Episode 54 Top 10 Tips for UK and Europe Train Travel

In episode 54 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy is joined by husband Doug, the resident UK and Europe rail travel expert, for a deep dive into the ins and outs of planning train journeys across the UK and Europe for 2025 and beyond.

Together, they unravel the complexities of train travel, offering ten top tips drawn from decades of hands-on experience across the continent’s rails—plus a bonus scenic routes highlight!

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Episode 54 – Summary

Enjoy a lively conversation packed with practical planning strategies, budgeting hacks, packing advice, and insider stories (from riding with goats in Spain to navigating surprise strikes!).

Tracy and Doug paint an engaging picture of why train travel is arguably the best way to see Europe, encouraging listeners to embrace the joy of the journey, not just the destination.

With advice on everything from booking and seating to leveraging railway passes and making the most of station layouts, this episode is a must-listen for rail newbies and seasoned travellers alike.

What you’ll learn in this episode

📍 Essential homework: researching routes, operators, and cultural quirks before you travel.
📅 How to structure your itinerary with flexibility, realistic pacing, and personal travel style in mind.
🚄 The pros and cons of advance bookings, seat reservations, rail passes, and embracing scenic slow travel.
🛏️ Accommodation tips—including strategic choices for hotels near train stations and using sleeper trains to your advantage.
🥢 Cultural encounters on board: making friends, pet-friendly surprises, and how to pack smart for comfort and convenience.
😲 Adapting to strikes, unexpected events, and why sometimes the best travel moments happen off-script.

Places, foods and words/concepts mentioned

Places

UK & Europe (general): The episode centres on cross-country train journeys, including notable travels across France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, and Norway.
Porto & Lisbon, Portugal: Tracy and Doug share tips from their current travels, including staying at Inns close to train stations.
London & Edinburgh, UK: Popular cities for direct and scenic train journeys.
West Highland Line, Scotland: One of Europe’s most beautiful rail routes, running from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig.
Florence, Rome, and Seville, Italy & Spain: Cities highlighted for their iconic stations and connections.
Budapest, Hungary: Stories of festive train rides and pet-friendly travel.
Campanha Station, Porto: Practical accommodation and station tips shared from current experience.

Foods

Local Snacks & Meals on Trains: While not mentioning any signature dish, Tracy emphasises the importance of packing water, snacks, and light meals for comfort during longer or sleeper train segments.
Garlic (Spain): Amusing story about a shared snack between a man and his goat, illustrating local flavour and train culture.

Words/Concepts

National Rail Enquiries: The UK’s comprehensive train route and operator planning site.
Eurail & BritRail Passes: Multi-country and regional rail passes, and advice on comparing them to individual tickets for flexibility and value.
Railcard: Discount cards for UK train fares, providing up to a third off standard prices.
Seat Reservation: Essential or optional booking depending on the country and service, especially important for high-speed trains in mainland Europe.
Regional Trains vs High-Speed Trains: Slow travel options that offer more stops, local flavour, and sometimes unexpected encounters.
Sleeper Trains: Overnight options that combine transport and accommodation, with tips for packing, bunk choice, and new European routes.
Station Layout: The importance of pre-researching complex stations like Rome Termini to avoid missed trains and stressful rushes.
Booking in Advance: Weighing budget advantages against flexibility, including the impact of strikes and travel disruptions.
Travel Strikes: The realities—and necessary flexibility—of journeying through Europe.
Luggage Tips: The imperative to pack light and smart, especially when navigating stairs and platforms.