The first copy I purchased was the summer 1973 edition (effective from the last Sunday in May), which was the centenary issue.Its then orange cover depicted a drawing of Thomas Cook and the words “They may not know your face, but they will know his”.

I then embarked on a European tour, beginning with the Yorkshire Pullman to London, and that evening boarding the 1930 Calais-Paris, which included a WL restaurant car and through portions for Ventimiglia, Venezia and Trieste, the latter two being joined by a wagon-lit car to Istanbul at Paris (Gare de Lyon), departing there at 2353 as the Direct-Orient Express. By the time I detrained at 1250 hrs next day at Milano my illusions about this train had been shattered, although I did later enjoy an excellent meal in the antique dining car of the eastbound Athens section, which (with one drink) cost 76 Drachma, precisely £1.  In those days one could leave Paris Est at 0746 next morning on the train to Wien, changing at MÜnchen onto the Tauern Orient Express, which united at Beograd with the Direct-Orient, and the same time gain was available in the opposite direction.

On two occasions on that journey around Europe, once at Stuttgart and once at Helsinki, the departure board conflicted with the time given in Cooks Continental Timetable (as it was then called) of my overnight train departure. On both occasions the timetable was correct.

Almost to the day 10 years later, on honeymoon on 29th May 1983 we boarded the same 1930 train from Calais, this time destined for Nice. The then Editor Mr. J.H. Price, specially arranged for the summer edition, which was in the process of being printed, that week to be sent direct from the printers to my home address so that it would arrive in time, which it did.

Since then I have bought between two and four copies of the timetable every year.

It is indispensible to any European rail traveller. Long may it continue.

The publication this week of the April 2013 edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable marks a little milestone in publishing history. This latest edition of the European Rail Timetable (ERT) is Issue 1522.

That's quite an achievement for any serial publication to run to so many editions. And Issue 1522 breaks a record for English-language timetables worldwide. When Bradshaw's monthly guide to rail services in Britain ceased publication in spring 1961, it ran to 1521 editions. At the time of the demise of that Bradshaw mainstay, the ERT lagged well behind. But, over half a century later, Thomas Cook has now caught up with Bradshaw.  And, with this new edition of the ERT, Cook now knocks Bradshaw off his pedestal as the record-holder.

For any timetable to run to over 1500 issues is a mighty achievement. In the wider world of serial publishing, the tally of 1500 is less remarkable. Many daily newspapers reach that milestone within five years of getting started. The Belfast News Letter, for example, was founded way back in 1737, and the number of issues to date now exceeds 80,000. But few sequences of book-length works have ever run to more than a few hundred editions. And Cook trumping Bradshaw is surely cause for a little celebration for those who, like us, find the European Rail Timetable one of the most frequently-consulted titles in our library.

You can find out more about the authors' work at www.hiddeneurope.co.uk and www.europebyrail.eu Nicky wrote the Route of the Month feature in the April 2013 issue of the ERT. It focuses on the narrow-gauge railway that runs through the Bulgarian hills from Septemvri to Dobrinishte.

When driving through France a stop in Toulouse is an absolute must. As the fourth largest city in  France, Toulouse has a lot to offer. Renowned for its fine cuisine it has some of the finest restaurants in the country. As you would probably imagine, a city with great restaurants is one with great local markets. The fabulous Victor Hugo Market Hall is filled with local produce and regional wines, while the outdoor Marche Des Boulevards is a vibrant feast for the eyes, full of fruit and vegetables, a real hub of activity in the city.

A tip for your trip though, although as a city Toulouse boasts some 10,000 parking spaces, the majority of them are on-street and pay & display, and on busy market days, any spaces are very hard to come by.

To get the best out of your visit to the city I would recommend parking at either end of the city’s metro line to take advantage of the free parking and enjoy a hassle free journey into the heart of the city.

Many of us look to far off lands and try to cram as much as we can into our well earned short breaks but maybe we should look a little closer to our own coast and across the channel to France . 

With frequent flights from most UK airports taking anything upwards of just 30 minutes, combined with low-cost airlines requesting a minimum check-in of less than one hour, a relaxing short break in any French city   is within quick and easy reach!

