Embarking on my grand Interrail journey across Europe with three young children in tow proved to be quite an enlightening experience regarding the basic amenities of train carriages.
From the luxurious wide-seats and expansive glass panels of the Glacier Express to the graffitied wagons shaking over a side track where almost every seat was uncomfortably stiff, we went through it all.
Due to the significant variation in railway vehicles among different operators and nations, travelers can be uncertain about their experience when boarding a train in contemporary Europe.
Observing my coughing child zoom down a slide at an indoor play area within a Swiss train made me reflect on how drastically the traveler experience has evolved throughout the past two centuries.
train travel
started making tracks.
How has railway travel evolved since its inception?
This September marks
the 200th anniversary
Of the inauguration of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in northern England. This significant moment marked the first occasion when hundreds of passengers were conveyed by train.
Reflecting on the past, it’s difficult to grasp how thrilling those initial encounters with trains must have felt—while at the same time realizing the discomfort they could cause for many travelers.
During the early years of the railway system, third-class passengers did not have access to a covered carriage for several initial years. As a result, they had to endure exposure to weather conditions and the smoke emanating from the locomotive engines.
These ‘cattle class’ carriages were phased out across Europe by the 1950s, replaced by a two-tier system of standard and first class that still survives today.
Over the years, sleeper cars and onboard eating options have been introduced, meaning passengers can get fed and find a bed while they travel.
If you are looking to get a taste of just how much passenger rail travel has changed since its inception, many lines still run
historic routes
with authentic carriages and engines.
My family loves a heritage train ride and we're lucky to live on the doorstep of the line that launched the very first package holiday in 1841, when Thomas Cook offered a day trip from Leicester to Loughborough.
Train enthusiasts can relive that journey on the Great Central Railway, where they can enjoy both steam and diesel train rides all year round.
This offers a small peek into an era long past, featuring compartment-style seating and vintage waiting areas such as one exclusively designated for women. During colder months, open fires burn within the grates. Additionally, passengers must lean out of the window to pull the external door handles when boarding or alighting from the train.
Another location that truly showcases the significant transformations rail travel has undergone over time is
Wuppertal in Germany
Here, the Schwebebahn, which holds the title as the world's oldest electric suspended railway, continues to traverse the entire town, running parallel to the river beneath it.
Exiting onto a wooden planked platform before descending into a compartment suspended beneath a solitary track certainly makes for an unforgettable journey. This highlights how railway transit wasn’t exclusively about trains pulling coaches over terrestrial rails; inventors tested various methodologies throughout history.
Although historical trips offer an intriguing experience for occasional outings, contemporary daily railway travels demand much more from us. However, the actual nature of present-day train travel can differ significantly based on the time and location of your journey.
What can passengers expect inside a modern train carriage?
Our Easter
Interrail
The extravaganza spanned across the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France, and the UK. Each time we stepped onto a train, we were uncertain about what discoveries awaited us.
Despite having an Interrail pass, certain trains required mandatory seat reservations, including
Eurostar
and the
Glacier Express
In Switzerland, it definitely felt as though we received good value for our money, thanks to the spotless facilities, cozy seating, and courteous service from the train staff, which all contributed positively to our journey.
In various countries where our entire rail journey was included in the pass, the service quality differed significantly. The Netherlands appeared nearly ideal to me regarding passenger care, especially their approach to accommodating families with children. In contrast, Germany presented a different scenario, characterized by extensive graffiti throughout the stations.
station
And on the actual trains.
A few of the coaches we encountered were dilapidated, and we once missed a train because it departed from the opposite end of the platform where we were standing, completely oblivious to the fact that boarding wouldn’t be possible.
Availability of charging ports and Wi-Fi remains inconsistent throughout the rail system, particularly on lesser-known regional trains.
However, numerous contemporary advancements ensure that travelers' trips are much more pleasant.
We enjoyed riding double-decker trains in France and the Netherlands, as they can carry more passengers without requiring additional carriages.
And of course, the family zones in Swiss intercity trains were a massive hit. What child wouldn't love to discover a playground inside their train carriage to help make their journey whizz by? For older kids, there were board games inlaid in the tabletops to keep them occupied.
We noticed areas designated for
transporting bikes
Safely and securely, with passengers required to reserve and pay for a spot for their bicycle onboard. However, not all trains offer this service, so you should verify the policies beforehand when planning to travel with your bike.
What might travelers anticipate for their journey experiences in the coming years?
As there is a revived enthusiasm for sleeper trains throughout Europe, it is logical that railway businesses are seeking to invest in novel methods to enhance the overnight travel experience for customers.
I must admit our overnight journey from the Netherlands to Innsbruck wasn’t very relaxing. The passengers and their baggage were squeezed into tiny compartments where the seats also served as sleeping berths. Thus, anything that could go wrong did.
sleeper car
Entering the 21st century would be welcomed!
In the previous fall, the Austrian branch of the Skoda Group presented their Sleep in Motion concepts for sleeping compartments within double-decker trains. These compartments would be arranged along either side of a central aisle. Meanwhile, Alstom from the United Kingdom displayed their DreamSuite proposals, featuring seating areas that convert into fully flat beds, complete with partitions offering personal space.
Another passenger priority is
keeping bags safe
Throughout the trip, there has been an increase in thefts from trains over the past few years. To ensure our belongings were safe, we brought along a cable lock to secure our bags to the overhead storage rack.
Through our experience, we found that what European trains need is a better organised system with built-in security measures. In Japanese bullet trains, for example, lockable racks are available for passengers to
stow their bags
. It's all a far cry from the luggage car of the railway heyday when travellers could send their trunks and bags on ahead ready for collection at their destination.
For fans of slow and sustainable travel, enhancing the passenger experience onboard is up there with introducing cleaner train fuels like hydrogen or increasing the speed and reliability of services. Cleaner trains are great but people have to want to travel on them for rail to become a viable alternative.
Project manager at Norske tog Sille Svenkerud Førner summed it up best when Norway announced its investment in 17 new long-distance FLIRT NEX trains, featuring reclining seats, flexible sleeping compartments, a bistro, family options and ample luggage space.
As she put it, "The train shouldn’t just serve as a mode of transportation; it should also offer an experience and be somewhere people enjoy being."
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