Train in Europe: Trick or Treat

Aug 6

8 min read

Updated: Aug 6

This time of the year last year, I was preparing to attend a wedding in France, precisely the border of France and Spain, hopping between the Mediterranean part of these two countries.

4 years living in France had me (acquire my familiarity…) familiar with the transportation system, in the sense of not just knowing how to book the complicated logistics across the country, between countries with the European Union, and the worst part of its travel.

I mean…. how bad could it go? Not being on time and miss the train? Uh, uh, no. That’s the most easiest, simplest scenario of all!

My little brain cringes while digging this memory ditch (that I don’t want to remember) of these incroyable train stories that I’ve been through in France and throughout Europe. Not something I fairly enjoy remembering, but worth a story to tell you what to prepare for when travelling in Europe with train.

Here’re my 10 best train stories:

The ticket without a seat number on TGV (Paris-Nimes, TGV)

This was my first summer in France, visiting a French friend and her family that I met a year before on my trip in Scotland. Their warm invite was my first adventure down south to Nimes, the old Roman city, traced back to BC 5 century. summer breeze

I learned how to book a TGV on the French SNCF train site, navigated the immense Gare de Lyon, and figuring out whether my seat is on the upper deck or the lower deck. What’s more- learn how to READ the train ticket in French. I double check trice with my eyes and told my friend I cannot find the seat number on the train ticket. She thought my infamiliarity with their French ticket, had me not understand what a seat number looks like. I sent my ticket to her, where she was fairly surprised there really isn’t a seat number on my ticket! I got very anxious as TGV is a high speed railway, how can I be on an extreme fast train without a seat? My friend told me to show the ticket when on broad to the staff and sit outside of the train door where there are seats. I didn’t understand “the seats” part until I was on board. I was fairly nervous if I can board the train or not without a seat. Frankly speaking, the ticket machine didn’t bother my missing seat number and scanned my ticket through.

On the upper deck of TGV, in between luggage and storage is a tiny hall(alley, cooridor) with seats. I sat there like a queen as if this was my seat until a staff came through where I explained my ticket, pointing to the spot where seat number would normally show at(appear at). She told me she’ll check for empty seats, and come back for me. Fortunately, there was an empty seat by the window, literally as I requested as I get sick sitting in aisle and looking inside, what a huge relief is out of my chest of this missing seat and I’m on my way down south to enjoy the French Summer breeze!

Learning: you can always get a seat, as long as you buy a ticket

The ticket with a seat number, but there is no such seat in sight. It’s there, but not there(yet). (Brussels- Paris, OuiGo)

Still the same summer from the Nimes trip, but 3 weeks later on the way back to Paris from Brussels. It was August Ascension long weekend. I went to Brussels, with a mix of Bruges and Ghent in between on a 4-5 days trip to meet up with an Argentinan friend I met on my trip in Madrid. Back then, we stayed at the same hostel, same room, different bed of course! With a good drink and tortielle de patata at xxxxx.

This time, I felt very pleased everything was written clearly on my train ticket- the departure time, estimated arrival time, the car number, the seat number- all was good. Until, I got to the platform of my car number and saw many people scrambled on a staff asking her lots of questions. I was skeptical, but didn’t want their situation to bother me until I realised- it was my problem too!

Apparently, we all have unknown seat numbers on our train tickets. In reality, these seats aren’t there!

When the train arrive, the staff shoo all of us on to the train and told us to wait for the staff to come by. I waited on the same car, 縮緊like sardine fishes, like everyone does in realising afterwards that ‘there’re too many of us’, if the staff wants to help all of us find seats, it would take ages!

After assisting two three people later, I decided I should go hunt(find) my own seat. I wandered around different cabin to look for a decent seat for a person comfortably. Some people have their luggages put on a two seat seats, their legs crossed, all kinds of train look out there. And then I thought, why don’t I try my luck in the 1st class, where it should be quieter and perhaps less people, because who buy a 1st class seat?

Happy to say I indeed found a two seated seat on a 1st class car. What’s more, I actually bought this ticket on a discount price with €19 or is it €25 I think. Felt like I hit the jackpot in sitting a first class seat after the first scene of drama.

Learning: you can always get a seat, as long as you have your valid ticket

You’re on the right train but the train split in the middle (Austria-Zurich)

I went on an Eurorail trip at the somewhat the pre and post Covid era within the fall-winter season of 2021. It was a time we still had curfew, the time we still put on mask, and checking if the mask is a FFP2 fabric in ensuring our entry to certain countries (re:Germany, Austria). Madly, deeply, truly can’t believe we’ve been through all that craziness.

