Train system in Europe?

Question

I don't undertand the train system in Europe - Eurail?
I don't understand how the rail system works. It looks really compicated and it seems like even if you purchase a very expensive pass you still have to pay for trips on the train? HELP

Answer 1

I took the Eurail in December. It's actually much easier than it looks. It's cheapest if you purchase a rail pass before traveling. There are several different types you can purchase depending on where you want to go, your age, if you are traveling alone or with another person, and how long you want to travel. You can also buy tickets for each train ride at the station, but it is more expensive and time consuming that way. If you have a pass, you can board any train as long as it is in a country that your pass is valid for. Some trains do require reserved seats. If your train requires a reservation, you go to the train station prior to your departure and go to the reservations center (usually a small room to the side of the main ticket desk). A seat reservation is about $5-$10. [If you go to this website and type in where you want to travel to, it will show which trains to take and whether or not you need a reservation: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en.] Overnight trains not only require seats, but there is also an extra charge if you want a private sleeping quarter. I found these trains to be very expensive and slow. I avoided them and only traveled during the day. A lot of websites recommend traveling at night so you don't lose any site-seeing opportunities, but I was able to take a lot of great pictures while on the train from the windows.