Hi: Please pardon my ignorance, but is there a recommended check-in time at any of the European train stations, like they do at the airport? Also, will we need to go through immigration when we t
Hi: Please pardon my ignorance, but is there a recommended check-in time at any of the European train stations, like they do at the airport? Also, will we need to go through immigration when we travel between countries on the train or only at the final train station? Thanks.
The Eurozone uses one set of border controls, so you won't go through immigration anywhere except at your arrival airport in Europe. There is no check-in time for trains. If you have your ticket, you just need to be on the train before it pulls out. The conductor checks tickets after the train has left the station.
Just a little clarification. As RC points out, you most likely are traveling within the 25-member zone created by the Schengen treaty, which eliminates border controls among its members.
However, in the past year, France, Italy and Denmark have all indicated that they would re-impose some border controls in the name of controlling immigration--the hot-button issue in many parts of Europe. Under the treaty, controls may be re-imposed in case of serious threat or disorder, and they are citing this. As the link below indicates, the European Commission is moving against those attempts. Worth following, but in any case, the most effect on tourists would be to be asked for passports. Although, I hesitate to say but must, some border patrols' view of who looks like a tourist and who looks like an immigrant may be based on skin color or language.
We did have to go through a security check in Madrid's main station. It didn't take long, but it wasn't like we could just walk into the station and straight to the train. I don't know if they have it all the time, or just when the Basques or some other group is making threats.
I had forgotten that the high-speed trains in Spain have security checks. I believe there may also be security checks on the trains that travel through the tunnel under the English Channel between London and Paris.
It was Islamic terrorists who blew up parts of the Atocha train station in Madrid, not Basque terrorists.
To answer the question: With trains, there is no check-in!
You walk off the street into the station. Glance at the departure screens. Walk up to the train. Press the button to open the door. Climb in. That's it!
If you're on board at departure time when the doors close and train goes, you go. If you're not on the train, you get left behind. It's that simple!
Border formalities either don't happen at all in Shengen now, or are exactly that, BORDER formalities that happen at the border when the train crosses it. It's included in the journey schedule.
I can think of just two exceptions. Eurostar, London-Paris and London-Brussels, where there is a 30 minute check-in for security check and passport control at the beginning of the journey (but no formalities at the other end). And Spanish high-speed trains, where there is a 5 minute X-ray luggage check at the entrance to the departures area, so don't cut it too fine there.
The other thing that is sooooooo simple in Europe that overseas visitors struggle to grasp the mind-boggling simplicity of is luggage on European trains.
You walk out of your hotel with your luggage. You walk into the station with your luggage. You get on the train with your luggage. You sit with your luggage above or beside you. You get off the train with your luggage, walk down the street to your hotel with your luggage. It's that simple.
Nobody will take your luggage, weigh your luggage, carry your luggage, check your luggage, argue with you about your luggage, give you tags or cards or sticky bits of paper for your luggage, divide your luggage into hold luggage and hand luggage, quote regulations at you about your luggage, charge you extra for your luggage, lose your luggage, or return your luggage. You do not need to check your luggage, weigh your luggage, measure your luggage, argue about your luggage, reclaim your luggage, stick your luggage on scales, remove your luggage from holds, find your luggage on carousels or anything else.
Wow. That is a serious attachment to one's luggage.
What I don't like about airport security checks is taking off half my clothes in public.
Least favorite airport security check was when I moved my two cats to Europe and I was required to take them out of their cat carriers and walk them through the x-ray. They passed, but boy was I nervous.
