Pure Tourism

Every time I come to Europe and use Eurail I am reminded of why I love travel and how it has transformed my life. When I travel by rail I have a real sense of the journey, not simply speed and arrival. The waiting, the conversations with unstressed passengers, the pre-journey newspaper and cinnamon roll, that's all part of the Eurail experience for me. Watching the countryside change and hearing new accents arrive on board as the hours pass are the joys of the trip. This is civilized, efficient and environmentally conscious travel at its finest.

For Sensible Travellers
I think Americans who are unfamiliar with the glories of Eurail don't fully appreciate the advantages of having trains deposit you in the heart of the city you want to visit, right beside the museums, cafes and gushing fountains you've been waiting to see, rather than 30 miles away in a sterile suburban airport. Add the time, expense and frustration of that airport transfer back into the city and you've often lost any supposed discount the airlines may offer. One factor alone -- having to show up at the airport two hours early and go through the security queues -- gives train travel an overwhelming advantage in my mind.

For journalists
The Eurail staff was a joy to deal with during my recent assignment to Scandinavia. From the station clerks in Copenhagen and Malmo to the conductors in Finland to Rachel Young and the media staff from Holland who assisted me, everyone was helpful, friendly and, dare I say, intelligent. Maybe I had "clueless Yank" written all over me, but all of them seemed to know exactly what I needed and explained it so that a foreigner could execute the task. Not to beat up on airlines, but if the flyboys could figure out how to duplicate the basic level of competence and courtesy of Eurail, we'd all be happier passengers.

Bruce Selcraig, veteran American journalist for The New York Times, Harper's and Smithsonian, among others.