Could you bring your own bottle of wine to drink on a train?

I'm not sure where you will be traveling, but I have done this on a journey from Germany to Paris.

Unless the lunatics have taken over a country's train system, most certainly.

Most of my youth was spent avoiding British Rail's disgraceful prices for beer in the UK by bringing my own, and in sharing my - and fellow passengers' - local plonk on the continent.

Some UK trains ban booze totally, if loads of football supporters are likely to be on board - but this is well publicised in advance, and applies to designated trains only.

Otherwise, on my line, most people pop into the conveniently-located Sainsbury at the station and buy a bottle of something drinkable for the journey. All London's main stations now have a Sainsbury, Tesco or M+S, with good-to-excellent wine at, by UK standards, excelent prices. And most of Europe offers something similar.

If the bourgeoisification of Europe's trains ever gets to a stage where booze is banned (it's bad enough their having those ridiculous burgers and airline meals), we may as well all emigrate to the US. If they'll have a bunch of drunks like most of us Euroids.

Now, no doubt, someone's going to post that in some po-faced part of Europe, the rot's set in already and only mineral water's allowed.

Drink? Of course -- bring your lunch, some wine, cheese, bread, salami, olives, etc, etc, etc. Don't forget the corkscrew.

Budman when I saw the title I knew you'd be here!!!

Based on my experience in Italy last New Year's eve, a couple of large cold Peroni's went great with the lunch we brought on board. I saw other folks opening bottles and doing the same.

Didn't have any problems with anyone on the TGV either - brought my own lunch, wine etc...

Hope these two country reports work for you!

Wherever you go, don't forget the bottle opener, and enjoy your trip!

I have drank on various trains all over Europe and it's never been a issue. Booze is available everywhere you turn or bring your own. Some train cars have been turned into discos, but that's another story. Have fun!!

As said above, bring all the food and drink you want...I do it all the time...it really is an expected activity throughout Europe.

OK here's a silly question, but it's been 2 years since I've been there. Do they still allow knives on the trains? We used to bring our stuff on the train to make sandwiches and whatever, then bust out an Opinel knife to slice meats and fruits.

Yes, knives and virtually everything else is allowed on trains if the objects are allowed in the country.

Be careful of booze on a long rail trip--train lag is exacerbated by alcohol.

If you bring your own booze, then do you still have to tip the conductor?

Yes, just like you tip the pilot.

When I tipped the conductor, he got right back up again quite easily. No fun at all.