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Doing something I’ve wanted to do for years today... getting the train from Brussels to Prague, because it’s probably the best rail bargain in Europe
It’s 29€ each way if you book it the right way (even a week or two before, so is often cheaper than flying) and takes about 11 hours. About half of the journey is on Deutsche Bahn’s ICE high-speed trains and half is on slower trains. Info here: https://www.seat61.com/Czech.htm – bei Gare de Bruxelles-Midi / Station Brussel-Zuid
Because it’s 11 hours and I’m doing it for fun I booked first class (which I’ve never done in the UK) which worked out £41 each way which is still outrageously good imo. The German trains are really nice, if you’ve never been on one – bei Gare de Bruxelles-Midi / Station Brussel-Zuid
The legroom is ridiculously good, I am 6’2 and can cross my legs easily or just stretch out
Enjoying a nice view of Belgian industry on the way out of Brussels
Quite a lot of Belgian trains!
I promise Belgium isn’t all flat
Passing through Liège, which some people say resembles Lancashire
Liège station is cool imo, apparently it was a bit of a fiasco to build – bei Liège-Guillemins Railway Station (XHN) (Gare de Liège-Guillemins)
Arriving in Aachen having crossed the border into Germany 
Germany borders the Czech Republic so I guess that means I’m almost there? I’ll assume so and not check
Germany borders the Czech Republic so I guess that means I’m almost there? I’ll assume so and not check
Having a wander around the train... my favourite thing about the ICE is just how nice the interior is: little things like the wooden panelling and lighting in the vestibule. This is outside the toilet!
A couple of people have asked if there’s a bar on the train - this one has what DB calls a BordBistro which does light meals (currywurst etc), tea and coffee, beer in pint glasses (later...) etc. Some have a BordRestaurant which has a fuller service
Here’s a picture of some of the seating in the bistro car (it’s very similar to the regular second class seating)
Shadowing a German local train going into Cologne station 
– bei Köln Hauptbahnhof
– bei Köln Hauptbahnhof
I love cologne station, this video sadly doesn’t capture the massive neon beer logo suspended on one of the end walls of the train shed – bei Köln Hauptbahnhof
Crossing the Rhine at Cologne on this lovely bridge!
Correction to an earlier tweet of mine regarding the German railway station Cologne hbf.... it’s actually a neon perfume (as in Eau de Cologne) advert not a beer sign! https://twitter.com/confuzd_/status/1230423894688923648?s=21 https://twitter.com/confuzd_/status/1230423894688923648
Wasn’t expecting any free food on this train (it’s not generally the continental way, with a couple of exceptions) but a man has just come around and given everyone some Deutche Bahn-branded chocolate mint smarties 
The Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line is probably the fastest bit of the journey, we’re doing 300km/h (186mph) - for comparison UK intercity trains currently top out at 125mph (HS2 will be faster)
The terrain between cologne and Frankfurt is pretty rugged, not quite mountainous but you could have a good hike in it. There are lots of tunnels, viaducts, cuttings etc
One cool feature of the ICE3: you can sit in this bit right behind the driver (at no extra cost). That wall at the back is actually smart glass; you can sometimes see her drive, and also through the front window. This time she has it frosted up sadly, but you can just about see
By ‘no extra cost’ - I mean it’s a normal part of first class, obviously that costs more anyway
Pulling into Frankfurt hbf where I’ll be changing trains 
- I believe this is what they call ‘grade separation’
- I believe this is what they call ‘grade separation’
You can actually sit behind to driver in second class too but it depends on direction https://twitter.com/politic_animal/status/1230439485873278978?s=21 https://twitter.com/politic_animal/status/1230439485873278978
Changing trains at Frankfurt hbf, have 23 minutes, all running to time (which isn’t always the case, hope it continues) so very easy! Could have also changed at Frankfurt airport which the train stops at – bei Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
Crossing the river Main at Frankfurt on my second train of the day, it’s getting a bit rainy, sorry about my camerawork
