Traveling by train: useful websites and tips

Hereby you can find information on how to reserve trains to travel through Europe and a list of common routes and tips.

Useful websites for train reservations:

• Deutsche Bahn website (National railway company from Germany): Useful to reserve trains in most european countries
• European Interrail website: Useful to check train connections all over Europe
• SNCF (National railway company from France): Useful to reserve trains in or passing through Belgium, France and Spain
• General website for train reservations (The Trainline)
• Also checkout these pages on Nikhef intranet for information about travelling by train, sustainability, and experiences of your Nikhef colleagues.
• Recipe to book trains from the PhD council contribution in the Sustainable Travel Nikhef meeting.

• Reserve as early as possible, night and fast trains tickets get sold-out fast.
• Night trains are very convenient if you go far. Some european night trains that might be useful:
  • ÖBB Nightjet:
    • Amsterdam – Utrecht – Frankfurt – Passau – Linz – Vienna
    • Amsterdam – Utrecht – Frankfurt – Basel – Zurich
    • Amsterdam – Utrecht – Frankfurt –  Munich – Innsbruck
  • Berlin Night Express:
    • Berlin – Hamburg – Malmö – Stockholm 
  • Intercités de Nuit:
    • Paris – Latour de Carol (France border with Spain, Pyrenees)
    • Paris – Portbou (France border with Spain, Mediterranean coast)
    • Paris – Briançon (France border with Italy)
  • More information about night trains can be found here.
• If you go far, for example, from The Netherlands to Italy and back, it’s possible that an Interrail ticket is the cheapest option. It also gives you more flexibility.
  • Check which interrail pass is more convenient (4 days/month, 5 days/month, etc.) here.
  • Check which trains do you have to take and do the reservations (if necessary, some trains do not require reservation) here.
• Train cancellations/delays
  • If your train gets canceled, the company through which you reserved the train has to ensure that you arrive at the destination. It is better if you reserve all trains through the same company. In case there is a delay or cancellation, they have to ensure that you arrive at your final destination, and not just to an intermediate place.
• Combining plane and train
  • Going by plane and returning by train, or vice versa, can also be a good compromise in case the destination is far or not well communicated.