TopTips: Train Travel in Europe

InterRail - A Beginner's Guide

InterRail provides train passes for European residents when traveling around Europe... by train... 

The scheme boasts major discounts on some train travel, and the freedom of hop-on, hop-off travel across the majority of European countries (see exceptions below). If you're not a European resident, you can take a look at Eurail passes instead. You can by passes to cover a single country, or to cover the whole of Europe. However, you do need to check in advance whether or not the country and / or train you are traveling on uses reservations, as this will restrict your travel a little. 

Passes aren't valid in your country of residence, so you'll have to make your own way from home to your first destination, and back again from your last.  

Top Tips for InterRailing in Europe

• Find out which countries on your route require ticket validation at the station before you go. If you get on a train without validating your ticket you could be fined or be forced to buy a whole new ticket. In countries where tickets are validated (e.g. Italy), you will see a yellow box attached to a pillar or the wall somewhere in the train station building, usually close to or on the platforms. If you're lucky, they'll be dotted about all over the place. You can validate your ticket by inserting into this machine on the day you travel. Don't worry about this if you have an InterRail pass, though as the dates will be on there already.
• Find out in advance if the train you want to get uses reservations - this is true for many trains especially high-speed and sleeper trains. Rest easy, you can make reservations as you go by popping along to the local train station where they will happily reserve you a spot on any train up to 30 days in advance. Alternatively you can book as soon as you've got your InterRail pass through the post by phoning the appropriate call centre for the country you're visiting. This cost is not included in your interrail ticket, though. Often, there may be a slower route available without reservation.
• Most trains have some kind of food service, whether that be a dedicated restaurant cabin, a small kiosk or a trolley service, you can usually bank on getting some light refreshments on board. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to stock up on some essentials before you board.
• Arrive in plenty of time - European train stations vary between countries, can be busy and large and quite disorienting. Different countries have different rules about how long before departure the doors will be locked. Turn up early and don't be left behind!
• Some of the trains in mainland Europe are double-decker and they're great fun!

Train Travel in England 

National rail operates the trains within England, with different routes being covered by different train companies. You can check the timetable here, and buy tickets at a number of ticket providers online (e.g. National Rail, TheTrainLine), direct from the train company's website (e.g. EastCoast, First Great Western, Southern Trains, Virgin Trains) or call center, or at ticket offices or from automated machines in stations. You can buy tickets in advance of the date you want to travel, and some companies allow you to reserve seats if you book online or over the phone. 

 Transport in London

London transport can be a little bit daunting to those who aren't used to it, with a myriad of terminologies and different companies. Basically, within the London area transport breaks down into the following:

• The Underground (also known as 'the tube')
  Operated by TFL.
  Ticket / Oyster Card
  
  London's most famous form of transport, the London Underground is our subway system, and it connects central London comprehensively, although it is a little patchy south of the Thames. Day travelcards (or longer, e.g. weekly / monthly) can be purchased at underground stations from the ticket office or automatic machine, and are charged according to 'zones' (concentric rings moving outwards from central London). For most tourists, a zone 1 - 3 pass will cover all major attractions, and costs around £7 - £10 a day.
  
  The Oyster card system is by far the best way to pay for your underground travel if you intend to use this or other 'TFL' services regularly. Journeys cost around £2.50 on oyster card, maxing out at a £7 daily maximum.



• The Overground
  Operated by TFL.
  Ticket / Oyster Card
  
  The overground network is a newer extension of the underground, although (rather unsurprisingly) the trains run above ground. The overground is part of the same ticketing system as the underground, so you can use the day (or longer) travelcards you've purchased on these trains as well, and your oyster card is also welcome here. For oyster card users, the overground is a little cheaper than the underground, at around £1.50 per journey.
  
  
• the DLR
  Operated by TFL.
  Ticket / Oyster Card
  
  The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is another extension of the underground network covering parts of southeast London; it is also part of the same ticketing system so you can use your travelcard or oystercard here too.
  
• National Rail
  Some train services in central London run on the same network that covers national trails. These services cover a lot of areas south of the Thames where tunneling is not possible to extend the underground network. Tickets for these services can be purchased at ticket offices or online in the same way as other national rail tickets (see above), or you can continue to use your oyster card or travelcard, provided that your destination lies within one of the 8 London zones.
  
  
• Buses
  Often a more intimidating option, buses in London are actually a great way to get around. Modern buses have an electronic display as well as a verbal announcement of each stop, so you should be able to tell when you've reached your destination. You can flag down a bus from one of thousands of bus stops all over the city, and bus stops will generally also include a map of the local area and other nearby stops and bus routes. They're also often cheaper than other options as you pay a single flat fare for all journeys, and during quieter times of day they can be quicker than the underground.
  
  You can pay for your bus journey in a number of different ways - oyster card (simply swipe your card when boarding the bus), cash, contactless payment from a credit or debit card. Fares are cheaper if you use an oyster card.