It’s nice watching the architectural styles change as you pass through different countries - compare this with the buildings in Liège, we’re definitely in Germany (Frankfurt suburbs to be precise)
(Frankfurt suburbs to be precise)
In first class on DB ICE they do an at-seat service from the onboard bistro - a guy walks around and takes your order, or there’s also a call button above the seat (!) like on a plane to summon them. I’ve ordered a cup of tea as proof of concept and it came in a nice real cup
It’s not all plain sailing.... no food available on this leg of the journey because of ‘technical difficulties’. A wurst-cast scenario! I will have to get something suitably hearty at my next change
Now firmly in Bavaria (or Franconia) and the countryside is getting quite nice
The countryside is getting pretty good and I feel like it’s only going to get better as I get further east – bei Bordbistro ICE
The approach to Würzburg is interesting - that’s Marienberg fortress on the hill over the river. Looks worth a visit! – bei Würzburg Hauptbahnhof
No European rail journey is complete without wind turbines imo
Our old friend the river Main has caught up with us
We’re not going too fast at the moment, 196km/h according to the little info display in the carriage (124mph) - that’s about as fast as a UK intercity train’s too speed. The ICE travels on a mix of high-speed tracks and slower lines so it’s not always going flat-out
A fetching Bavarian/Franconian village you might enjoy
One cool thing about the DB trains is they still have (a modern take on) compartments, if you prefer that to the open saloon - you can reserve one for no extra cost when you pick your seat (or just sit in an unreserved one) - it’s fun if you have a group of people
Arriving in Nuremberg, today’s second train change - it’s a really interesting city for a short break. You’re actually allowed to stop short of your final destination on the ticket I’m using, so you can get here for the same price as Prague if you want (cheeky but afaik legal)
We were 3 minutes late into Nuremberg, fwiw #fulldisclosure (I have 33 minutes to change trains) – bei Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof
You can’t come to Germany without eating a sausage, so time for a quick Käsekrainer (cheese-filled sausage) with mustard in Nuremberg hauptbabnhof
It gets a bit more complicated here - one reason the ticket is cheap is because you take a regional train for a portion of the journey. It takes longer but saves a huge amount of money. It’s perfectly comfortable, there are power plugs and tables etc. This will take me to Cheb
Bavarian countryside is starting to look quite nice, better views on the slow train I think
Cool rock formation here...
No idea what this tower in the background as we pass Neuhaus is but it’s cool
Update: it’s a castle, and there is some suggestion it might be about to fall down https://twitter.com/agugau/status/1230497149659557889?s=21 https://twitter.com/agugau/status/1230497149659557889
You can watch through the driver’s window on the DB regional train too, pretty cool
Solar panels!
With no fanfare we have crossed the border into the Czech Republic! 
Cute Czech houses! 
We arrived in Cheb for my last change two minutes early- ČD (Czech railways) express train is an electric locomotive with old style carriages - first class at least is all compartments. It has WiFi and plug sockets... I think I have a compartment to myself 
Lots of lumber on this freight train next to us, it’s very long!
Le menu, s’il vous plait
A guy came through with a trolley of Pilsner Urquels and it would frankly be rude not to - €1.80 – bei Železniční zastávka Cheb-Všeboř
The Czech scenery is the best so far- you probably can’t make it out in the video but there’s clouds coming off the mountains. I hope the dusk holds off because my map says we’re going through a couple of national parks
Czech out that smokestack
Shout-out to the ČD WiFi, which is fast enough that it’s uploading videos with no hassle even though I have no service on my phone - very unusual! Might be the best I’ve used, I normally scorn it
(Train WiFi works through using 3G/4G signal so if you don’t have phone signal it’s usually very unlikely to be working)
Just got given some free water, I guess that must be a 1st class perk. Have to say I’m impressed with ČD so far, it’s not flashy but doing a solid job- eg the app is really good, the interchange was across the same platform, the train is clean, WiFi works well etc
It’s getting dim outside so there probably won’t be much more scenery video, but it is really picturesque!
