Latest news with #Interrail
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Kick your air travel habit and enjoy train journeys through Europe
Whether you don't want to fly for environmental reasons or you just love trains, many wonderful rail journeys across the length and breadth of Europe are just waiting to be enjoyed. Travelling by train can be a slower, low-carbon alternative to emission-heavy flights which can also be pretty hectic. You just need to be willing and able to plan your train trip ahead. Ideally, you also don't want to be in a hurry, as travelling by rail and road is usually slower than flying and destinations more than 1,000 kilometres away almost always take longer to reach. But making up for any lost time, the journey itself becomes part of your holiday experience. And if you are travelling for business, you can work more effectively on the train than on a plane. Ways to plan Search engine shows the many ways you can travel between two locations, from flights to trains, if you want to put together your rail trip by yourself. Otherwise, head to a specialist rail travel agencies. Either way, you will find numerous options, depending of course on where you set out from. If you start from Germany, four changes in two days will get you to the Algarve in Portugal. Or, if you fancy seeing the Swedish capital Stockholm, it's a simple overnight trip on the sleeper train from Berlin. The cost factor A huge range of options lie open to you - though you may find time and money are key factors in your planning. One inexpensive way to travel cheaply across Europe is Interrail tickets. Prices depend on many factors, including when you book. You can find limited European saver fares offered by the German operator, Deutsche Bahn and reserving early will save you money. "If you book early enough, there are some very interesting fares where you can even travel first class for very little money," says Wolfgang Strasdas, a German travel researcher. But if you who want to travel in comfort on trains, treating yourself to a sleeping cabin on an overnight train means you may pay considerably more for a journey than the equivalent flight. Unfortunately, in general, travelling by train often costs more than flying which Strasdas slams as a scandal "that the environmentally friendly way is more expensive than the option that is harmful to the environment." He would like to see the prices for means of transport reflect the real costs in terms of climate and the environment. "Then we would have the situation as it should be, that travelling by train is always cheaper than flying." The greener way The main argument in favour of rail travel is climate protection. Flying is the most climate-damaging form of transport, says Germany's Federal Environment Agency. Although air travel is virtually essential for many travellers due to the long distances involved, the many trains and buses available are environmentally friendly alternatives within Germany and Europe. Strasdas has researched different ways of travelling from Germany to 22 European destinations, and compared them in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the traveller and the travel time. He looked at alternatives to flights, so primarily train journeys, and found many exciting routes available to more distant countries - for example to Norway, Spain or the Balkans. Some trips featured ferry crossings, local and long-distance buses through cities or across the countryside and, of course, fast, sleeper and regional trains across the continent's railways. Bear in mind that transport links can change, though, so it is always best to check before you go that any connections have not been altered. Time wise, destinations that are only a few hundred kilometres away can often be competitive in terms of travel time when compared with air travel. That is mainly due to the extra time you spend at the airports when checking in and for security checks plus travelling to and from airports. But the longer the distance, the longer the extra journey time by rail compared to flying. Take the Algarve - while you might fly from Germany to Faro, which takes some eight hours if you add airport waiting times, it takes around 36 hours by rail, says Strasdas, a researcher at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, who published a travel guide about on greener travel in Europe. But unsurprisingly, trains and long-distance buses are way ahead of flying from a climate point of view. For a trip from Frankfurt to Faro, the flight produces 60 times more CO2 than the train journey per passenger. IN the longer term, Europe's long-haul sleeper train revival is set for a further boost with the planned roll-out of overnight services connecting over 20 destinations across the continent from a new service launching in 2027. Berlin-based start-up Nox plans to provide rooms onboard for one or two people for "the price of a flight" in an effort to offer an alternative to short-haul air travel. Solve the daily Crossword
Irish Independent
24-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Tanya Sweeney: Kirstie Allsopp's tirade on working from home may be out of touch, but she's not all wrong
The 'Location, Location, Location' presenter claimed hybrid working is suited to 'middle class, middle-aged, middle management' Today at 00:30 Kirstie Allsopp has never been afraid to kickstart pertinent conversations with her forthright opinions. Back in 2022, she told the Sunday Times that more young people could afford to buy a home if they made more financial sacrifices ('I used to walk to work with a sandwich,' she said at the time). Last August, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she had allowed her 15-year-old son to Interrail across Europe without adult supervision. 'He's a very sensible young man, he's never been in trouble at school, so when he said he wanted to do this I thought: 'Right, OK, good on you.',' she said at the time.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I saved £300 with little-known train perk that many people don't know about'
