Luckily, I’d arrived 90 minutes early for my ride, so I had ample time to figure it out.
The platform for the author’s train to Venice says it’s going to Zurich.
Joey Hadden/Insider
Trembling and holding back tears, I got in line at the information desk to find out what happened. And thankfully, I had done nothing wrong. According to the staff, the train’s cars detach at various stations to go to different locations, unlike my Amtrak trips. When the trains arrived at my platform, I had to board my assigned train car; each had a number, which was on my ticket.
The author’s ticket for an overnight train from Vienna to Venice.
Joey Hadden/Insider
And just like that, my confidence was restored. But the whole experience left me wondering if other travelers might have the same issue — and how I might be able to help. So here’s my advice.
Get to the station early, and don’t fret over multiple trains arriving at your platform
An informative screen for another European train the author took from Berlin to Vienna.
Joey Hadden/Insider
The most important thing you can do to avoid missing a train is arrive early. Even in the US, I always arrive at the station 60-90 minutes before departure just in case something goes wrong.
Once you arrive, take a look at the informative screens and find your train. Like me, you may find that 2-3 trains with different destinations are arriving at your platform at the same time. Don’t panic — just make sure you’re paying attention to the numbers. Once you arrive at the platform, check your ticket and make sure it matches up with the train car number that you board.
If you board the wrong car, an attendant can help
When the trains arrived at my platform in Vienna, I was overwhelmed by the limited amount of time I had to scan each train car before they departed. So I boarded the first car I saw that was branded with the company I was traveling with, OBB Nightjet. Once inside, I showed an attendant my ticket and they led me to the proper car and seat.
Traveling by train in a foreign country can be daunting, and to me, boarding is the most confusing part. But with my tips, I think you can feel more confident and capable in an unknown place.
Source link : https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-sure-you-dont-miss-your-train-europe-2023-8
Author :
Publish date : 2023-08-28 07:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