	London	Manchester	Cardiff	Edinburgh
Paris	32 min	46 min	37 min	1.06 hr
Lyon	1.07 hr	1.15 hr	1.05 hr	1.35 hr
Biarritz	1.08 hr	1.23 hr	1.07 hr	1.44 hr
Marseille	1.28 hr	1.35 hr	1.23 hr	1.55 hr
Toulouse	1.22 hr	1.25 hr	1.11 hr	1.46 hr

The beginning of April will see the introduction of a new concept in low-cost rail travel in France . Named ‘Ouigo’ (pronounced we go), two dedicated double deck TGV high-speed trains will ply the route from Marne la Vallée in the eastern suburbs of Paris to various destinations in the south, such as Marseille and Montpellier. Using Marne la Vallée instead of Gare de Lyon in central Paris helps to keep the cost down for the operator, but it’s also well connected with the rest of Paris by local train. You may know it as the station for Disneyland Paris.

Using a dedicated website, bookings for the new service have to be made online. Fares are not fixed but vary according to the time of booking, and can be considerably cheaper than normal fares. The trains have been specially adapted to carry more passengers by making them second class only, and using the bar area for seating. Due to tight turnaround times, passengers have to be at the station 30 minutes before departure, and ticket checks are carried out before boarding the train. There are restrictions on baggage, with only one bag allowed per passenger, although unlike many low-cost airlines a small handbag is also allowed. Extra bags can be taken for a fee, and it’s also possible to pay two euros extra for a seat with a laptop socket. The timings for the new service can be found in Table 350a in the March edition of the European Rail Timetable. It will be interesting to see if the idea takes off elsewhere. 

But no matter what changes the company has seen over the past 140 years, one thing that has remained constant is the Thomas Cook timetable.  An institution in itself, the only break in the monthly publication’s strict schedule was 1939-1946 when it was suspended for the war.

Today the timetable is called the European Rail Timetable and is compiled by a dedicated team of five who have been led by Editor Brendan Fox for the best part of 30 years.  Each compiler is an expert in his own region of the globe, hand picking every route in this 500+ page rail bible for its local, national and indeed international significance.  Schedules for over 50,000 trains are checked and updated to ensure they are as accurate as possible in each monthly edition.

March 2013 will mark the 140^th anniversary of the first edition of ‘Cook’s Continental Time Tables’ and will be celebrated with a special edition of the regular monthly publication.  Special features will include a commemorative cover and anniversary supplement, which will include editorial from well known travel writers, and extracts from previously archived copies including the original 1873 edition. Also included in the March 2013 edition will be the expanded Summer Supplement and the annual Cruise Trains and Rail Holidays Feature.

Appealing to a wide audience of business and leisure travellers, as well as rail enthusiasts of all ages across the world, this completely unique publication provides train, bus and ferry schedules for over 5,000 locations throughout Europe and beyond.

Original Edition March 1873          Current Edition March 2013

Some interesting facts about the timetable: 

·         Originally known as ‘Cook’s Continental Time Tables’ the publications main competitor until 1939 was ‘The Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide’. Today the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable is the only one of its kind in publication.

·         The first edition was distributed free of charge in 1873 to Railway Officials and other interested parties.

·         Over its 140 years the timetable to date has only had five Editors, the current Editor Brendan Fox having been in the role for nearly 30 years.

·         For over 25 years the timetable has also been available in a Japanese edition, produced in conjunction with a Japanese publisher.

Paula Simpson writes about her experience aboard the Rocky Mountaineer

It was hard to hide the disappointment on arrival at the North Vancouver railway station in the early hours of the morning.  It was a far cry from the historic grandeur of a Fairmont Hotel waiting room I had been used to. A small wooden structure sitting trackside, equipped with nothing more than coffee percolators and a handful of biscuits, surely this is not the place to start our journey on the famous Rocky Mountaineer.  I glanced across at the Australian couple who were still trying to align their body clocks after an around the world trip, and were partaking in a glass of a well-known energy drink to help them kick start their day.

Early signs of dissatisfaction quickly evaporated when the call to embark the train was announced.  A Scottish piper breathed life into a set of bagpipes and suddenly we were hit with a real sense of occasion.  The guest services team jumped into life.  Each railway coach is assigned a Rocky Mountaineer host.  Exceptional service is provided from exceptional people, many of them multilingual – look out for the lapel pin badges which identify the number of languages spoken.  Uniforms were smartly pressed and worn with a sense of pride.