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry explains how interrailing can be a cheap way to see Europe – if you know some savvy hacks The European rail networks are brilliant, connecting countries and making it easy to get around the continent. If you've never thought about travelling by train for a holiday (probably put off by your experiences in the UK!) then think again. Rail travel can be one of the most cost-effective ways to see a lot of Europe even in a short space of time. You just need to know a few tips to get started! What is interrailing? The rail networks in Europe offer a pass-type ticket that covers all trains, across all countries (check the website for limitations or restrictions). This means you can travel all around Europe on a single rail ticket, which is much, much cheaper than UK rail travel! Many people go Interrailing because it is a fantastic way to see lots of countries in a short space of time. You can even upgrade for special trains, like the panoramic Glacier Express, to take in amazing landscapes. You can buy tickets for a number of days or weeks. Choose from a continuous pass, which starts from the first date you use it, or a flexi pass, which counts only the dates you travel. Travel off season Travel in winter, spring, and autumn to avoid the highest prices overall. However, while tickets might be cheaper in these seasons, make sure you check accommodation too – some areas will have different peak seasons! That is, the mountainous regions which offer brilliant skiing during colder months, will have a higher demand for accommodation. This pushes up prices – so make sure you do the maths well in advance to check if it will be cheaper for your planned trip. Wait for an interrail sale While Interrail tickets offer amazing value for money at full price, there are frequent deals and sales that can significantly reduce the price. Planning your trip several months in advance will mean you can pick up a discounted ticket when one of these sales rolls around. Top tip: often, the sale means a first class ticket isn't much more than a standard, but gives you access to much better cabins and seat options. Book seat reservations off-peak You don't need a seat reservation for every train. You will need them for the high-speed trains and also if you're on a nightsleeper or overnight train. Make sure you plan these particular trips and book in advance to take advantage of cheaper reservation fees. Maximise night trains When you're travelling on a train overnight, that's a night's accommodation you've saved on! Not all trains offer night services, but they can be useful for the longer parts of your trip – especially if you're not bothered about missing some of the scenery. For example, you might have gone one way during the daytime and been able to see amazing landscapes, but then don't want to see the same on the return leg to your next journey. Check if your interrail ticket covers UK travel This doesn't apply to all trains, but some UK trains will be covered by the Interrail ticket. This can save you a lot of cash getting to and from your initial European destination – even if you are going by air to begin or return from your trip. For example, one of the MoneyMagpie team recently took an Interrail trip and found that their LNER train to and from Kings Cross and York came under the Interrail ticket. This saved them about £300 in UK rail travel – which was almost the entire cost of their first class, two-week Interrail ticket! Research the route well in advance to see if you can take advantage of these opportunities and save a lot of money getting to and from Europe to start and finish your trip. Travel light While there aren't luggage restrictions on trains in the same way as flights, travelling light will save you money when it comes to getting taxis (you won't need a large one), or being able to hop on a flight for your journey home without luggage fees. Travelling light also means you won't need to pay expensive luggage storage fees if you decide to hop off the train for a day's wander around a new city or area. Having a large wheeled suitcase isn't ideal for going around tourist areas, hiking trails, or monuments, so you'd need to store it at a luggage locker. Doing this several times across a couple of weeks quickly racks up the price. Assume you'll need to carry your bag everywhere, all the time. Include a small handbag or foldable backpack for day trips when you've got a couple of days in a hotel between rail trips, too. Download TooGoodToGo This brilliant food waste prevention app is available in so many places across Europe, and it's a great way to pick up food from shops and restaurants that they can't sell but is still good to eat. Book accommodation with cooking facilities – many people opt for hostels, as they are cheapest – or take some basic equipment with you. A travel kettle, foldable bowl, and cutlery will ensure you can make a wide range of things on the go like noodles and porridge, or even instant meals like Huel or cup-a-pasta type sachets.
Metro
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Metro
Santa's village in the Arctic Circle is hotter than the UK today
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If anyone needs a clear example of the existence of climate change, this is it. The town of Rovaniemi in Finland, located within the Arctic Circle, is currently experiencing a heatwave. Finns are flocking to the beach to soak up the sun as temperatures have reached highs of 31°C in the Arctic Circle – very different to its usual status as a festive wonderland. Santa's elves and reindeers will be sweating in Father Christmas's workshop, as the town's Santa Claus Village showed the temperature on a digital display. While the weather will of course be warmer in mid-July compared to the Christmas period, normally northern Finland only reaches up to about 20°C in the summer months. Locals certainly weren't expecting the warm weather, with Rovaniemi resident Toivo Koivu saying:It's pretty good. I like it. It's hot. I don't think it's this hot too often here. 'I was on vacation for a few weeks going down through Europe with Interrail with a few of my buddies and it was very hot and we thought that when we would come back to Finland it would be cooler like normally, but no, it's actually the same weather as down south.' Thermostats hitting 30°C is pretty rare within the Arctic Circle, but the phenomenon is becoming increasingly common. According to a study published in the journal Nature, last summer was exceptionally warm in northern Scandinavia and Finland, breaking the June to August record set in 1937. Finland as a whole is experiencing a heatwave at the moment, with its hottest temperature of the summer so far recorded on Monday at 32.4°C. The country's meteorological office warned the heatwave is expected to continue throughout the rest of the week, although southern areas were drenched by a strong thunderstorm and heavy rain earlier this week. Heatwaves are triggered in Finland when daily average temperatures reach 20°C or the country experiences highs of 27°C. More Trending The bulk of the country, aside from a handful of southern regions, is under a yellow heatwave or wildfire warning, with a few coastal regions facing yellow warnings for high winds. While the UK isn't currently in a heatwave, we have seen three heatwaves practically back-to-back, and generally speaking we see warmer temperatures than Finland as we're closer to the equator. Today, however, The Met Office reckons London is the hottest part of the UK, reaching around 25°C, with the rest of the country in the low 20s. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now? Latest advice after volcano erupts MORE: How to make a drought-resistant garden because hosepipe bans aren't going anywhere MORE: Pupils hold 'wearing shorts matters' protest in sweltering heatwave
Metro
08-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Fact check: Could a new European sleeper train be as cheap as a budget flight?
