Scenic Train Ride Between European Cities

[237SJ]

I want to take my Mum somewhere within Europe. She walks with two sticks so dashing around a city somewhere isn`t an option. I was thinking of just flying somewhere, maybe having a night there and then getting a train to another city and flying home. The point of the trip would be for the train ride really so I`m thinking of maybe something snowy/alpine. I would like a longish journey. It has to be by the end of March. Any ideas?

[237SJ]

And it has to be in one or more EHIC countries.

[jno]

Swiss trains are nice - scenic views, reliable service

http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/home.html

[Buenchico]

You'd probably find a copy of the Thomas Cook Rail map of Europe really useful because it highlights scenic routes. The only problem is that it ceased publication (after 140 years) in 2013. However secondhand copies are still available. Some are now selling for really high prices but this one is more reasonable, and it's the edition that I've got myself (and is as up-to-date as I need it to be - they don't build new railways very often!):
http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/55980713/925999325/-/ListingDetails.html?_%24ja=tsid:13315|cat:55980713|prd:55980713&$$ja=cgid:7111946577|tsid:48121|cid:130773537|lid:54120391737|nw:g|crid:22715906817|rnd:2659709011273658771|dvc:c|adp:1o4|mt:

Taking a look at my copy, and concentrating on journeys in snowy areas, I see that the line from Verona to Innsbruck passes through the Dolomites and is marked as 'scenic' throughout.

Looking through your previous posts suggests that you're in the south of England, so Gatwick might be a possible departure point for you. easyJet fly to both Verona and Innsbruck from there (as do BA but their flights to Innsbruck are 'seasonal', although that may well mean the skiing season so they might still be OK for you).

All European rail travel can be planned (in English) on the website of the German national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol=http:&
(Select the station names as 'Verona Porta Nuova' and 'Innsbruck Hbf').
Although the direct trains only take around 3½ hours (which might seem a bit short for your plans) it should be a very pleasant journey, with two lovely cities to explore as well:
http://www.innsbruck.info/en/experience/sightseeing/routes-tours/1-day-in-innsbruck.html
and
http://www.tourism.verona.it/en

It's hard to find other scenic routes that have airports (with services to southern England) close to hand. 3½ hours on the train might be long enough anyway, as one snow-capped mountain tends to look like any other after a while ;-) But, if my suggestion doesn't suit you, I really do recommend getting hold of a copy of the Thomas Cook map.

[Old_Jim]

My favourite trip is Geneva to Milan on the CIS-Alpino train. The airport has its own train station and many of the hotels provide a shuttle to collect you and return you. The train journey takes you around the top of Lake Geneva, through alpine scenery to Brig then through the Simplon tunnel where you emerge high above Lake Maggiore. Breaking your journey at Stresa is worthwhile and there are well appointed boats to take you on scenic trips around the lake. Once in Milan, you change to the FN line from Piazza Cadorna (taxi or there's a direct metro link) out to Malpensa airport for the flight home. If you stop over in Milan, you can see most of the city by tram.

[Buenchico]

I've been examining Old_Jim's suggestion. Milan and Geneva are both served from Gatwick by easyJet and from Heathrow by BA. The direct trains take 4 hours. (Select the station names, on the Deutsche Bahn website, as 'Geneve, Cornavin' and 'Milano Centrale'. The Thomas Cook map marks most of the route as 'scenic' (except the bits at either end). So it's certainly a possibility.

Returning to my own suggestion, here are some relevant pictures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Innsbruck_Hbf_001.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FerroviaDelBrenneroE645aFleres.jpg

and a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uucEm3op7uc

[sunny-dave]

Relying solely on EHIC for health cover abroad is very unwise - you really should have proper insurance too.

[237SJ]

Blimey, there are lots of suggestions. Thanks. I`ll have to investigate. SD - regarding the ECIC - long story!

[DaisyNonna]

What lovely helpful people!

[sunny-dave]

Zurich to Innsbruck is a really beautiful train journey - Innsbruck is a lovely (and accessible) small city too.

[mushroom25]

both Bergen and Oslo are served by air from Gatwick (by Norwegian budget carrier "Norwegian"), and between them is one of THE classic European train rides across southern Norway by Bergensbanen https://www.nsb.no/en/our-destinations/our-regional-railway-lines/bergensbanen?gclid=CKHN5pPj8bwCFWvkwgodFSMAhw

[boxtops]

You need to see if you can catch any of Michael Portillo's train journeys, currently on BBC2 or i-player - that might give you some ideas.

[hjd]

Look at seat61.com
If you want to get anywhere by train - this will tell you!