Free Trains???
 

I just heard that Americans can go to Europe and take the trains for free. Has anyone else heard this and if it's true what are the restrictions?

You just heard that, huh?

funny guy

It's true, every bit of it, but unfortunately you don't get a seat. You have to hold on to one of the rails - you'll see the rails on the outside of many of the cars as you approach on the platform. As an added bonus, you may be fortunate enough to get a glimpse of Rick when he pokes his head out.

Cultural note: If it's February and he sees his shadow, you'll have winter for 6 more weeks of your trip.

Scant milliseconds after I posted the 8:12, I thought

"Yes, that's absolutely true. Pick any train in any country, and when the conductor comes around, just wave your passport at him/her, point to yourself, and say 'American.' This also works in restaurants, bars, museums ... anywhere you want to go."

It's true you can take all the trains you want for free in Europe -- or at least all those you can fit into your suitcase.

You've never heard this before? Have you been under a bridge or something?

If you wear the right clothing you won't even need to wave the passport.

Oh Clifton, I had the same thought that you just posted. Or maybe Americans can get a free pass if they just lay on the outside top of the railcars. Rain_Monkey, you are being funny right? If not, where in heavens earth did you see that information?

Actually, many hotels in the UK are free on any night. You just have to pay for them.

Try telling that one to the conductor or ticket collector and let us know how you made out!

LOL LoveItaly, as strange as it sounds, that's exactly the option I've seen as I've been reading about transport in Cambodia, or at least between a few of the towns that have a train. People ride on top of the cars, which are old, generally shot up still and have holes in the floorboards where you can see the ground passing underneath. They run at about 15km per hour. But Americans do ride for free! It's supposedly illegal, so blogs I've been reading say the conductors ignore foriegners so they can claim they never saw them. And so, the ride is free.

Hmm, maybe it wasn't Europe that the OP's sources were talking about.

We've talked about taking that train, but 15 km per hour?.. uhhg...

Hi Clifton, interesting!!! But think I will pass on this free ride, so to speak. But if you try it do give us a trip report alright? Take good care.

Yes, I think people are being cruel.

If you look at rain_monkey's previous postings you'll see he was previously seeking quite basic advice on planning what sounds like a first trip to Europe for him/her and friends.

r_m, can you tell us where you heard this ? Sadly it's not true, but maybe the article meant that you can buy a pass covering unlimited travel for (say) a month ?

I don't think the early posters were intentionally being cruel, but I think they were perhaps incorrectly assuming that this was not a serious question and was being posed by a troll. Unfortunately, if the OP doesn't know the odd game of "find the troll", this is the kind of response that will for sure chase people away.

The OP's other postings are very un-troll-like. I think it's better to look before you leap.

Especially if you're taking that train that Clifton is considering.

Hi RM,

I fear that you have been misinformed.

The only way anyone gets a "free" ride on a train, bus or metro is b not stamping their ticket.

If you are caught doing this, you will be arrested, brought to a police station, have your whole day ruined and fined. You will have to pay the fine in cash.

((I))

I might just do that LI. Would be kind of fun to ride on the roof but I'm getting a little old for that sort of thing. Maybe. Although I think we're just going to find a local bus out of Battambang. Would like to get to the next town same day. :)

Apologies if the OP really was serious. I really can't think of a time I was ever on troll patrol before, but you're right unfortunately, we don't know it's not serious. All of rain monkey's past posts have been straight up.

The backlash coming from AuntIda of all people is a more than a little ironic, but anyway...

Sorry for having a little fun at your expense rain monkey. You've gotten some really bad advice and I couldn't figure out why being American would have anything to do with getting something for free in another country. So, kind of thought you were joking (along the lines of the tipping the pilot thread). Sorry 'bout that if you weren't. See you in the principal's office.

Hey I'll be the first to apologize! I don't read other posts of a person before making a reply... I really did think it was a joke. Sorry.

:-(

I think that responders were not being cruel -- but where is everyone else's sense of humor? Come on now think for a minute. No one said, "what an idiot you are" or even "what a stupid question", although let's realize that it shouldn't take much thinking for anyone whether they've been to Europe or not to realize that it would not be very likely that they let all the foreigners ride trains for free. Of course, when someone asks a question with a pretty illogical tone to it, people are going to have fun with the question -- and that is what happened. The only post I see actually being "cruel to other people" is AuntIda's. There's a big difference between saying things like "funny guy" or "If you wear the right clothing you won't even need to wave the passport" and coming out and saying "what a fool you are for asking such a dumb question".

Can you imagine someone asking if all the planes within the US were free to those from France? I don't think a response like "sure and they'll give you all the free Freedom fries you want for free too" would be called a slam but rather an attempt at humor.

Let's stop being so defensive and so sensitive.

If you tip the pilot in the currency of his home country he can give you a voucher for a free ride.

You probably heard that if you BUY a rail pass or a similar card the rides will be "free" and in some cases unlimited. But what being an American has to do with it?