Holiday Essentials > Train

Advantages: great reliable service
Disadvantages: none

The BElgium national railways put's British railways to shame they are clean, cheap and run on time. I went on holiday to Belgium 2 years ago and during the course of my stay used the railway system on several occassions. I would definetly recommend them to any one. I must admit I can not coment on what it would be like to get from a small town to another small town as I was staying in Bruges at the time. I found that it was possible to get to any ... Read review

Advantages: Usually clean, efficient and good staff
Disadvantages: Could do with a couple more nice new trains

...at least partly justified. Now, Wales and Borders may not be perfect, but I'm still impressed. Up until late 2001, the lines from Birmingham to Mid Wales were run by Central Trains. They did the job and were better than pre-privatisation "Regional Railways" but not quite well enough. Trains were usually filthy inside and out. Reservations were never there and they'd put on just about whatever old train they could get away with. Since Wales & Borders ...
...themselves aren't bad at all. Wales & Borders upgraded the line to "Alphaline" standard which means that all our trains are now nippy, modern things with air conditioning (actually works now, too), a payphone, comfy seats and most of the day a refreshment trolley. Fares are very reasonable. Indeed, cheap day returns for the 3 hour journey from Aberystwyth to Birmingham are only about £16. Not bad for a day out over that distance. And during the summer, ... Read review

Advantages: Clean, on time, quiet, efficient, extensive network
Disadvantages: None!

The SBB is, without a doubt, one of the best railway services anywhere in the world, without any exaggeration. The trains are quiet, modern, clean, efficient and always, always scrupulously on time. The network is fairly extensive, and there are often services run by other companies that go to the parts SBB doesn't reach. All connections such as these are, however, well worked out beforehand and give you plenty of time; there is hardly ever a missed ...
...this with some of the most fantastic Alpine scenery and you have all the reason you need to go everywhere by train in Switzerland. It's cheap as well - you can travel on high-speed trains without needing to pay any supplement - and often time-saving, as trains go through mountains instead of over them! All in all this is a fantastic network - and shows well how far the British system still has to go. ... Read review

Advantages: No more queues
Disadvantages: None yet

...ago I decided to try connex direct to buy my season ticket. So I phoned up they took me details, name, address, credit card, photo card number, start date and route then said the card would be with me the next day and it was. This is easy I thought so the next month I tried again and this time it got even easier all they wanted was my photo card number and start date, asked if all the other information was the same, I said yes and it was on my front ...
...But then one month my season ticket did not arrive so I phoned them up to complain and the person on the phone was very sorry and did not know was my card was missing. Unfortunately they could not get a new ticket for me ready for when mine had run out and told me that I was going to have to queue up this time, but if I got a weekly ticket (I usually get a monthly one) they would refund the cost and send me a new one starting from when that one ran ... Read review

Advantages: easy to use, cheap
Disadvantages: none known!

Just to say that it is NOT known as 'the clockwork orange' - if you say this term to locals, you will get blank looks..! It was the invention of a journalist, but it has never caught on - except in articles by other journalists who repeat it endlessly, having copied it - lazily - from the articles they've dug out for research. I used to travel on it every day to school, I still use it, and it's called either 'the subway' or 'the underground'. It's ...
...well-placed, the trains are frequent, fast, and tend to be reliable, the fare system is simple - you buy either a single ticket or a return, no matter which station you're going to - and it's cheap. There's also something special about travelling underground, and it's better for people-watching than either trains or buses! I'd recommend it to any visitor to Glasgow. ... Read review