Traveling by sleeper trains: how to plan your journey correctly
Growing awareness of climate change and the desire to reduce carbon footprints are prompting Europeans to switch from airplanes to night trains, considered more environmentally friendly alternatives for short routes.
Despite the obvious advantages of night trains, planning a vacation can be challenging for travelers due to the variety of schedules and availability. However, increased demand for night train travel has led to the emergence of new routes, as reported by DailyMail.
Nevertheless, the issue of ticket availability and uneven route coverage in rail route aggregator programs persists.
Train enthusiasts are undeterred by these challenges and are willing to navigate booking processes to enjoy their vacations. Before embarking on your journey, consider the following tips:
- Check the availability of routes between your desired cities using Back on Track, an organization that compiles information about night trains across Europe, ensuring a confident and convenient trip with guaranteed availability.
- Pay attention to local spelling variations when searching for city names, e.g., Praha for Prague.
- Upon visiting the website, inquire about the number of beds and view photos.
- Review booking conditions, as some operators provide breakfast and free water, while others may have restrictions on booking berths with individuals of the opposite sex.
- Consult Trainline and RailEurope for comprehensive ticket options on most railways.
- Verify information directly on the operator's website, utilizing English language options if available.
- Consider sleeper cars with spacious reclining seats starting from as low as 19 euros, offering a convenient travel option.
- Explore sleeper cabins accommodating up to six beds, ideal for families or groups of friends, with the possibility of booking the entire compartment.
- Book tickets in advance to save money, as prices tend to increase closer to the travel date.
- Note that tickets for summer trains can only be booked two to three months in advance, limiting availability at present.
It's worth noting that some travelers may hesitate to travel by train due to their preference for planning vacations months in advance. For instance, the popular Paris-Berlin route may become expensive during peak hours.
However, rail travel experts reassure that the European network is extensive, providing ample options to reach desired destinations.
As a reminder, Poland has received funding from the European Commission to modernize the intercity railway in the capital. As reported by TravelWise, trains will be able to travel at speeds of over 160 km/h.