Do I have to get a couchette in order to spend the night on a train? I am a student backing packing through Europe with absolutely no money.

Most backpackers just sleep in their seats - if you're tired enough, you can sleep anywhere.

It depends on the train. Some overnight trains don't have seats, only couchettes and 1st class accommodations.

Hi George: <BR> <BR>What month are you traveling? How many countries are you planning on visiting? How long is your trip? Now that I look back to my trip (only last week) I wish I would have bought point to point tickets instead of the Europass. I still have 3 days left on it, and it was not good on the French train - Thayls. I still had to buy a ticket. <BR> <BR>On our overnight trip from Berlin to Amsterdam, we paid for a sleeper, however the train was not packed at all, we could have spread out over a couple chairs with armrests up, taken Tylenol PM and slept just as well for a lot less. I say go to Europe and do what ever it takes to get there. Here is a great web site to help you decipher when and where the trains go and if it has a couchette or sleeper. http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/db.s98/query.exe/en <BR> <BR>Warning, cochettes are okay, but you can not sit up in them, not enough room. Also, I have a copy of the timetable that I got with my europass. I would be happy to mail it to you if you give me your address. Happy Travels.

It's been a long time since I slept on trains, but a word of advice, make sure the rail car you're in is going to your destination, the destination will be posted on a placard in the window of the coach. Trains are broken up enroute for various destinations, if you're a sound sleeper you could sleep through it.