A bit more Czech scenery - there’s a river flowing down this valley and we’re basically following it
Oh yeah, there’s a cinema for kids on this Czech train to keep them amused, which is good for everyone imo. Not going to take pictures for obvious reasons. The German trains also have a kids compartment https://twitter.com/eoghanwalsh/status/1230527449923977218?s=21 https://twitter.com/eoghanwalsh/status/1230527449923977218
There is absolutely tons of bike parking on this train, there were two rooms like this. There isn’t a full restaurant car though, the guy with the trolley just parks somewhere and you can find him (‘static trolley’ as GWR calls it). Standard class is mostly compartments too
This rather grand facade is a view of the city of Pilsen, The Home of Beer 
Celebrating passing through Pilsen by drinking another pilsner (OK I don’t think this is technically a pilsner) - €2 with suspiciously packaged peanuts
I know 11 hours sounds like a long time but we’ve just got inside Prague’s metro area and I’m very much like ‘oh, are we nearly there already?’ what a way to travel
And finished! Right on time. Thanks to everyone for following, it was a fun journey
(Not going to livetweet the actual city but here’s a last photo of the Czech national museum that greets you as you leave the station)
I should add, if you’re keen to do this trip yourself make sure you read this page on @seatsixtyone, the font of all knowledge for planning all train travel in Europe and beyond https://www.seat61.com/Czech.htm
Goodbye Prague! Nice to see this bit of the journey in daylight
Yes, I only stayed for one full day in Prague... 22 hours of train travel in three days is probably a bit extreme but I’ll let you know if I stop enjoying it
Slightly different train this time on ČD, this time with leather-style seats and four power plugs and four USB ports for every three seats. Got a compartment to myself again
It looks like summertime in Bohemia today, somehow
Wanna see some Czech back gardens???
The views on the Czech section of the route are probably worth the ticket price alone
The industrial outskirts of Pilsen – bei Železniční stanice Plzeň-Doubravka
It’s all got very dramatic here in the river valley
Just spotted a trainspotter with a tripod set up
I’m sure other apps do this but the ČD app push alerts for delays are really well done (most recent is at the top, the guard said we were delayed 3 mins waiting for a connecting train)
Information system on the train is pretty good too, I appreciate that it gives a reason for the delay (and that it’s in English)
I worked in a couple of hours stop-over in Cheb for lunch and it has some really pretty buildings, particularly the Hapsburg era stuff. Worth a visit!
Some more Cheb architecture, the city centre is really beautiful. Not many tourists here but menus were translated into German so presumably some make it over the border
Also I successfully ordered two jam doughnuts in Czech, get in
mein rotes deutsches Ross
Back in the forests of Bavaria *Das Rheingold starts to play*
Remove the road and it would be a pretty good set for a German opera
Bit of a roller-coaster: the driver announced 15 minutes out of Frankfurt that no trains were being allowed into Frankfurt hbf and that we could be delayed by an hour... everyone was quite annoyed! But 5 minutes later he said it was resolved and that we’ll be only 4 mins late
Apparently the reason for the nearly-delay https://twitter.com/stejormur/status/1231257006163550209?s=21 https://twitter.com/stejormur/status/1231257006163550209
Big fan of the Deutche Bahn on-train menu, €4 for a pint of Weissbier is pretty good
Enjoying a celebratory 0.5 litres of Weissbier from an actual glass in the bistro car as we cross the Belgian border
And back in Brussels right on time! – bei Gare de Bruxelles-Midi / Station Brussel-Zuid
A couple of final practical tips on this journey for anyone thinking of doing it: get the earlier departure (at around 8.30am) - everything went smoothly for me, but it doesn't always, and it's good to know you have a back-up in case you miss a connection
Also, when you book the train tickets with Czech railways, make an account with them and log in on that account on their app on your phone. It automatically puts the ticket on there and gives you push alert updates, and has all the seat reservations in once place etc
Talking of seat reservations, it's definitely worth it on the DB section from Brussels–Frankfurt, which can be a very busy route particularly in the summer. My experience of the Cheb-Prague section was that one wasn't needed, though I've obviously only been on it once in February
Also, don't starve yourself with the intention of relying on DB dining cars being operational, they sometimes aren't
But above all… go for it! its really fun
