h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am thinking of going to Luxembourg, travelling by train from London. Has anyone done this journey? I'd be glad of advice, as I've not used trains for ages, but am feeling that I should make an effort to be greener, rather than just flying.


I'm thinking this will be the first weekend in June...5th/6th/7th. Any help gratefully received.

Beatrice is the expert on this. She'll be along in a minute to help you and will also be able to tell you good places to eat and what to see in Luxembourg.

A friend of mine took her mother this way to Brussels for a weekend away. They thought there was something wrong with the train as it started to slow down not long after crossing the channel - but it was already in Brussels! So you don't waste any time, exciting as it may be to travel like that.

Still, you won't catch me going under the Channel.

Thanks Trillian! I know what you mean about the Chunnel - I am claustrophobic, but I'm trying to be more adventurous

London to Brussels is quick - two hours - but Brussels to Luxembourg is cow countingly slow - nearly three hours. You don't need to change stations though, just trains at Bruxelles Midi.

*Doesn't comment on what there might be to do in Luxembourg...*

sprout

Thanks sprout! I'm being met there, so as long as the journey is feasible, and not stressful regarding changes, the length of time on the final train may not be so terrible. I'd read somewhere that I needed to change stations in Brussels, but the site didn't look terribly trustworthy.

Somebody call?

I've done Eurostar from Lux to London before (when I was getting my eyes lasered, and didn't want the air-conditioned air on a plane)

The Eurostar goes to Bruxelles, and then you have to change to a train to Lux. That bit's not a fast train, but it does go through some lovely countryside in southern Belgium. When i did it, the onward trip to anywhere in Belgium cost 1 euro. You do then have to pay for the journey in Lux, but that's not too expensive.

Anything else you need to know?

Ooh thanks Beatrice! I was thinking it would be far more interesting than just another plane trip. I'm not in a hurry, so it does sound worth doing the journey this way.

I've done the trip from Brussels to Lux and it was beautiful, comfy and would have been dirt cheap if I wasn't already using my rail pass.

Lux City is a little gem, I was completely unprepared for how beautiful it was.

I'm getting excited! just looked up the train times from the local station here (Stoke on Trent) and the journey time, with one change, is 4 hours and 19 minutes, to Brussels.

Glad to hear that the second leg of the journey is easy, and not expensive. Thanks HonestIago