Train Travel
Many travellers consider the train to be the ultimate form of travel, looking at it as an experience in itself as well as a means of getting from A to B. This may not be the case if you have to commute to work by train but for someone with time to spend it is one of the most exhilarating ways to get around. You only have to read Paul Theroux's The Great Railway Bazaar to be persuaded about the merits of rail travel.
Europe
Getting around Europe by train can be a relatively expensive operation, particularly when compared to the price of rail travel in Third World countries. However, for the under 26s there are two methods of lowering the cost:
- Eurotrain tickets These are for use on specific routes, so if you have one destination in mind they are good value. They offer up to 50 per cent discounts and can be purchased at 52 Grosvenor Gardens , London SW1W 0AG. Tel: (020) 7730 3402, or from branches of Campus Travel.
- Inter-Rail Web site: www.raileurope.co.uk Passes covering 28 European countries (save £5 by booking online): You can buy Inter-Rail cards from all main line British Rail stations and British Rail appointed travel agencies. You will need two passport-size photographs and proof that you are under 26 (for under 26 fare) at the time of purchase. Great value for a short-term trip, or even travelling through Europe and then continuing with your journey after a month.
Going Further Afield
For the long-term traveller it is once you leave Europe that rail travel really comes into its own. At times it may be over-crowded, infuriatingly slow, and unhygienic - but it is ultimately one of the greatest experiences you will have during a year abroad. The thing to remember is that you will have to shed all your previous notions about travelling by train.
Ticketing
When buying a train ticket in most Third World countries (where rail travel is extremely cheap and therefore used widely) you will need initiative, patience and at times physical strength. Queuing takes place in something akin to an expanded rugby scrum and you may have to visit several ticket offices before you achieve your objective. Don't be afraid to use your elbows, otherwise you may never reach the ticket office. Even so, expect to spend at least two hours buying a ticket in a busy station.
Timetabling
Dar es-Salaam, in Tanzania, has one of the most impressive-looking stations in Africa. Unfortunately, it only has three or four trains leaving it every week. Because of this the best way to find out when the train is leaving is to go to the station and ask at the ticket office. In general, verbal information is preferable to written timetables, which can be hopelessly out of date. Make sure you ask a number of people - officials as well as fellow travellers.
Aspects of Life
The great joy of rail travel is the people you meet, the sights you see and the feeling that you are moving through an area at a pace that is conducive to absorbing your surroundings. In countries such as India , the accepted Mecca of rail travel, you will see, hear and feel all aspects of humanity; from the teeming community that is an Indian station to the chai-sellers who descend on the trains whenever they stop. You may find yourself being woken at 4am by an impromptu concert on board but join in, make the most of it and treat the train as an experience, not just a mode of transport.
