Train Travel Questions
 

We will be travelling from The Hague to Paris, Paris To Bruge Bruge to Amsterdam via train in April. How early should we arrive at the train station? Are there any other practical or Euro etiquette tips for train travel?
Thanks!

I like being at the train station and waiting at the platform at least 10 minutes before departure. But that's just me.

I hate running for the train with luggage in hand, which I have done many, many times.

Well, I guess I'm a bit anal, but I like to be there about 30 minutes in advance. I, too, have had many Running For Train moments. And it always seems to turn out that I'm booked in Car 20, which is about a mile walk from the quai.

You should be at the platform when the train arrives, which is usually 2-3 minutes before departure - unless the train begins its journey from that particular station, then it may be in 10-20 minutes earlier, and the early bird catches the empty seat. There is no check-in ceremony or anything like that, you hop on and that's it.

Everything else depends on your comfort. Myself, I like to be there some 15 minutes earlier. If you haven't bought your tickets in advance, add time for standing in line and/or struggling with ticket machines.

Remember that it's entirely your own problem to deal with your luggage, carry it up and down stairs, lift it onto the train and onto the luggage racks - pack light if you can.

In Paris, platform numbers are listed only 20 minutes before departure time.

However, if you will be taking the Thalys from Paris to Belgium, it has its own area and uses only 2 possible platforms.