Customer Reviews

European Rail Timetable Summer 2009 (European Rail Timetable: The Only Up-To-The-Minute Guide to)

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In additon to the obvious ways you would expect this book to be helpful, in that not only does it give you all the train times, but you can see where you will have to change trains, time allotted between train changes and how many times you will have to change trains to go from one destination to another. Also, it gives you all the symbols you will need to know to stay on the right course. For example, the train schedule shown in the train stations might show a very tiny symbol at the very bottom of the poster that looks like crossed hammers. Unless you look and read everything very carefully, you might not notice that this means the train does not run on Sundays or holidays.

It shows all the signs you will see in the train stations of Europe and tells what they mean. Some, of course, are obvious--but for example, there are two that show a suitcase. But, on careful examination, one shows a suticase w/ a key. So, one is for a luggage locker and one is for checked luggage. It also gives the time differences in Europe. They have different time zones as we do in the states. Also, it gives the differences between kilometers and miles

In addition, it gives scenic rail routes, how to get from all major and many minor cities' airports to city centers. And it goes on and on: currency conversion rates, climates, any kind of train info you would want, fabulous maps of each country plus a large one for international travel within Europe, major holidays for each country which is good to know because that means everything except for food places and some museums are closed those days. I really don't have time to write more, but this is a very worthwhile book if you plan to do any large amount of train travel in Europe.

I've been reading the European Timetable for decades, and it's truly a timesaver and great as a trip planner. When I used to travel extensively with a Eurailpass, I always carried it with me and could change my schedule quickly if needed. Nothing else comes close to its completeness and ease of reading.

Other than our passports for getting in and out of Europe, this was the single most important "document" during our trip. This book is worth its weight in gold when you are a first time European traveler. I never missed a train, always found what I needed and routed my travel just right using this timetable. A MUST have.

This classic of railroad timetables has been around for a very long time as has its publisher, Thomas Cook.

The serious rail traveler in Europe will find it full of everything he or she needs to know and railfans everywhere will enjoy just looking through it and fantasizing about their ideal journey.

Some critics have called it incomprehensible. You do have to learn how to read a basic train schedule and pay attention to the many notes and symbols. It doesn't take long and once you've mastered them you'll be " on your way!"

It is just what I wanted for my daughter so she can get familiar with the train system before she goes to Europe.

This book is incomprehensible. Unless you are trained to do so you will not be able to figure out what train goes where or when.