Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Determine the day and date of your travel. Remember, Europeans reverse
the order of the month and day when writing dates. Day, month, and then year
is the standard reading. For example, June 15, 2008, appears as 15/06/08 and
not as 06/15/08.
Check the train schedules posted in the rail stations for the train number, its
departure time, and arrival time at your destination.
Print this information on a piece of paper, starting with the date, the train num-
ber, and the departure time. Draw a short arrow, and then add the arrival time of
the train and the name of your destination.
Indicate the number of seat reservations required. Your seat reservation will
identify the class of travel (first or second), smoking or nonsmoking, car number,
and, in most cases, the seat number(s).
Plan to be on the train platform several minutes prior to scheduled departure.
European trains stop only for a short time at intermediate stations to let passengers
on and off, and stops of only one or two minutes are usual. To save a lot of scur-
rying around when the train arrives, check the illustrated train composition dia-
grams displayed on the platforms to determine the approximate positioning of your
train's first- and second-class coaches.
Then, as your train approaches, look for either a large number “1” on or near
the doors or a yellow stripe above the train windows to indicate first-class cars if
you have a first-class rail pass and/or a first-class seat reservation. Second-class
cars are indicated with a large “2” on or near the doors.
Train Schedules
Most European rail stations have train arrival and departure times prominently pos-
ted, usually by huge digital display boards. The printed ones posted are easily re-
cognized by their background color— departure times are printed on yellow; ar-
rival times on white. Intermediate stops, train platform, and track numbers are
posted as well. In case of discrepancy, the digital display boards take precedence.
Although the time schedules may change, the track numbers seldom change.
Schedules are listed chronologically in 24-hour time from 0001 (one minute after
midnight) to 1200 (noon) and to 2400 (midnight)—for instance, a departure time
of 1843 would be equal to 6:43 p.m. Note: Arrival times for overnight/sleeper train
schedules in this topic show “+1" after the arrival time. This means your train ar-
rives at the listed time on the following day.
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