European Train trips

[ECOCKS]

I remember my first European train trip. Two night run from Prague to Kyiv with two 20+ kilo suitcases (one with a broken roller), a full-size duffel bag, a large computer backpack and a shoulder bag with food and water (someone warned me about the food issues).

What they forgot to mention was that you don't check luggage like we do on AMTRAK. For those not familiar with AMTRAK, we check luggage like at the airport and go sit in our seat with a computer and an overnight bag. A dining car and lounge/snack car are pretty much standard on any night-time trip.

You can imagine how popular I was with the providnitka and the security guy.

This is when I resolved to always buy all the tickets for my compartment in the future.

Then we got to Ukraine where the bathrooms dump directly onto the tracks.....

[Shadow]

If you travel in other parts of Europe you might find that AMTRAK-like service does exist on overnight trains. 

[I/O]

Then we got to Ukraine where the bathrooms dump directly onto the tracks.....

LOL: Was something of surprise to me when I headed for the train bathroom somewhere in Russia years back as we were passing through some city or another only to find the door locked until we exited the other side of the city.

I/O

[Aloe]

so um. i'm gonna be going from paris to brussels on a train, and i have to buy the ticket on the station, no clue as to what to expect, do they put luggage in a special car, or do you take it with you to your car? do the salespeople speak english, cuz my fiance says the french seem to dislike a lot using something other than french? If anyone can give me some info, i'd really appreciate it, thanks

[BC]

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train?DISTRIBUTED_COUNTRY=FR&ORIGIN_CITY=PARIS&DESTINATION_CITY=BRUXELLES&OUTWARD_DATE=28%2F05%2F09&OUTWARD_TIME=7&COMFORT_CLASS=2&COMFORT_BOOK=NO&CODE_PROMO=SPECIAL%20OFFER%20CODE&NB_PASSENGERS=1&PASSENGER_1=ADULT&PASSENGER_1_CARD=

[Aloe]

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train?DISTRIBUTED_COUNTRY=FR&ORIGIN_CITY=PARIS&DESTINATION_CITY=BRUXELLES&OUTWARD_DATE=28%2F05%2F09&OUTWARD_TIME=7&COMFORT_CLASS=2&COMFORT_BOOK=NO&CODE_PROMO=SPECIAL%20OFFER%20CODE&NB_PASSENGERS=1&PASSENGER_1=ADULT&PASSENGER_1_CARD=

thanks i saw the website before, but i fail to find a switch to english.. and i can't book online cuz ticketing machines require your credit card to have a chip, and mine doesn't, mine isn't even a credit card, but it works online, but no chip.. and i don't trust it to get here with the mail fast enough, so i can only buy a ticket at the station

[acrzybear]

so um. i'm gonna be going from paris to brussels on a train, and i have to buy the ticket on the station, no clue as to what to expect, do they put luggage in a special car, or do you take it with you to your car? do the salespeople speak english, cuz my fiance says the french seem to dislike a lot using something other than french? If anyone can give me some info, i'd really appreciate it, thanks

Having been to France and Brussels I can attest to the fact that your average French person does not like to speak anything other then French and they look down upon others that are not French.  Out of all the countries I have traveled I found the Gallic countries the rudest.  Good luck

[Shadow]

Having been to France and Brussels I can attest to the fact that your average French person does not like to speak anything other then French and they look down upon others that are not French.  Out of all the countries I have traveled I found the Gallic countries the rudest.  Good luck

That's just because they feel people might do some effort to understand the language of a country they visit. In Brussels people have replied me in Dutch as soon as they understood I was not Belgian, and in France people showed command of English language to figure out possible misunderstandings.
Its like Russian, make some effort to understand them and they will also make effort to understand you.

[Donhollio]

 I've done that route about 4 times. You just carry your bag on with you. I took the TGV one of the coolest trains in the world ! I don't think it took more than 1.5-2hrs each way. The service personal all spoke enough English to get by,after all it's western Europe and they do deal with international tourists.
 Crack a smile and don't be demanding...it does wonders 

[Aloe]

ok thanks it's just that i have a rather large suitcase, no clue where to put it in a train. i looked at some pics, didn't notice any space for it

[Shadow]

ok thanks it's just that i have a rather large suitcase, no clue where to put it in a train. i looked at some pics, didn't notice any space for it

Near the entrance and exit there is large space that will hold big bags.
Yes, you will be afraid first that someone might get it, so try ot get a place where you can see that nothing happens.

[acrzybear]

That's just because they feel people might do some effort to understand the language of a country they visit. In Brussels people have replied me in Dutch as soon as they understood I was not Belgian, and in France people showed command of English language to figure out possible misunderstandings.
Its like Russian, make some effort to understand them and they will also make effort to understand you.

