Unless you live in a major urban center with commuter rail lines or in one of the few cities served by Amtrak, train travel can be as remote as a camel caravan crossing the desert. Not so in Europe, where railroads are still a major form of public transportation and are often the preferred way to get where you want to be.

One of the best rail systems in the world is in Switzerland and it's worth a trip there just to ride the trains. Swiss Rail not only gets people around, but it holds the country together and provides visitors with some of the most spectacular scenic views anywhere on earth.

Located in central Europe, Switzerland has borders with Germany, France and Italy and there are areas within the country where German, French and Italian are the local language. But don't be concerned; most Swiss also speak English.

Because of the Alps Mountains, many parts of Switzerland were once largely cut off from others. When railroad technology came along in the mid-19th century, it became possible to connect everyone and create a single viable nation from a collection of smaller states (cantons). It is not unlike the way railroads opened the Western U.S. for settlement about the same time. While Americans have largely traded trains for cars and trucks, the Swiss have stayed with rail transportation and have incorporated the most modern advances in technology. Swiss trains and the rail lines they run on are quite simply the world's best.

Switzerland's Swiss Rail is a major player when it comes to transportation around the country. (Photo Credit Switzerland Tourism)
Since it's a relatively small country you can get from most distant points to your chosen destination in 3 to 4 hours. The schedules are designed to permit easy connections, but train changes are often unnecessary. There is a rail schedule book published annually that provides information on every train in the country, but even better is the computer printout you can get for free from any ticket agent. Simply tell him where you want to go and when you want to leave and return, and he'll give you a printout that tells you the best trains, the connections if necessary and your arrival time.

Return trip information is also provided. At each station there is a posted schedule of all arriving trains with the time and track number. Swiss trains are almost always on time. U.S. tourists can secure a Swiss Pass (ticket) through Rail Europe. The passes are for 8, 15 and 30 days and for first and second class accommodations. The advantage of first class is bigger seats and more leg room (like the airlines), but second class is quite comfortable and it's the way most Swiss ride.

The trains are very clean (even the windows), and rail workers regularly remove trash from the little trash bins near every seat. There are fold-down tables for eating or reading a map or newspaper.

There is also a food and beverage cart that passes back and forth through the length of the train serving sandwiches, snacks and beverages and many travelers bring their own sandwiches and pastries readily available from bakeries at or near train stations.

Your Swiss Pass enables you to ride on trains, busses, lake boats and funiculars (inclines) throughout Switzerland and the northern-most part of Italy. In addition to regular train service, the Swiss operate a number of special excursion trains (largely for tourists) that pass through some of the highest and most spectacular mountains. These are the Alps you've seen in travel films and they are fantastic. There are also many lakes and waterfalls to complete the scene. Excursion trains are often linked with regularly scheduled trains and buses, making round trips from your hotel or apartment convenient and a manageable day trip.

Using our Swiss Pass, my wife and I took a tour bus from Lugano, Switzerland, along Italy's famous Lake Como. The road is quite narrow, steep and with a blind curve every 100 yards. It was a beautiful scene, but overshadowed by the thrill of the ride. The driver had to blow his horn frequently to warn oncoming traffic of his approach. I've been on amusement park rides that weren't as exciting. The Swiss rail system is an engineering marvel with many high bridges and long tunnels to get you over, under or through the mountains. There are modern highways in Switzerland, and many of the major routes parallel railways. While many Swiss have cars and drive, the trains are still the preferred means to travel from city to city.

In Interlaken, a resort city in central Switzerland, there is a small museum devoted to Swiss trains. Here accurate scale models of various trains in the Swiss Rail system operate in realistic dioramas showing charming mountain villages. It's worth seeing.

The Swiss initially built their railroads for political and economic considerations, but they have created a transportation system that is the envy of nations throughout the world. While you'll want to visit Switzerland for many other reasons (like the food, wine, chocolate, arts, history, and natural beauty) you'll come home remembering the trains. See www.myswtzerland.com and be thrilled.

If you plan to visit Europe, you'll want to contact Rail Europe to get information on rail travel there and discount ticketing for American travelers. Visit them at www.raileurope.com or call toll free 800-382-RAIL (7245).

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