This page summarizes the conditions inside the train, buffet food reports, and how to buy tickets, with a focus on reports on the European Railway (limited express train) trains you have ridden.
Depending on the country or the railway company, there are various in-car services of European railways, but in each country the first-class car has 3 seats of 1+2, and depending on the route, there are light meals, so it is a good place to enjoy a luxurious trip! However, in recent years, there seem to be many railway companies whose services are on the decline, and the superiority of first-class cars is often limited to seating.
Index
RJ (Austria)
RJ (rail jet) is an international limited express train that is operated by the Austrian Federal Railway ÖBB (Part of Czech Railway). It is based in Vienna, Austria, and can travel up to 275 km/h. In recent years, the service area has been gradually expanding, and you can go to Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary, Zurich in Switzerland, and so on.
In addition to the second-class and first-class seats, RJ also has a business class setting that is higher than first-class cars. However, there were no light meals, only welcome drinks, and most of the seats were spacious.
How to buy tickets
Business Class
First-class car
Second-class car
Dining car (in-train restaurant)
Station lounge
WEST (Austria)
WEST is a limited express train that recently appeared in Austria. It is operated by Westbahn Railways, is cheaper than ÖBB, and is a good value train for hopping on the day. RJ is operated by a different company, so you cannot use RJ tickets, so be careful!
Eurostar (UK, France, etc.)
Eurostar (Eurostar) is an international limited express train that opened in 1994. It is based at St. Pancras Station in London, England, and has been in service since 2018 to Paris in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
There are two types of seats, the second class car with 2+2 arrangement and the first class car with 1+2 arrangement. There are two classes of first class cars, Business Premier and Standard Premier, and the former has VIP treatment such as access to station lounges, but the fare is several times higher than the second class! Standard Premier is relatively cheap and has light meal service, so it’s a good deal!
The maximum speed is 300 km/h. A new type of train (e320) was introduced around 2016.
Departure Inspection and Waiting Room
1st class cars (Standard Premier)
2nd class car (Standard), buffet car
EIP (Poland)
The EIP (Express InterCity Premium) is a limited express train that runs through Poland. With a top speed of 250km/h, it connects the capital Warsaw and other major cities in Poland.
Although it is the latest model, the fare is very cheap. In the case of a train between Warsaw and Krakow, which is 250km away, you can ride a 2nd class car for about 2,300 yen and a 1st class car for about 3,500 yen, although it depends on the season.
Second-class car
First-class car
AVE, ALVIA (Spain)
AVE and ALVIA are limited express trains operated by the Spanish National Railways (Renfe). It connects Spanish cities with the capital of Madrid at the center. In contrast to the express type AVE, ALVIA trains stop at many stations.
Prices are relatively low in Spain, but train fares are quite high. Between Madrid and Barcelona, where business demand is especially high, even a 2nd class car (Turista) may cost close to 10,000 yen depending on the train.
Ticket arrangement
AVE
ALVIA
Station lounge
EC (Germany, etc.)
The European Community (Eurocity) has a network mainly in Central Europe. With the rise of high-speed trains in various countries, this train has a strong role as a “quasi-limited express” with a maximum speed of 200 km/h. As it is used by railway companies in various countries, the types of cars and services vary depending on the section.
First-class car
Buffet Car (Menu, food reports, etc.)
IC and ICE (Germany)
IC (Inter City) is a limited express train operated by DB, Germany’s national railway, and is operated mainly at relatively short distances within Germany. On the other hand, ICE (Inter City Express) is operated over a long distance, traveling to multiple countries, rather than using the IC. It’s a high-speed train with a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour, and it often stops only at major stations.
ICE trains have good performance and are comfortable with little shaking even when driving at high speeds! Also, I recommend Deutsche Bahn’s dining car because of its high level of taste!
ICE
Station Lounge (DB Lounge)
TGV, TER (France)
TGV is an international high-speed railway operated by SNCF, the French National Railways. It has a top speed of 320km/h and travels all over France and surrounding countries.
On the other hand, TER is a rapid train. There are many stops and the speed is slower than TGV, but the train has cross seats that are comparable to limited express trains, and there are also first-class cars.
Ticket arrangement
TGV-Lyria
TER
Station Lounge (SNCF Lounge)
Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia)
Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway covers the world’s longest 9289 km. In addition to the “Russian”, which runs from Vladivostok in the Russian Far East to Moscow over a period of 6 nights and 7 days, there are various trains available, such as the “Ocean”, which you can easily ride from 1 night and 2 days.
It was difficult to get tickets before the Internet became popular, but now you can easily reserve and purchase tickets from the official website. Check out the full post for more details.
…Coming soon
It will be updated as needed in the future! See the “European Railways” category for the latest article.