While searching for some information I stumbled upon this RailEurope site. It's a one stop shop of available rail passes, etc. You may do better for pricing by going to the different rail lines but this is a good place to start.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/help/index.htm

Maybe we can create a 'Rail FAQ'...
This is a great explanation of how to use the rail passes.

http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/home.htm

(download the PDF file and read it thoroughly)

www.railsaver.com

A primer on rail passes and using the trains in Europe:

www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm

Nice links . . Thinking about taking the train from Paris to Rome .. will be in Paris at least a week prior to leaving for Rome.

Is there any advantage to buying tickets on this side of the pond vs. picking them up while we are in Paris?

Thanks . . Rich

Well, it might be one of the top ten web resources for learning about Europe rail travel - - though &quot;<i>savvy</i>&quot; travelers (ooohh, that sounds rather sobbish, doesn't it?) - - I would point to a number of others as equally or more valuable.

I would rank:

1. this forum - - best place to ask any &quot;beginner level&quot; question.

2. www.railsaver.com -- for accurate answers on why you would (or more likely, would NOT) benefit from purchasing a &quot;rail pass&quot;.

3. www.railfaneurope.net/links.html - - to link to the website of the rail company of every country in Europe.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thinking about taking the train from Paris to Rome .. will be in Paris at least a week prior to leaving for Rome. Is there any advantage to buying tickets on this side of the pond vs. picking them up while we are in Paris?

From about 26 August to 4 September many Europeans are ending holidays and going home, so for that time you should book sleepers two weeks ahead of travel. Otherwise, the week you have is time enough to make the booking on your first day in Paris, at the travel centre of any large station.

You can use Euraide in Florida, http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e/homepage.htm, telephone 1 941-480-1555 fax 1 941-480-1522 [email protected]). Also you can book through four firms in Britain:

Trainseurope Ltd, of Cambridgeshire and London, take credit card bookings by phone and mail tickets to any address. Have the widest access in Britain to rail systems and tickets. http://www.trainseurope.co.uk/ - E-mail [email protected]. Phone 00 44 900 195 0101 - calls from Britain cost 60 pence or 40 euros a minute, maximum 5, but if the enquiry results in a booking, the cost of the call is deducted from the final invoice. Phone Mon to Fri 10 to 5 British time

German Rail UK: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk/ Phone : 00 44 870 243 53 63 then 6. Fax : 00 44 208 339 4700. E-mail : [email protected]

Ffestiniog Travel, site http://www.festtravel.co.uk, e-mail [email protected], phone 00 44 176 651 2400

Inside France (Canterbury). Phone 0044 1227 450088. 29/30 Palace Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DZ. Booking form on site www.rail-canterbury.co.uk/. Or e-mail [email protected]/. This is the only agency for the slow connection rail, boat, rail from London to Paris or back.

For international tickets, berths and seats Trainseurope are ten percent cheaper than German Rail UK or Ffestiniog Travel. For domestic Italian trains they are cheaper again. German Rail UK are cheaper than Trainseurope or Ffestiniog Travel for domestic trains within Germany and may be competitive with them for international trips with a big proportion of miles in Germany. Trainseurope take Visa and MasterCard, but not Amex or Diners.

RailEurope take a thirty percent markup on standard prices.

Ben Haines

Thank you Mr. Haines. We are currently thinking the trip will be in late October and most of November.

We plan to start the visit in London so I will probably book there. I have never taken the train from London to Paris so will likely do that also.

BA have some really good deals from Houston for that time.

Thanks again . .Hope you are feeling better . . Rich

Rail web sites:

THE NETHERLANDS -
www.ns.nl

BELGIUM -
http://www.b-rail.be/main/index.html

LUXEMBOURG -
http://www.cfl.lu/f/rail/horairesen.htm

Have fun riding the rails. Peace.

Robyn

www.seat61.com

Not so much for complete routing or pricing information, but a traveler's perspective on &quot;how to&quot;. Good ferry info too. Lots of links to related official sites and photos of train cars, couchettes and sleepers. I've learned a lot from this site.

FRANCE:
www.sncf.com

THALYS:
www.thalys.com

SWITZERLAND:
http://www.rail.ch/index_e.htm

ITALY:
http://www.trenitalia.com/home/en/index.htm

SPAIN:
http://www.renfe.com/

Hi Rich,

You can purchase your tickets online from the French railway system at http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/.

The discount fare in 2nd class was 60E pp.

A double 1st cl sleeper is 320E.

www.volareweb.com will fly you from Paris Orly to FCO for about 40E pp.

More official rail sites.

HUNGARY (click on &quot;Elvira&quot:
http://www.mav.hu/

ROMANIA:
http://www.cfr.ro/

Thanks Ira . . that website servers were busy when I tried it but I will keep trying.

I knew the train probably did not make economic sense, but since I have flown it many times but never taken the train, thought I'd give it a go this time. Looks like the train only runs over nite and I was hopeing to do it during the day. . I'll keep looking.

Rich

We have about 6 weeks for the trip and thought we might take the slow routes this time.

Hi Rich,

&gt;Looks like the train only runs over nite and I was hopeing to do it during the day. &lt;

You can, but it is a verrrrryyy looong ride - about 12 hr.

&quot;You can, but it is a verrrrryyy looong ride - about 12 hr&quot; . .

That is what we are thinking we would like . . we have plenty of time.

Thanks for the help . . Rich

Hi JS,

You can get schedules quickly at

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

There is one train leaving at 08:04 from Gare de Lyon that goes over the Alps to Milan by way of Torino with a change of trains in Milan.

The 08:40 goes by way of Geneva and requires changes in Geneva and Milan.

Total travel time is the same.

Enjoy your railroading experience.

I agree with the above poster about the the German rail site. I have used it for planning trips in Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. I have found it to be comprehensive and accurate. It is a great planning tool, to get a sense of how long a trip is, which train is quickest, how frequent the trains run, etc. It does not give pricing for trips outside of Germany though.