about reaching your destination, it’s about enjoying the journey itself. Here are some train travel tips tips to make your train holiday both enjoyable and eco-friendly:

1. First things first: book your tickets early. Because rail companies like to reward the organized and punish the procrastinators. Many rail companies offer discounts for advance bookings. For instance, Eurostar bookings open 6 months in advance, potentially saving you significant amounts. A single ticket from Amsterdam to London booked a week before departure in August might cost €129, while the same ticket for February 2025 could be as low as €62. So, unless you enjoy throwing money out the train window, plan ahead.
2. Compare Operators and Platforms. Sure, a platform like Trainline is convenient as it’ll plan your journey from A to B, but you might save a few euro’s by booking each leg of your journey separately. Seat61 is an excellent resource for train routes and timetables and has a handy planner.Be aware that operators can have different prices for the same route. For example, booking a Switzerland to Italy ticket through Swiss Railways (SBB) can be 50% more expensive than booking with German Railways (DB). Pro tip: Book from Freiburg to Chiasso but board in Basel or Zurich, then book separately from Chiasso to Milan.
3. Embrace slow travel: Train travel is the perfect time to slow down. Unlike flying, where you’re herded like cattle and fed tiny bags of peanuts, trains let you actually see the world. So bring a good book, some snacks (because train food can be… interesting), and maybe a journal if you’re feeling introspective. Watch the scenery go by and pretend you’re in a music video. Who needs a destination when the journey’s this good?
4. Take a stop at an unknown train station. Here’s a wild idea: get off the train before you reach your destination. I know, revolutionary. But seriously, if you see something cool out the window, why not hop off and explore? Who cares if it wasn’t in your original plan? Stay local, grab a drink at a pub where they don’t speak a word of English, and buy a souvenir that doesn’t scream “tourist.” If you’ve got a rail pass, even better. It’s like a ticket to spontaneity.
5. Use rail passes: Speaking of rail passes, if you’re hitting up multiple countries and haven’t planned your route down to the last second (who does that, anyway?), consider getting a Eurail or Interrail pass. It’s like having a golden ticket, except without Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas.
6. Take overnight trains: For those long hauls, overnight trains are where it’s at. Save on hotel costs, reduce your carbon footprint compared to a short-haul flight, wake up in a new city, and pretend you’re James Bond sneaking around Europe.Europe is experiencing a night train revival. Recently a new link from Brussels to Berlin has been introduced and at the end of this year Amsterdam to Barcelona will be added. OBB’s Nightjets have also had a major upgrade. Just think: you go to sleep in one country, and wake up in another. It’s the closest thing we’ve got to teleportation.
7. Pack snacks: While many trains offer dining cars, bringing your own food can save money and reduce waste.
8. Connect with fellow travelers. People are sometimes hesitant to approach new people while traveling. I was, too, in the beginning. I’m kind of introverted, and it can be hard to approach people. Over time, I found that basically every traveler is happy to meet other people. As a solo traveler, the train is a perfect place to make connections with people, because lots of other people are traveling alone and are eager to talk to someone. You often end up having really meaningful and interesting conversations.

So there you have it, train travel isn’t just a way to get somewhere, it’s an adventure in itself. Plus, it’s a lot better for the planet than flying or driving. So next time you’re planning a holiday, skip the airport and hop on a train. You might just discover that the journey is the best part of your trip.

Safe travels, enjoy your sustainable adventure, and don’t forget to pack your sense of humor!

PS. If you came across this blog randomly, my name is Wiebe Wakker, and I’ve completed various sustainable adventures. On my blog, I share these trips, like hitchhiking atop an iron ore train through the Sahara, along with train travel tips. As a speaker, I share my adventures and lessons, connecting them to themes like collaboration and sustainability.