The trip started from Germany, Austria, and then it was supposed to head to Hungary, Czech, all the way up to Germany again and probably Berlin or Copenhagen before heading back to the Alsace region in France.

Austria cancelled my trip in releasing a new one month lockdown notice unexpectedly. I was already in Austria, in the beautiful Olymipic town Innsburck when I heard this news, but I still went to Vienna as planned to try my luck if anything will change. Not so surprised, it didn’t. And to maxxximize my Eurotrail ticket, I turn into Switzerland, the best place to max out train fare, closer to France, if anything happen, I can still get a train back to Paris. Next stop: Zurich

The ride between Vienna to Zurich was beautiful, I only got the beautiful half part when early winter sunset came along with darkness. I did wonder why the destination on my train monitor never read “Zurich”, it was xxxxx. I was fairly skeptical and stay attune what’d happen next. Indeed, before the last stop, the train announced that they’ll split the train in half, those going to Zurich should be on train number 1-5, while the other can still remain in their seat.

My adrenaline comes up again, I need to change train, what if I couldn’t make it.

I dash out with my luggage when the train stop.

While I walk to the back train to find seats to Zurich, I saw the train mechanicme seperating the train in the most old fashioned way. Like a lego, taking it up and then putting it down in splitting both trains apart. I was in awe how they made it done so quickly. Also, I was in awe that I’m aware of my surrounding and keep on monitor the train screen where I was heading to. Otherwise, I’d really end up in the middle of no where in Austria.

Learning: always read your train screen, check where the destination is heading to.

The train that’s supposed to come but didn’t come and left you in the 0° wind, feeling -5° for an hour. (Germany-Alsace, think it was a regional train of Germany….not surprised!)

chill up my spine, and I have this butterfly feeling that my train won’t come

Learning: wear warm, bring snacks and water, bring extra money, you never know when the train is coming

You’re on the right train, but half of the train suddenly does not have electricity… (Paris- Narbonne)

In the high heat at the end of French summer, the last weekend of August, I was heading south to Lezignan-Corbieres, a quaint, very quaint town, that was so quaint and quiet, you thought you walk into someone’s movie out of a mistake. Nothing was movie. The wind blow slowly. The town was in slo-mo, one of the first experience I’ve experience in France.

The train stop in the middle of no where with no electrify, a 18 cars train turned into a 9 cars train. Half of the people were scrambling to find empty seats.

Learning: bring snacks and water, keep yourself hydrate in the summer heat, in the train that turn off electricity, you never know when there’s no electricity on the train.

To pay or not to pay the ticket (Cinque Terre, Italy)

Ahm…the trickest train ticket ever. When in Rome, do what the Romans do. When in Italy, do what the Italians do (ahhhhh, you didn’t hear anything of this from me).

I’ve been fortunate to visit the colorful picturesque fisher man town on the Lingueria coastline twice. The first time on my 30th birthday and the second time with my French boyfriend on a roadtrip from France to Italy (that would be another story to tell one day).

I was being a bit cheeky (as if that’s the best word I can find to describe).

Learning: a 50/50 chance they’ll catch you because you are an obvious foreigner and doesn’t speak the language OR they don’t mind you because they cannot comunicate with you, and can’t bear the embarrassment of talking to you.

The train Undenniable late by 120 mins.

The train Undenniable 120 mins. train light incident, delay for 120 then 90 then 100, they’re not going to go over 120mins for sure, rushing the 120 mins deadline.. give water. (Colmar-Perpignan) forgot what I change train.

Wasn't able to catch the train, a free overnight stay and some light snacks (Annecy-Lyon)

I was on a bus fro Annecy to Lyon. The last train from Lyon to Paris has departed. The staff waited for everyone with a free ticket of choice to return to Paris the next day, with a free snack box, a bottle of water, and a room next by Lyon train station.

The train of the plane is faster (London-Paris)

The Eurostar or the plane. A race from London to Paris. The Eurostar stopped 10 mins outside of St Pancras for almost an hour because of no electrify in the Channel Tunnel.

How scary is that! (London-Paris)

Learning: Again, bring snacks and water, a fan, and a book…never know about this train electricity thing.

Didnt miss the checking time in Eurostar

But they don’t allow me to board. How I crapped about the Paris metro in which I was having a falafel at the Marais got me a free ticket back to London. (Paris- London).

Learning: put up a tandem, tandem helps in France. It’s the French. They go on strike, they complain, they always have an opinion. Speak like them, and you’ll get something :) Kids who cry gets candies.