- One of the more welcome developments in European travel over the last ten years has been the spread of ultra-high-speed train routes throughout the continent. These trains, such as the TGV (in France), AVE (in Spain), and Pendolino (in Italy), are as much symbols of national pride as they are means of transportation, and are usually much newer and run much more efficiently than their slower cousins. There is often a surcharge for passholders to ride on these trains, but it is usually minima] (USD 5-10) and the time saved can be well worth it. At 120 to 150 mph, you can cover a lot of ground. The most extensive networks of these trains can be found in France, Germany and, surprisingly, Italy. (Actually, considering how the Italians drive, maybe it’s not such a surprise that they like fast trains.) Since high- and ultra-high-speed train tickets are well within the buying power of even the smallest budget, don’t just jump on a train that leaves at a convenient time. A faster train might allow you to sleep in and still get you to your destination several hours earlier, for only a few doDars more. If you are looking at a long train ride, buy plenty of food and water before heading for the station. Station food is expensive, and train food is even more so.

Somehow or other, probably through massive government subsidies, the French high-speed train system has grown into a truly marvelous transportation network; one that can get you from one end of France to the other in only a few hours. With hundreds of trains a day out of Paris and other French cities, blazing along the tracks at 300 km/hour, the speed and convenience of the TGV system is nothing less than incredible (Paris to Marseille in three hours, for example). The only way it could be any better is if they used black holes and teleportation.A yellow stripe over the windows of a car designates first class. Also, always check the door or window of your chosen car for a destination sign. Sometimes trains are split up in mid-journey. Usually, but not always, individual cars will have metal signs near their doors with the car’s ultimate destination on them (they don’t do this in Britain). Make sure that the car you get into is going to your destination, especially on night trains. Sometimes there are signs on the platforms with diagrams of the train showing which cars are going where. If there are no signs visible anywhere, find a conductor, point to the floor of the car, and state your destination in a questioning tone. They’ll let you know if you’re in the right car.
British railway logic Okay, here’s a test.