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Europe by rail
European international rail changes for 2021
December sees the annual major timetable revision by European railway operators. This year, because of the pandemic, it was a somewhat muted affair, and most of the changes – which are fewer than usual – will be implemented at a later date: many international rail services are currently severely curtailed or…
Interrail and Eurail: tips and savings
Whilst it might not have sold many passes this year, the team based in Utrecht (Eurail B.V.), which operates the Eurail and Interrail scheme has, in the meantime, developed and introduced an electronic version of their eponymous passes. The two schemes (Interrail for European residents and Eurail for those living elsewhere) have now been…
European rail changes for 2020
European railway operators revised their timetables on 15 December 2019 for the coming year. Mark Dudgeon, the Blue Guides rail correspondent, highlights some of the main changes to international services: Night services The nadir for overnight train services in Europe came three years ago when SNCF, the French national operator, reduced its…
European rail changes for 2020
European railway operators revised their timetables on 15 December 2019 for the coming year. Mark Dudgeon, the Blue Guides rail correspondent, highlights some of the main changes to international services: Night services The nadir for overnight train services in Europe came three years ago when SNCF, the French national operator,…
European rail changes 2018
European railways revise their timetables for the coming year on 10th December 2017. Mark Dudgeon, the Blue Guides rail correspondent, highlights some of the main changes to international services. Night servicesNight services in Europe have suffered a cull over the last few years, with several rail operators considering them to…
To Austria’s Lake District by rail
Mark Dudgeon, Blue Guides’ rail expert, takes advantage of the summer weather to visit the Salzkammergut region of Austria. Budapest’s Keleti railway station on a Thursday morning in late August: the migrant crisis overwhelming Europe is on stark display here. On the subterranean level, masses of hapless refugees calmly mill…
Europe by rail – an introduction
If you are intending to travel by rail in Europe, Mark Dudgeon, Blue Guides’ resident rail expert, offers advice about where to start and suggests some of the most useful internet resources to help in your planning: GENERAL PLANNING Seat 61 is an ex-railway manager’s personal but comprehensive guide to…
Changes to European rail services for 2015
New European rail timetable Latest update: August 2015 December each year heralds the introduction of a new rail timetable across Europe, with new services and the inevitable demise of others. With rail travel becoming increasingly popular in Europe, Mark Dudgeon, the Blue Guides rail expert, highlights some of the key…
All aboard the Cheese Train
There are many lovely train journeys in the world, but this must be one of the loveliest: the route taken through the Alpine foothills of Switzerland by the Goldenpass. This winter, you can hop aboard the “Cheese Train” to watch traditional alpine Swiss cheese being made. Details are below. The…
Budapest to Vienna and Salzburg by Railjet
“The journey is its own reward” trumpets the on-train information screen on the Austrian Railways (OeBB) Railjet train, but certainly this journey did not get off to an auspicious start. The train was packed. No space to sit … hardly any space to stand, even. Then it transpired that a…
Budapest to Serbia by EuroCity Avala
The 13:30 departure to Belgrade, the EuroCity train Avala, stands at platform 7 of Budapest’s Keleti station. This is a “real” international train – the way international trains used to be – a proper locomotive and coaches, crossing borders and changing locomotives and train staff en route. It has started…
Travelling around Britain in style
Recent debate regarding rail travel in Britain has revolved around the provision of first class facilities – with some saying they should be completely scrapped to reduce the problem of overcrowding. So with some uncertainty hanging over the future of first class train travel, Blue Guides’ resident rail expert Mark…