 

Actually Shadow I am in firm believer in trying to learn at least some basic language and customs when traveling to a foreign country and if I am unable to communicate then it is my problem-after all I was not forced to visit that particular country. 

 No,  the problems I've run into had to do with me being an American and the natives talking smack  (I understand enough French to know insults) because of my nationality.  I don't look for trouble and try to avoid confrontations when in a foreign country and I've never had any problems except for France and Brussels.  In France I visited St. Michelle, Omaha Beach, Notre Dame, and the tower so I've seen what I wanted if I never step foot into those countries again I won't lose any sleep.

  I'll stick with Russia and the other FSU countries, England and Germany.

[Ooooops]

I like this website - http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm - gives good info about different train travels. 

[Ooooops]

I remember my first European train trip. Two night run from Prague to Kyiv

Then we got to Ukraine where the bathrooms dump directly onto the tracks.....

We went from Kiev to Prague few years ago...   Didn't know that there was an 8 hours stopover in Krakow, thought...       But it all worked out quite well at the end. 

Errr....   Don't all trains dump "****" directly onto the tracks?        That's a news to me!      May be because I haven't traveled by train for long distance in Europe, only short trips...   

[ECOCKS]

Most have a tank underneath. Ask specifically for the Polish cars. You'll pay a little more but it's worth it.

[Ooooops]

Most have a tank underneath.

Oh, I didn't know it...    All trains I've been in (and I traveled a lot by train in USSR and lAsia    ) didn't have it.   Don't remember about Amtrack though - we took it once from Urbania to New Orleans and back.

[ECOCKS]

All AMTRAK has a fulltime restroom facility with tanks and hot water. Most Western European cars do also.

I remember the stopover in Krakow and a shorter one in Lviv.

[Ooooops]

I remember the stopover in Krakow and a shorter one in Lviv.

And how about the stop for changing wheels?       

For those who don't know it - European and USSR railroad tracks are differ in width.   Supposedly it was a German conspiracy - German engineers designed Russian railroads right before the WW 1 and made those tracks narrower on purpose, so Russians wouldn't be able to chase Germans into Europe later on...   

[Aloe]

I like this website - http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm - gives good info about different train travels. 

that's a great website, thanks!! it actually has a step by step guide on how to navigate the french website, so i was able to order my tickets with pick up at the station from their staff, not through the ticketing machine. The english website for some reason only offers the machine or mail, no office pick up. Now i won't have to worry about buying overpriced last minute tickets

[Ooooops]

that's a great website, thanks!! 

Glad to help, dear   

[SANDRO43]

For those who don't know it - European and USSR railroad tracks are differ in width. Supposedly it was a German conspiracy - German engineers designed Russian railroads right before the WW 1 and made those tracks narrower on purpose, so Russians wouldn't be able to chase Germans into Europe later on...

Actually, at 1,520 mm the FSU rail gauge is wider than the 1,435 mm gauge prevailing in Europe (except Spain and Portugal, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge), and I remember reading somewhere that its purpose was to impede traffic from invading European countries .

[kievstar]

I take a train all the time between Brussels and Paris.  Are you going 1st or second class?  Your fiance should probably meet you in Paris as you will not get much help with your baggage.  I assume your on the high speed train which is less than 1 hour from Paris to Brussels.

I always bought ticket in train station but I have never done it during tourist season of June and July.  Trains could be sold out.

Learn some basic French words and you will have no problems.  I know about 20 words and never had problems with French speaking people switching over to English.  Saying hello in English is rude in a non English speaking country.

Since your going to live in Brussels Belgium you will need to start learning French, Dutch, Flemish.  English is not widely spoken here unless you live more north near Netherlands outside of Brussels.

I find people in Kiev speak more English than in Brussels.  Which is not saying a lot of people speak it.

[Ooooops]

Actually, at 1,520 mm the FSU rail gauge is wider than the 1,435 mm gauge prevailing in Europe (except Spain and Portugal, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge), and I remember reading somewhere that its purpose was to impede traffic from invading European countries .

Ooooops!   

[SANDRO43]

Learn some basic French words and you will have no problems.  I know about 20 words and never had problems with French speaking people switching over to English. Saying hello in English is rude in a non English speaking country.

Aloe, practice бонжур (bonjour - good day) for a whole day, then come back here for Lesson #2 .

Might as well add бонcуaр (bonsoir - good evening) to be on the safe side, time-wise .

[SANDRO43]

Ooooops!   

I'm surprised OlgaH didn't step in on that, it's more in her bailiwick .