[ Traveling through Europe by rail has advantages over auto and air travel ]

Rail travel might not have earned a very good reputation in the U.S., but if you can lug your own suitcases, it is certainly the best way to see Europe.

Travel by rail through Europe is reasonable, convenient and generally on time.

Last fall I took a six-city tour through Italy, Austria and Germany with my friend and her daughter, who was studying in Italy.

None of us wanted to rent a car and drive, and flying between six cities would have been prohibitively expensive because the new no-frills airlines don't fly between smaller cities without routing you through their hub, adding time and expense.

Source: dailyherald.com