Interrailing is nothing new. Each year, around 600,000 people purchase Interrail passes, a golden ticket that allows you to explore 33 countries across Europe. At the same time, sustainable tourism is on the rise. A 2024 report found that 76% of travellers are actively seeking environmentally-friendly travel options and accommodations. It's no secret that trains are generally considered more sustainable than planes. But research from Greenpeace reveals that taking the train on a European getaway will cost you four times as much as a flight. That could soon change thanks to Nox, a Berlin-based start-up that plans to launch sleeper trains connecting various European cities — for the same price as a plane ticket. The idea is that travellers board in the evening and sleep before arriving at their destination the next morning, and not in couchettes. The cabins will be private, for one or two people. Essentially, we're talking about a radical new sleeper train. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Founded by Janek Smalla, FlixTrain launcher and Bolt General Manager for Germany, and Thibault Constant, the face behind the viral Simply Railway social media account, Nox vows to offer prices comparable to those charged by short-haul airlines. As with low-cost airlines, dynamic pricing will apply and fares will rise when demand is high. But in standard money terms, single cabins are set to cost €79 (£67) and doubles €149 (£127). If that all sounds too good to be true, let's take a deeper look at the proposed concept, which is set to launch in 2027. The price of a ticket all depends on the cabin size. As per the Nox website, a Single Loft room will cost €79 (£67), while a double is a little more at €149 (£127). The single cabin consists of an extra-wide upper bed, reachable by a ladder, with a seat and table below. The double follows the same layout, with a larger bed and space for two at the table. Passengers sleep vertically in the direction of travel. For travellers that don't want to miss a thing, something special will be available in the form of Double Vista rooms. These have low-floor and chest-height beds, which convert into two comfy seats. Travellers will sleep parallel to the travel direction, providing views of whichever European landscape you're passing through. These rooms are also priced at €149. Nox is preparing to launch in 2027, so you can't buy tickets just yet. However, you can join the Early Bird Club and be the first to know when bookings open. Nox has ambitious plan to connect over 100 European cities by 2035. Starting with a single line in 2027, they'll then work to expand the network. Looking at the website, which includes a blueprint for the many potential routes, passengers could end up travelling by train from Toulouse to Oslo, or Rome to Amsterdam, to name a few. Metro spoke to Christian Petzold, Marketing Director at BCN Travel, to get his take on Nox's plans. At a glance, he says the idea of connecting over 100 cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Warsaw, and Budapest by 2035 is incredibly ambitious, but also 'aligned with increasing consumer demand for greener alternatives to flying.' Night trains allow you to combine travel and accommodation into one low-emission journey. If Nox can launch routes as soon as they plan, Petzold says it could 'significantly disrupt the short-haul aviation market in Europe.' Especially for routes under 1,200 kilometres, where rail is already time-competitive. 'What sets Nox apart is its emphasis on private, hotel-like sleeping quarters at budget-friendly rates,' he adds. The proposed room categories are a huge shift from current sleeper train models, which see passengers crammed into narrow, shared compartments. Petzold explains that comfort at a low price point could attract not just backpackers or eco-travellers, butprofessionals and families who currently default to Ryanair or EasyJet. 'The fact that Nox is building the cabins with higher occupancy efficiency and standardising design to optimise costs also shows a business model closer to low-cost airlines than legacy train operators,' he notes. As for potential hurdles, Petzold says it will all come down to how well the business coordinates with national operators like Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, and ÖBB, who often prioritise their own routes. But the general consensus? It's good. More Trending Petzold notes that European railways have always lagged behind in adapting to consumer trends the way low-cost airlines have. But, he says that Nox's vision could be a major disruptor. As it stands, public and political pressure is mounting on the EU to reduce carbon emissions and support train travel. Petzold points to initiatives like Germany's €49 (£42) monthly transit pass and France's ban on short domestic flights where train routes exist. He says that Nox should scale routes gradually, beginning with core high-traffic city pairs like Paris to Barcelona or Berlin to Amsterdam, before expanding to their dream of 100+ cities. MORE: Europe's 'chocolate capital' is only a £33 bus ride from the UK MORE: Ryanair calls for 'urgent' reform as French air strikes stretch to four days MORE: Pamplona has so much to offer tourists – beyond the controversial Running of the Bulls
