Month: September 2026

I mentioned yesterday that our train reservation from Dortmund had an issue because we were notified that the train was no longer stopping in Dortmund! We had tried unsuccessfully to change it over the phone and online for a multitude of reasons, so it was with quite a sense of trepidation and a little hope from the internet recommending to pick the train up at an earlier stop that we arrived into Amsterdam. It took a while to find the international desk but when we did there was a lady sitting on a stool behind a lectern type table and when we explained our predicament, she simply smiled, picked up a pen and then wrote that the train had changed and it wasn’t our fault and that we now begin our reservation from Amsterdam. What joy! The major worry just disappeared and we set about grabbing some food with the 70 mins or so we had to spare.

Amsterdam central was bustling and we didn’t have long so we marched across the platz to the new street and found La Madonna – An authentic Italian restaurant. However authentic it was or wasn’t, they had a loo and quick service. The food was actually great and fresh so we achieved the objective and watched outside where a street photographer was doing portraits and selling prints posted back to your house.

The nightjet was wonderful. We got on board at 17:50 and found our cabin right at the end of the huge train. It was huge in all proportions. We had seat 61 and 62 iykyk and were amazed at how clean and new it was. A bunk each, slippers, snacks, mood lighting, aircon and a toilet/shower room. Just brilliant. We were asleep by 21:00 but awoke at midnight as we arrived at Kassel where we would have been getting on if we had taken the OBB train service advice. So glad we followed the herd on Facebook.

The bed as comfortable as it seemed was not in fact comfortable all night. Jenni and I both woke up for several hours and in the morning it was sore enough that I could hardly turn over. That all loosened off as soon as we got up though. So we had the breakfast we had ordered the night before delivered to the cabin and zoomed through Munich, Salzburg and then eventually arrived at Vienna Hbf.

We managed to check in straight from the train into Mooons hotel which we would recommend to anyone. So friendly, so comfy and amazing city views if you book the city view room type.

We have been quite apprehensive about this trip. We feel older and we remember talking to people about inter-railing as a simple, carefree jaunt. You jump on a train to there, stay as long as you want and then pootle off to the next place. Inter-railing in 2026 is not like this as far as we can work out. With the app, the journey planning, the hotel bookings to match and the seat reservations, it seems much more rigid nowadays.

Nonetheless we have a good trip planned and even though we have an early hiccup (supposed to pick up our first night train in Dortmund, but now the train isn’t stopping there) we are going to make some magical memories.

And we are off! We began our journey at an unholy hour from Whitchurch towards Waterloo. The benefits of a first class inter-rail ticket mean it is quiet and comfy although in England the difference between first and standard is negligible. Our train arrived in good time so we mooched straight over to St Pancras on the Bakerloo and Victoria lines. St Pancras was wild, as always and we checked in without realising that after this point if you want coffee and tea you will be doing that at Pret! Would be better to arrange something else before you submit your ticket in my opinion.

The Eurostar was a breeze, the train left on time and we whisked our way through Southern England and under the channel tunnel to a breakfast of pastries, yoghurt, coffee and orange juice. Quite civilised all round. That took us to Brussels-Midi and we probably should have had something more sensible to eat but it is Belgium so we had a waffle with chocolate sauce. It was delightful actually but my head was telling me it was going to need something else to avoid the sugar rollercoaster headache it was circling around.

The connection in Brussels to Amsterdam on the Eurocity Direct was the new piece of itinerary because of the Dortmund hiccup. This was exceptionally smooth and I write this on that train about 40 mins until we arrive. The next piece is the most potentially stressful because we have to pick up the train we would have been on at the beginning of its journey and we don’t have a reservation! This is the NightJet to Vienna and is one of the most expensive reservations we have so it needs to work out. Stay tuned for the next update!