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

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