The European family train trek showcased the advantages and drawbacks of modern rail travel - here's how far we still need to progress.
</p><div style="--widget_related_list_trans: 'Related';"><div class="c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-mobile-only"><div class="c-ad__placeholder"><img class="c-ad__placeholder__logo" src="https://static.euronews.com/website/images/logos/logo-euronews-grey-6-180x22.svg" width="180" height="22" alt="" loading="lazy"/><span>ADVERTISEMENT</span></div></div><p>Our Interrail adventure across Europe with small children brought attention to the varying creature comforts of train carriages.

We encountered everything from the luxurious, spacious seats and panoramic windows of the Glacier Express to the scruffy carriages rattling along a branch line.

Thanks to the varied rolling stock, passengers often don’t know what to expect when boarding a train in today’s Europe.

A toddler’s joy on a Swiss train’s playground made me consider how passenger experience has evolved since the 1800s, when train travel began.

What’s changed since the early days of rail travel?

This September marks the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, the first time many passengers traveled by rail.

Initially, third-class passengers didn’t even have roofs over their heads, enduring smoke and the elements.

‘Cattle class’ carriages were phased out by the 1950s, replaced by a two-tier class system. Sleeper cars and diners have also been introduced.

Many historic routes with vintage carriages offer a glimpse into the past, including historic routes.

Heritage train rides, like those on the Great Central Railway, let families experience what train travel used to be like.

Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn, an electric suspension railway, showcases innovative train travel ideas.

ADVERTISEMENT

Modern rail journeys are expected to offer more than past experiences, but the quality can vary greatly.

What can passengers expect inside a modern train carriage?

Our Interrail Easter extravaganza, from the Netherlands to the UK, showed us that train experiences vary.

Some trains required seat reservation fees, like Eurostar and the Swiss Glacier Express, where cleanliness and comfort were good.

Quality and service levels varied from country to country; some trains were rundown, missing scheduled departures, and lacking basic facilities like chargers and WiFi.

Innovations like double-decker trains, family zones, and bike storage have improved passenger comfort.

What can passengers expect from their travel experience in future?

Investment is needed for sleeper cars and improved security, such as lockable racks for luggage.

Train travel needs to be not just convenient but also pleasant to encourage more travelers.