Mark Smith: If you don't remember any other European train resource, remember the Germany Railways all-Europe timetable, http://bahn.hafas.de (English language button upper right). It will give you train times for almost any journey in Europe, and even allow cheap fares to be booked online for journeys within Germany.

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La Quinta, CA: I will be in Paris in September, traveling with my daughter. We are thinking about taking the train to Brussels for a day trip - could you advise on the difference between first and second class? Thank you!

Mark Smith: First class means more space, and wider seats with more legroom. On Thalys trains drinks and snacks are included in the first class fares on Mondays-Fridays. But first class is aimed at businesspeople, second class is perfectly adequate for normal travel!

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Bluffton, South Carolina: Can I travel with my electric scooter chair? Do the trains have lifts to load it on and off the train? The scooter weighs 38.5 kg. Thank you

Mark Smith: Most modern western European trains now have wheelchair spaces and there are ramps or lifts to handle these at all main stations. But unfortunately, large motorised scooters are generally too big for trains.

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New York, NY: I am a student who will be studying in London this July. My program ends August 11 and I'm planning on meeting my family in Barcelona on August 14. Is there a train that could take me from London to Barcelona during that 3 day span? I'm definitely working on a student budget but I do have ISIC. Any tips? I'd much rather have a scenic train ride than do budget air...

Mark Smith: There certainly is--Eurostar to Paris in the afternoon from ?59 return, then the excellent trainhotel sleeper train Paris-Barcelona overnight, from 67 euros with a bed for the night in a 4-bed sleeper. My site has the info, at www.seat61.com/Spain.htm.

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Arcadia, CA: We arrive Frankfurt airport morning of July 13 from CA. We will take a through train to Interlaken, Switzerland from the airport. We bought Swiss Transfer tickets which need to be validated once we enter Switzerland. Do we need to exit the train at Basel to get the transfer tickets validated, or can it be done on the train without paying an additional fee? If we get off in Basel we will need to get another train to Interlaken after validation.

Mark Smith: The last time I used a Swiss Transfer Tickets, I entered Switzerland fast asleep on a Paris-Bern sleeper train--so I definitely didn't get off! But just double-check that your agency isn't giving you some sort of voucher to exchange instead of the Swiss Transfer ticket proper.

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Salem, Oregon: When prebooking rail for Europe, does Rail Europe supply you with all train schedules? Trying to make reservations from Venice to Assisi has been a difficult task with only 1 train a day. When actually there, will there be more options to choose from? Is it best to wait and make reservations once you get there? Thanks for any help you can give. Nancy

Mark Smith: There are LOADS of trains! Just use the excellent German Railways timetable for any journey in Europe, at http://bahn.hafas.de (English button at upper right). Within Italy, the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html will give both times and fares, and allow online booking at cheap Italian prices.

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Qualicum Beach BC Canada: We will be flying into Paris next Spring Break and after touring there, want to travel to Barcelona and Nice. We need to take the train to either location as we are flying "Open Jaw" back from one of these places. It is easy to get from Barcelona to Nice? Which would be cheaper--getting the train from Paris to Nice or Paris to Barcelona? Thanks SO much, Sandy

Mark Smith: From Paris to Barcelona you can use the excellent trainhotel, see the photos on my own website at www.seat61.com/Spain.htm under 'London to Barcelona'. You could book at www.voyages-sncf.com, leave 'France' selected and have tickets sent to your hotel in Paris. From Barcelona to Nice, the same website will book it, but only if you break the trip down into Barcelona-Montpellier (there's a direct 'Talgo' train at around 08:00) and a connecting Montpellier-Nice leg. Allow at least half an hour between trains in Montpellier.

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Venice,Florida: In October we will be traveling from London to Paris. We are thinking about taking the Chunnel train but hear it is expensive. What would you suggest?

Mark Smith: Eurostar is both the fastest, most comfortable and convenient way to go, and an experience in itself, so definitely take it..! Fares start at £59 return, or £155 one-way. Yes, you read that right..! Which is why I always buy a £59 return and throw away the return half after using the outward portion. I think that if you tell the site you're from the USA you may be offered sensible one-way fares, but us Brits have to pretend to make a round trip, and everyone in the know does this¿

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St. Petersburg FL: A friend and I will be traveling to Italy in October. We're flying into Florence on October 13, on October 20 we'll go to Rome and then on October 25 to Venice. We fly out of Venice back to Florida on October 27. Is train travel the best way to get from Florence to Rome and from Rome to Venice? I had read that taking an overnight train from Rome to Venice was the way to go but I can't figure out the price. It appears that it would be less expensive to fly.

Mark Smith: Train is the way to go..! You can book Italian trains online at Italian cheap prices at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html. For overnight travel you should select either a sleeper or couchette. 2-bed sleepers come in small and narrow 2nd class 'T2' type or the larger (but still compact) first class double type. A lot cheaper than a flight, plus taxis at each end, plus a hotel!

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los angeles, ca: I am planning a trip to London and Amsterdam in October and have not decided how to go from London (Eastbourne area to Amsterdam). What's the most economical or convenient way to go? Train or air? Thanks.

Mark Smith: The cheapest way is to use the traditional and fun train, ferry, train service, from just ?25 one way from central London to central Amsterdam (see www.seat61.com/Netherlands.htm), then buy a separate Eastbourne-London ticket, check times and fares at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Remember that a train out of central London to Heathrow, Luton or Stansted airports will cost ?12 each way, even before you set foot on a plane!

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Battle Ground, Washington: I'm meeting my son and his family in Paris for a few days, and then we're on to Provence by way of the TGV. I think I've got that wired, but I have a real basic question about the Paris Metro. In fact, I'm sure it sounds stupid - but...Since there will be 6 of us using the Metro quite a bit for a couple of days, if, for instance, I buy a "Carnet" of 10 tickets, can each of the six of us use 6 tickets from the same carnet for the same trip on the same day?

Mark Smith: Yes, no problem.

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Mark Smith: Our time is up! Thanks for all your great questions.