Travelers can avoid airport hassles by taking intercity trains or bigger lines to another nation.
As airports around Europe have experienced personnel shortages due to strong demand this summer, rail travel is ready to whisk you away on your next adventure around the continent – lengthy lineups most certainly not included.
Europe is linked by a complex rail network that connects practically every major city and enables for quick and economical travel between them. Intercity trains and bigger lines such as the Eurostar, which crosses the sea from London to Paris so swiftly that it may even be utilized for a day trip, are available to passengers.
Travelers may take a bar hopping journey from Amsterdam to Munich replete with fantastic local beers, or they can go skiing from Milan to the Swiss alps.
According to the corporation, Eurostar began operating trains between London and Paris in 1994, following the completion of the Channel Tunnel. The train, which connects the United Kingdom to the rest of continental Europe, can reach speeds of up to 186 mph and travels for little over two hours.
Passengers on the Eurostar may then connect through major cities like as Brussels, Amsterdam, Lyon, and even directly to Disneyland Paris (the trip from London takes just 2 hours and 40 minutes).
Thalys, which is part of the newly formed Eurostar Group, is another popular way to travel around Europe. According to the firm, Thalys was initially introduced in the early 1990s as a collaboration between train companies in four countries: Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Travelers may still book and ride these trains around Europe, including to 12 distinct stations in France and over a dozen more in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
A Eurail pass, which operates as a “all-in-one train ticket offering you flexible access to most trains across Europe,” is another option for travelers who want to buy just one ticket for their whole holiday. Vacationers may then use participating rail operators to travel between 40,000 locations in 33 countries (including Eurostar and Thalys).
Individual nations have their own rail companies, such as the Deutsche Bahn in Germany and the SNCF in France.
These are the particular train companies that tourists in numerous major European nations should be familiar with.
Spain
Renfe
You can go to: Renfe, which was founded in 1941, today operates 5,000 trains every day in Spain. The rail operator operates both long-distance high-speed trains and mid-distance trains that use high-speed trains developed exclusively for shorter runs (think: Madrid to Toledo). In addition, the firm provides luxury tourist trains that cover everything from meals to excursions.
Germany
Deutsche Bahn (German Railways)
You can go to: Every day, Deutsche Bahn serves 5,700 railway stations with around 40,000 trains. The firm runs three types of trains: the quickest, Intercity Express (ICE) trains, Intercity (IC) trains, and Eurocity (EC) trains, which connect key German cities to the rest of Europe. Together with its French equivalent, the business is now planning a new high-speed connection between Paris and Berlin that would connect the two main cities in 7 hours.
Visitors to Germany this summer may also take advantage of the €9 ticket, which allows them to tour the nation on local and regional trains for a month for a low flat charge until August.
Italy
Trenitalia
You can go to: Since 1936, Italy has been producing electric trains, and the country today operates more than 10,000 miles of railway line with 10,000 trains each day. Trains are frequently the shortest method to travel between big cities such as Milan and Florence (which takes just under 2 hours on a high-speed rail), or Florence and Rome (which takes about an hour and a half on a high speed train).
Foreign residents visiting Italy can also purchase a “Trenitalia Pass,” which allows them to go on numerous trips (for example, three trips in seven days) for as little as €129.
France
SNCF
You can go to: France has a lengthy history with rail that dates back to the 1800s, when the first passenger line was established. In reality, tourism has aided the expansion of the country’s train sector. SNCF now operates both high-speed and regular long-distance trains, with 11 high-speed lines covering more than 1,600 miles across France. High-speed lines connect important cities including as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Lille.
SNCF and its German equivalent are now working on a new high-speed, direct route between Paris and Berlin that would take 7 hours to complete.
Switzerland
Federal Railways of Switzerland (SBB)
You can go to: Switzerland’s rail history extends back more than a century. Nowadays, the rail operator runs over 7,000 trains every day, giving customers the opportunity to travel through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Passengers may transfer between major towns, ride into the Alps, and even ride into northern Italy.
The United Kingdom
Thameslink Railway Company (GTR)
Where to go: There are various methods to travel by train in the UK, however the GTR is the UK’s largest railway operator, managing four separate train companies in the south of England. The company operates trains from London to Cambridge and Bedford in the north and Brighton and the South Coast in the south. In addition, the firm operates the Gatwick Express, which transports passengers to and from the airport.
Alison Fox is a Travel & Leisure contributing writer. When she is not in New York City, she enjoys going to the beach or visiting new places, and she aims to visit every country in the globe. On Instagram, you may follow her experiences.