Edward BettsRail adventure time! Starting at #BristolTempleMeads, heading to #Budapest. First stop #LondonPaddington
#BetterByRail #FlyLess #EuropeRailAdventure #FOSDEM #FOSDEM2026 #GWR #IET #Class800 #SlowTravel #EuropeByRail #WinterRailTrip
Rolled into Paddington right on time. First leg complete and the rhythm of the journey is setting in. Next up is St Pancras and Eurostar to Brussels, then the real fun begins with night trains and Central Europe ahead.
Still very much #BetterByRail. No flying, just watching Britain slide past the window and enjoying the feeling of actually travelling, not teleporting.
#FlyLess
#EuropeRailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#EuropeByRail
#WinterRailTrip
#GWR
#IET
#Class800
#Paddington
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Through security and passport control at St Pancras and now waiting to board. Super smooth and impressively quick, no queue at all. This is how international travel should feel.
Next stop Brussels on Eurostar, then onwards by night train into Central Europe. The rail adventure continues.
#BetterByRail
#FlyLess
#EuropeRailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#EuropeByRail
#WinterRailTrip
#StPancras
#StPancrasInternational
#Eurostar
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Just boarded and waiting for departure. Doors closed, everything on time, and that quiet pre-departure buzz in the carriage. Next stop Brussels, with night trains and Central Europe to follow.
#BetterByRail
#FlyLess
#EuropeByRail
#TrainTravel
#Eurostar
#SlowTravel
#WinterRailTrip
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Arrived right on time, dumped my bag, then headed out for a wander. Stumbled past the Porte de Hal, grabbed Lebanese food, and ate outside soaking up the early evening buzz. Exactly the kind of pause that makes rail travel so good.
Back to the station next. NightJet at 19:06 and my first proper sleeper train awaits. Very excited about this bit.
#BetterByRail
#FlyLess
#EuropeByRail
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#RailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#WinterRailTrip
#Brussels
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Rolling east through the night 🌙🚆
On the Nightjet to Vienna and we’ve just passed Cologne. Lights low, steady rhythm of the rails, and that brilliant feeling of waking up somewhere completely new tomorrow. First sleeper train and I am very much a fan already.
This is exactly why I love travelling this way.
#BetterByRail
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#Nightjet
#EuropeByRail
#FlyLess
#SlowTravel
#WinterRailTrip
#RailAdventure
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Woke up to snow-covered fields and an orange sunrise outside the window ❄️🌅
Slept really well, the bed was genuinely comfortable, and showering on a moving train still feels slightly magical. Breakfast was far better than expected too. Rolling east while the world slowly wakes up is an excellent way to travel.
First sleeper train experience and I am completely sold.
#BetterByRail
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#Nightjet
#EuropeByRail
#SlowTravel
#WinterRailTrip
#RailAdventure
#FlyLess
#Nightjet
#OBBNightjet
#SnowyMorning
#FrozenLandscape
Arrived into Vienna Hbf after a night on the rails 🚆
About ten minutes late after a 15-hour journey across three countries, which feels like a small miracle. Vienna Hbf is a strikingly modern station and a great place to roll into after a sleeper. Bag safely stashed in a locker and the city is calling.
A few hours to explore Vienna before heading on to Budapest. This trip just keeps getting better.
#BetterByRail
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#Nightjet
#EuropeByRail
#SlowTravel
#RailAdventure
#Vienna
#LuggageLocker
Made it to Budapest. All good!
#BetterByRail
#RailJet
#EuropeByRail
#SlowTravel
#RailAdventure
#WinterRailTrip
Good morning from Budapest ☀️🚆
Time for the next international train, this time heading to Prague. That makes capital city number five on this trip, after London, Brussels, Vienna, and Budapest. Not a bad way to travel across Europe.
Onwards by rail.
#BetterByRail
#EuropeByRail
#TrainTravel
#RailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#FlyLess
#Budapest
#Prague
The windows on this train are filthy. I'm tempted to get out at a station and clean them.
Waiting at Praha hl.n. for the #HackerTrain 🚆
All set for the sleeper back to Brussels, but currently showing a 40-minute delay on the board. Honestly, not too bad for a cross-Europe night train, and it’s all part of the adventure.
Next stop: Brussels and FOSDEM.
#BetterByRail
#HackerTrain
#EuropeanSleeper
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#EuropeByRail
#SlowTravel
#RailAdventure
#Prague
#FOSDEM2026
Thursday night drama, now with a happy ending 🚆
At one point it looked like we’d be on buses all the way from Prague to Brussels, which was… not the plan. Then, against the odds, they fixed the train. Suddenly a platform was announced, the Night Train rolled in, and off we went, about 3.5 hours late but very much back on track.
I’d already started plotting hotels and a daytime backup route, so this felt like a proper railway miracle.
#BetterByRail
#HackerTrain
#EuropeanSleeper
#NightTrain
#SleeperTrain
#EuropeByRail
#RailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#TrainTravel
#FOSDEM2026
#FOSDEM
Homeward bound under the sea 🚄🌊
On the Eurostar from Brussels to London, originally from Amsterdam, and running about 20 minutes late. Currently racing beneath the Channel, which never stops feeling slightly surreal.
Should roll into St Pancras around 14:17, then it's Hammersmith and City line to Paddington and GWR back to Bristol. Nearly there after a brilliant rail adventure across Europe.
#BetterByRail
#EuropeByRail
#Eurostar
#TrainTravel
#SlowTravel
#RailAdventure
#FlyLess
#HomewardBound
Final leg underway
Rolled into St Pancras at 14:17, made it across London, and now settled into a quiet First Class seat on a GWR IET heading back to Bristol. Everything lined up perfectly and it feels great to be gliding west for the last stretch.
After weeks of rails, borders, and night trains, home is in sight. Due into Temple Meads at 16:35.
#BetterByRail
#EuropeByRail
#TrainTravel
#RailAdventure
#SlowTravel
#GWR
#IET
#HomewardBound
#NoFlyTravel
#FOSDEM
#FOSDEM2026
Anders Gulden Olstad
Dr. Sobek@edward European Sleeper has to deal with a limited and aging rolling stock, acquisition of new rolling stock is pretty much a key challenge for that.
This NL Coop is raising capital right now, btw. (160€ per share, and those who have enough money to invest 2k/34 get discounts on all train ins 2026/26-27).
Jarrod Urban@edward I saw one the last time I was there. For that matter, it might have been the same exact location.
Acesabe@acesabe Pretty sure it wasn't an otter.
@edward
Ah, in Spain they call otters nutrías but they also call tortoises turtles and so on lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria
Ah, in Spain they call otters nutrías but they also call tortoises turtles and so on lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutria
