The Train

No every country in the world has a train service. I am lucky because my home country has a train service that is provided with a number of different companies. The local train in my area has two cars. So when it is busy many people don't manage to get a seat and end up having to stand. Trains like those are wheelchair friendly so are great for my disabled son. However fast intercity trains also stop at my local station. They can have eight cars with seats and a food car in addition. There are two classes: first class and standard class. When I lived in a home county to London the trains had about twelve cars. Everyone sits in a seat formation of two facing or backing or within four seats together. There are a couple of overnight sleeper services like London to Scotland and London to Cornwall. It is a small country so it is a case of leaving late at night and arriving first thing in the morning. We have trains that travel from London to Paris, Brussels and Disneyland Paris. They go under the sea in a tunnel which takes just twenty minutes. I have traveled on trains in other countries and by train is my favorite way to travel.

I travel with the train every now and then, it depends on how far I'm going and where I'm going. I just travelled from where my friend lives in Finland and to Helsinki with plane to catch the train back home, that's how I usually do it. Travel to another country with plane and then use the train to get around. There used to be first and second class on the trains in Norway, now I think it's called economy and business or comfort pluss or something like that, you get more space, electricity for your laptop, a free paper, coffee etc. I've travelled with 1 class 3 times, every time because it was full on 2 :-) Once in Britain, it was no places left on 2. class so we just occupied a 1 class waggon :-) Once in Sweden, that was brilliant, because 2. class was horribly warm and 1. class was nice and air conditioned! And once in Denmark where I got free breakfast twice because they forgot who had already eaten *he he* I like travelling with train but I get travel sick sometimes so I always try to sit in the direction the train travels.

I generally travel by train here in India. I love traveling by train. Here in India you have both the option of separate compartments which is usually the first class and costs a bit more than the other option where all people travel in one type of car. I think traveling in train is fun because you get to meet so many new people and can really have some fun time. I generally avoid traveling first class as that makes you aloof. Cheers! Ram

I have always wanted to have an Amtrak experience which I had when I was in the US on a package tour. After winding up my package tour I joined my family and friends to spend time with them and that was the time I went by train from San Jose to Oxnard by the Amtrak service along the California coas. It was a straight coastline experience the sea accompanying us through and through.

I come from the Philippines. Here in the city we have 3 light rail train lines that people use to get around. It's a faster way to travel but it gets a bit crowded especially during rush hour. The cars are not separated by compartments or cabins. Just long seats at both sides and lots of space for people to stand. We also have a train going a provincial route. I haven't ridden in that line. They say it only has rows of seats like that of a bus. No cabins either. But I think not a lot of people use it since most prefer to travel to the provinces by bus. Plus, it only goes through a few provinces.