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Train trips

10.03.2008 · Posted in Home and Garden Articles

I remember how I used to wait to journey by train when I was a small child! We do become jaded in our ideas as we grow older, but in truth, there is no other mode of transport that gives so much satisfaction and joy as a train! Trains have existed since time immemorial and are the best ways to take an individual from one destination to another. It is indeed the best way to view the countryside! Since trains are willing to take you anywhere and everywhere, they can be used to take a look at the whole country in one go, with a long one-off trip; or one can indulge in hopping on and hopping off whenever the mood prevails to take a closer look at particular sites in cities or places.nnNow, going on a train journey does not signify just hopping onto any or every train. Some sort of planning is required beforehand. Also, trains do not run so frequently in all places in the world. African countries have trains that run only weekly, but they are more frequent in the Western countries. Again, in countries like Africa, there is a sole starting point to get in and alight from. So, depending on which country you wish to travel in, conduct some research beforehand. Take a look at local guides which prove to be quite comprehensive where dates, places of departure and timings of trains are concerned. Or browse the Internet for train timetables.nnMost train journeys advise the passenger to purchase tickets before getting into any train; it is really not advisable to travel without tickets. A passenger would have to pay a high fine for traveling ticketless! In a place like India, it is possible sometimes to disappear without paying for a ticket if you sit on the roof of the train! They too pay heavily if they are caught. Again, a person with a ticket for a second-class carriage cannot take a ride in a first-class carriage; this act is also liable to be fined.nnTrain trips can be incredibly cheap, particularly in developing countries. With the exception of the US and some parts of Europe, first-class accommodation is normally quite affordable and exponentially more pleasant than travelling in second-class. There is now a proliferation of discounted tickets available either online or at stations. Age, time and day of the week, advance purchase and duration of journey – all have bearing on the price of the train trips. Tickets that allow you to “rove” around the country are usually very good value for money, but finding the best buys is not always easy and it is recommended that you seek out travel agents that specialize in train trips first.nnOn long train trips, find out in advance if food and drink are available. On board catering should be available on the timetable, and sometimes there is a dining car on board the train. If none are available, don’t overlook the possibilities of station restaurants, though if you are travelling in a developing country, exercise caution with both the food and drink at all times. There is nothing quite as bad as being ill on a moving train over a long journey.nnPeople tend to make their train journeys unpleasant by lugging too much of luggage with them. They believe that porters being there to help with the luggage, it is quite alright. What they forget is that the journey itself can become unpleasant if one has to sit, surrounded with loads of luggage. It is universally believed that one should travel light. What is absolutely necessary is to be carried, bearing the climatic conditions and the duration of the journey in mind.nnSince most countries offer a well-developed railway network, a traveler need not stick to only those routes which he/she has traveled often. He/She can explore other areas too, and make his/her life more exciting!

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