European train travel - part 3

It had to be the very last international train … bit of a delay

If a train system is generally running its trains on time, things can be so easy. I absolutely adored the train ride between Bruxelles-Nord and Luxembourg. It’s about three hours and just so nice and quiet and what a comfortable train. Yes, I know first class might be different, I’ll give you that. I found it super comfortable.

Gare de Luxembourg

From Luxembourg I had to take a train replacement bus to Bettembourg because of construction work on that line. It’s all well sign posted and I was only a little confused because there seemed to be three different bus routes going to Bettembourg. All worked out well though and I was in Bettembourg with time to spare. I even almost made an earlier train. Which could have caused some problems because my ticket is valid only on the trains I put in my itinerary on the interrail app. Changing it is not difficult, but it needs to be done before boarding the train and that’s why I couldn’t.

**Back to say: only the Belgians cared if I had a ticket. Nobody else bothered to check**

So, I ended up on the train I had planned to take anyway. And it was already there so I could just hop on and get situated. The earlier train would not have helped me get home faster anyway, I checked. It is currently 97F/36C. Just too damn hot. It feels like the train AC is having a bit of a problem as well. Not long on this train but now just sweating away.

It’s been so much more relaxed than on the way up, even though I only had three trains (I’m not counting getting to Basel because I know that route by heart) to worry about. Yes, I would probably still have taken a faster route with fewer transfers if it wasn’t for the construction work and unavailable seats. Then again, those trains also get super crowded. This has been nice and quiet with people chatting and helping each other out.

Okay, I do prefer this.

How about train vs. car? As you guys know I don’t own a car. It’s simply not necessary where I live and I’m doing very well without one. I would have had to have rented one and I was pretty much making this trip up as I went along and renting a car during peak holiday season requires planning.

In terms of how long it would have taken me. I checked on google maps. The fastest possible time would have been 7h 30 minutes (and then it goes up to like 10 hours) but the average time is 8h 40 minutes. So, if I’d left my hotel by car at the same time I did to catch my bus, I would have gotten home at around 5 PM - if we’re not factoring in breaks. If we are adding proper breaks and allowing for me not driving into Basel during rush hour, I’d have been home at around 7 PM. As I saw on previous occasions it can also take quite a bit longer if there are accidents. Plus, in this heat. I’d have died on the road. Seriously way too hot.

As things stand right now. I should be walking in my front door at about 9.03 PM.

I’m on my last international train from Strasbourg to Basel. This one is running a bit late. I should still make the connection I wanted in Basel though. It all depends on if we make up any of that delay. And if there are people in my way in Basel. I’m gonna need them to just move move move. I’m also at the very back of the train which is not ideal for Basel, but there you go. They don’t tell you where the front or the back of the train is and where it’s gonna stop or all that relevant information you are given at Swiss train stations.

Anyway, I got a seat with a table which is very nice.

Now, I wanted to say something about languages. On these trains you are kind of lost if you don’t at least understand whatever language is spoken in each country. I didn’t hear any English in any of the loudspeaker announcements. The only exception was at the station in Brussels. But that was it. Not a problem for me but something to be aware of. And on this train from Strasbourg to Basel – a route I know very well, they speak so fast that even I have to pay extra attention.

During my entire trip which had me on trains in six different countries, you can put those countries into two groups. Luxembourg, Belgium and Switzerland with three or more official languages. Germany, France and the Netherlands with one – unless we are including minority languages and overseas territories. While there is more of a geographical language border in Switzerland and Belgium with some bilingual areas, in Luxembourg the difference seems to be more functional. All the signs at the station and on the bus were in French. Also, all the road signs. Something I can’t quite remember but want to look up again. I just know that it’s got nothing to do with geography.

I love hearing Luxembourgish. It’s such a fun language. I can understand about 70% I’d say. Some of it sounds exactly like Swiss German… Oh no! Now I really wanna go back to Luxembourg. It’s beautiful. And so hilly. Great walking too.

Anyway, I have two days of travel left on my Interrail Pass. I always get extra days. It doesn’t cost that much more and sometimes you need those. This means that I will have to find either two day trips or one weekend trip. Yay! I wonder where I’ll go. I wanna go explore somewhere new.

My last train is still delayed and we don’t seem to be making up much time so I’ll have like eight minutes in Basel. Sounds like enough time? Well, there is a French part of the train station, where there are customs officers and everything and it’s not right by the Swiss tracks. Could be a bit tight, but I should manage. Unless I stop at the bookshop that they have – very conveniently – put right by the French tracks.

It’s been a hot day to travel, but all went really well and I’m glad I did it this way. A car would have been convenient on a couple of occasions but overall, I did fine without it.

I feel privileged that I’m able to pretty spontaneously go on a European adventure like this one. I really needed to get away – even if it was just for a short week.

Thank you for following along. Stay cool!