Jeremy Clarkson once described trains as a Victorian relic. Of course when he said that he was being, well, Jeremy Clarkson. As he and the Top Gear team found out though, trains are not 19th century relics but are in fact the best way to travel across Europe.

Vs the Plane

Planes may fly fast, but before that they’ve got to take-off. Say hello to check-in. Heathrow is now advising that you arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure for European flights. That’s 2 hours of queuing, or sitting around doing nothing. Even once you’ve actually got where you’re going, you’ll have to go through the entry procedure. Then great, you’re there! No, you’re at a big ugly building in the country you want to be in, because air travel is a great way of just seeing airports. Then you need to take care of car hire, or get a taxi to the hotel. Planes are a stressful and surprisingly slow way to travel.

Vs Ferries to France

I’m sure you’ll feel good about a ferry, being open water, getting fresh air. The bad news though is you aren’t on the blue Pacific waters, you’re on the English Channel. The water looks horrible, and it’s the busiest shipping lane in the world. You did remember to give your children travel sickness tablets for the rough sea didn’t you? Don’t forget the days of fast hovercraft are over. It really is just ferries now. Dawdling along, while the Eurotunnel races to France 3 times faster than ferries to France.

EuroTunnel

Vs the Long Drive

So you’ve got to Europe with your car, that’s great. So you can go where you want, when you want, and all in the comfort of your own car. You did check the driving laws of all the countries you’re passing through, didn’t you? Did you know that in France, for example, you have to have a high visibility jacket with the correct CE mark in the cabin? Ok good, now you just have a short drive to get where you’re going. Unless of course you’ve decided to see more of Europe than north-west France, in which case you’ve got hundreds of miles ahead of you. Never mind, long journeys stuffed in cars with luggage, safety equipment you’ll probably never use, and bored children are always fun.

Vs Nothing

Nothing compares to the train. Nothing else is going to allow you to travel across Europe sitting in a comfortable chair. You can travel from city to city, looking out of the window at beautiful scenery while drinking a coffee. Even if it’s not a holiday, you’ll arrive relaxed and rested, not stressed, crabby, or ill. If you are on holiday, then you’ll have no stress, and no responsibilities, other than enjoying yourself.