Taking the local route: an ode to the regional train

When it comes to rail travel in Europe, sleek high-speed services and famous tourist trains often steal the spotlight. These services are designed for convenience, zipping from one city (or country) to the next, or offering curated, scenic journeys.

But there’s something to be said about regional trains: some follow the same picturesque routes as their counterparts or transport you to the big cities, while others take interesting detours. But all offer the chance to soak up views, explore lesser-visited towns and support local infrastructure

Read on to find out why local trains might just be the best way to travel in Europe.

What is a regional train? 

Regional (or local) trains are services that connect smaller towns and cities within a specific country or across nearby borders. They typically offer more frequent, flexible travel options and cover shorter distances compared to high-speed or tourist trains. They also at times bypass large train stations in big cities.

Some examples of regional trains in Europe that you can take are:

• France: the TER (Transport Express Régional), instead of the TGV routes

• Italy: the Regionale, instead of the Frecciarossa

• Germany: the Regional Express (RE) trains, or the Intercity 2 (IC2) double-decker trains, instead of the Intercity Express (ICE) trains

• Portugal: the Regional and InterRegional trains, instead of the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades.

• Switzerland: the RegioExpress (RE) or Regional (R) trains, instead of the Bernina Express or Glacier Express.

• Scotland: the ScotRail train, instead of the Jacobite steam train.

In the UK, there are a number of slightly slower, local services throughout the day across the country, such as routes to Glasgow from England that detour via the Settle and Carlisle Line (a very special journey for just two extra hours), or the ScotRail trains that run along the West Highland Line – including the section from Fort William to Mallaig that the famous Jacobite steam train traverses.

Flexibility and freedom

One of the advantages of local trains is their frequency and flexibility. On high-speed or tourist trains, you have to book seats in advance and you’re locked into a set schedule. However, on local routes, trains run more frequently and don’t always require reservations. This is particularly true if you’re travelling on an Interrail or Eurail pass (read more about Interrail/Eurail here), where the reservations for many regional trains across Europe are included in the main pass price – making them significantly more cost-effective too. It allows you to be a bit more spontaneous, without worrying about the cost, on the days that you don’t have any set onward journeys. 

Take the RegioExpress (a fast regional train) and the Regio (a local service that stops frequently) trains along the Glacier Express route in Switzerland, for instance. This journey involves a number of changes along the way, with short transfer times, but the trains are often timed to wait for the previous one to arrive. However, departures are frequent, so even if you decide to have a wander at one of your stops then you won’t have long to wait for the next train (and most of the stations have luggage lockers, so you can explore unhindered). 

Plus, local trains tend to be quieter, less crowded and more relaxed than the tourist-packed routes where fellow travellers vie for the best views. There’s (usually) no need to jostle for a window seat or contend with large tour groups. You’ll often have more space to spread out and enjoy the scenery as you please.

Stop off along the way

Perhaps the biggest bonus of travelling by regional train is passing through places you might never have heard of otherwise – giving you the option to break up your journey and discover new places you may have missed if you rushed past on speedier services.

For example, if you're travelling through Switzerland to Italy (or vice versa), you might want to travel along the UNESCO World Heritage route known as the Rhaetian Railway, composed of the Albula and Bernina lines. The former connects Chur with St Moritz, while the latter links St. Moritz with Tirano, across the border in Italy. If you forgo the Bernina Express tourist train and choose local trains, you’ll change in St. Moritz, where you can pause to soak up some of the glitz of this famed ski resort before your next journey. Further along the Bernina Line, another opportunity arises for a stop at Alp Grüm. At 2091m, this station sits on a ridge on the Bernina Pass and is only accessible by foot or train. It’s home to the Alp Grüm Hotel, which offers simple fare with gorgeous, glacial views and is a picture-perfect place to spend a few hours enjoying a leisurely lunch.

Some famous destinations and sights can only be reached by regional train, such as the historic town of Sintra in Portugal with its colourful Palácio di Pena, or the town of Füssen in Germany, which is home to the fairytale-like Neuschwanstein Castle and is two hours from Munich on local trains.

Support local communities

By choosing local trains, you’re not just taking a quieter journey – you’re also supporting vital infrastructure that keeps smaller towns connected. These trains are lifelines for many rural communities and their continued operation relies on regular use to ensure that they remain accessible to both residents and visitors.

In Germany, for example, regional trains that run between cities like Freiburg and smaller towns in the Black Forest provide essential services to local populations while giving travellers the possibility to experience life outside of bustling cities.

These trains also offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of the places you’re passing through – surrounded by commuters, families on their holidays, students returning home or retirees with their shopping. There's something special about overhearing conversations in different languages and people-watching as you go. Who knows, you might even strike up a conversation and get some insider tips. It’s a different kind of travel, less about ticking off sights or getting the ultimate Instagram shot (although, you’ll get that too), and more about absorbing the day-to-day life and culture around you.

Travelling on regional trains can transform your journey from a blur of passing landscapes into an immersive experience. Whether it’s the flexibility of stopping at smaller stations, the pleasure of visiting local communities, or the simple joy of travelling at a slower pace, these trains go beyond just getting from one place to another. They let you experience the places you’re travelling through and enjoy the journey at your own pace.