European Rail Travel - The Man in Seat 61

Hi All

I'm a regular reader on flyertalk, I'm planning a european adventure this Summer by train, hopefully going LONDON - PARIS - BARCELONA - MADRID - PARIS - LONDON in 3 weeks.

I've found this website - http://www.seat61.com its a pretty great resource for anyone wanting to travel in europe (or anywhere else) by train.

Apparently its run by the ex-station manager of Charring Cross, anyway, thought people might like to take a look! Its been of great help to me!

Cheers

Thanks MKDR25, I too am planning a 2 week train trip Austria-Switzerland.
They recommend a map on that website that I just ordered. It shows all the routes in Europe. Very helpful.

I found the following website to be of great help. The website provide great information on Eurostar and various destination, the website also provide information on best and latest deals available to book ticket. Hope it helps.
http://www.londonparisbytrain.com

I've had some wonderful hours reading the trip reports quoted or linked to on Seat 61 - my favorite being the Brit who somehow found a way into North Korea, from Russia, by rail! Trans-Siberian Railway sounds very cool too...

I've had some wonderful hours reading the trip reports quoted or linked to on Seat 61 - my favorite being the Brit who somehow found a way into North Korea, from Russia, by rail! Trans-Siberian Railway sounds very cool too...

North Korea now accepts tourists. There's a travel agency in Beijing that can make all the arrangements, although it's expensive for poor service. As I read the agency's website, Americans have to travel in an organized group, but Europeans can organize individual tours, albeit in all cases constantly accompanied by a North Korean "minder." Generally the trips involve air transport from Beijing and train back to Beijing, but departures via Vladivostok can also be arranged. I'm tempted.

Explore, an agency with UK, US and other offices, offers group arrangements to North Korea.

Interesting for FFers, perhaps, is the land only arrangement from Beijing. This used to be one way by train, the other by air but now seems to be rail both ways because of increased air fares.KO27APR10 ONWARDS: Please note it has come to our attention that the brochure and web text for this tour did not match that on the dossier which is the correct version. Due to extremely high priced air tickets we take the overnight train from Beijing to Pyongyang on day 2 rather than flying. The rest of the itinerary remains unchanged.

http://www.explore.co.uk/holidays/Tour%20Detail?ItineraryId=1236
http://www.explore.co.uk/holidays/TourDetailDossier?ItineraryId=1236

I've no idea how competitive this offer is, but could get to PEK on miles.

North Korea now accepts tourists. There's a travel agency in Beijing that can make all the arrangements, although it's expensive for poor service. As I read the agency's website, Americans have to travel in an organized group, but Europeans can organize individual tours, albeit in all cases constantly accompanied by a North Korean "minder." Generally the trips involve air transport from Beijing and train back to Beijing, but departures via Vladivostok can also be arranged. I'm tempted.

I'm not doing the guy's trip report justice. He was somehow without a minder for many hours, taking photographs wherever he felt like it, etc. Apparently multiple people got in Big Trouble for letting him in.

I can't imagine supporting such a regime with my travel money, or even with my presence as "a traveler who wants to see our country," but if I were to do it at all, I'd have done it like that guy did. At one point he commented that his train was about 30 miles from the largest concentration camp for political prisoners in NK - now that's at least seeing the country as it is, rather than being shepherded around and asked to lay endless bouquets of flowers on the graves of dictators.

I think he was Austrian railway worker. Amazing trip report.

I've used the web site to get a glimpse into future train travel I was considering.

I must say the web site is fairly accurate.

I was thoroughly impressed with trains in Malaysia (although its a brand new service) and my most recent travel from Poland to Ukraine and a train within Ukraine.

--Russ

I can't imagine supporting such a regime with my travel money

Which is why I refuse to visit PRC

I've used the web site to get a glimpse into future train travel I was considering.

I must say the web site is fairly accurate.

I was thoroughly impressed with trains in Malaysia (although its a brand new service) and my most recent travel from Poland to Ukraine and a train within Ukraine.

--Russ

Yes, it's a great site. Have used it a bunch whether planning to use rail to travel in the UK, Italy, Croatia or trans-siberian.