WESTbahn is a private Austrian operator offering a budget alternative to ÖBB on the Vienna–Salzburg corridor. Guide to fares, booking and onboard service.
SNCB is Belgium's national railway, connecting Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Guide to ticket types, rail passes, booking and cross-border services.
FlixTrain offers budget train travel in Germany and Sweden, often well below national operator fares. Guide to routes, booking and what to expect onboard.
ÖBB is Austria's national railway, known for punctuality and running on renewable energy. Guide to routes, ticket types and booking trains across Austria.
SBB (CFF) is Switzerland's national railway, running one of Europe's most punctual networks. Guide to booking, scenic routes and navigating Swiss trains.
Ouigo runs low-cost high-speed trains in France and Spain. Fares often rival budget airlines — guide to booking, what's included and what to watch out for.
Germany's rail network is operated mainly by Deutsche Bahn (DB), with ICE high-speed trains linking major cities. Regional services cover smaller towns.
Belgium built continental Europe's first steam railway in 1835. Today it's a hub for high-speed trains connecting London, Paris, Amsterdam and Germany.
Spain's rail network connects major cities and tourist destinations nationwide. Renfe operates AVE high-speed and regional services across the country.
Eurostar connects London to Paris (2h16m), Brussels (1h58m) and Amsterdam (3h52m) through the Channel Tunnel at speeds up to 300 km/h. Prices and tips for 2026.
Netherlands rail (NS) is one of Europe's most efficient and punctual networks. Fully electrified, it connects every major city from Amsterdam to Rotterdam.
Trains to Amsterdam Centraal handle ~200,000 passengers daily. High-speed links to Paris, London and Frankfurt, plus night trains to Vienna and Zurich.
Trains to Barcelona arrive mainly at Barcelona Sants, one of Europe's busiest stations and the main hub for domestic and international high-speed services.
The UK has one of the world's oldest and most comprehensive rail networks. This guide covers booking cheap tickets, navigating stations and key operators.