The Rocky Mountaineer departs from the station at 8.00am and arrives in Whistler promptly at 11.30am. All we had to do was sit back, relax and enjoy the complimentary breakfast and drinks along the way. The scenery from the large picture windows was really quite impressive but if you are feeling brave you can take your place in the open air observation carriage.   I much prefer the interior of the railway carriage with its wide seats and extended leg room.  A much more civilised way to travel.

The Whistler Sea to Sky route follows the Pacific Great Eastern rail line built to connect Vancouver with Print George and the timber mining country.

The track is lined with pre 1950’s heritage homes, all with an average price of 1 million Canadian dollars.  Homeowners wave at the train with enthusiasm as if seeing the train for the first time.  Many still dressed in their nightwear enjoying breakfast on the verandas of their luxurious properties.

Excellent photo opportunities are available along the way, with the option to slow the train down substantially to allow you to get that all important holiday snap.  Look out for the milepost markers along the route, these will highlight some of the best features of the tour.

Tour Highlights include:

Howe Sound - Named by Captain George Vancouver on his exploration of the area in 1792.  The most southerly fjord in North America.

Brackendale – Home to 3000 bald eagles

Cheakamus Canyon – Let the train take the strain as it climbs 610 metres through the coastal mountains.

Brandywine Falls – A 60 metre high waterfall after two surveyors who bets on the height of the falls.  One group bets brandy against the other groups wine.

Between Squamish and Whistler a story teller will board the train.  Learn both the Squamish and Lil’ Wat cultural traditions and understand the benefits of a partnership that respects the land and it’s creations, something that today we would label as sustainable tourism.

All too soon it is time to disembark the train and head for the Whistler village.  Whistler holds its position as a world class ski resort.  The Olympic committee awarded the Winter Olympics and Paralympic games to Vancouver and Whistler in 2010.  The town really does have something for everyone for all seasons, from hiking, mountain biking, fishing and water sports.  It is not a place for the faint hearted.  The Whistler gondola ride was more than a challenge for me, a person who resides in East Anglia with its flat terrain.

I would recommend an overnight in Whistler before returning to Vancouver or continuing with your journey to fully enjoy everything this unique mountain town has to offer.

Along with other luxury trains, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is described in more detail in the Cruise Trains and Rail Holidays feature in the March edition of the European Rail Timetable, which includes dates of running and a selection of fares. Although its regular journey takes the train from London to Venice by way of Paris and the Alps (a separate Pullman train is used for the British leg), there are special trips during the year to places as far afield as Stockholm and Istanbul . Whilst many passengers use the train as part of a package, it’s also possible to buy a one-way ticket for part of the journey, such as London to Paris . Needless to say, fares reflect the exclusive nature of the service offered, and sadly Railcard discounts are not available!

The above article was written by Brendan Fox,  Editor of the European Rail Timetable

The first three miles of the journey is on the main line through the western suburbs of Plymouth with dockyards visible on the left hand side. At St Budeaux the train leaves the main line becoming single track for the remainder of the journey. The line then weaves its way under the main line twice before heading north alongside the right bank of the River Tamar. The famous Royal Albert Bridge , the main line link in to Cornwall , is visible on the left. After crossing the mouth of the River Tavy the line heads inland to Bere Alston. The line from Plymouth to Bere Alston was originally the Southern Railway’s main line link via Tavistock and Exeter to London . The line to the east of Bere Alston has long since closed and all trains now have to reverse to continue their journey.

The line on to Calstock and Gunnislake has always been a proper branch line with very slow speeds, open level crossings and a spectacular viaduct at Calstock. Apart from the Royal Albert Bridge mentioned earlier, the Calstock viaduct is the only other rail link across the River Tamar in to Cornwall . The viaduct dominates the village, with its buildings clinging to the steep sides of the valley. The terminus at Gunnislake is located a few minutes walk from the village.

There are many marked walks in the area that link the various villages along the route. There are also a number of traditional pubs that can be easily accessed from stations along the route.

Services run seven days a week and departure times can be found in Table 118 of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable.

Eurostar has reshaped England ’s relationship with Europe . Comb the departure boards at London ’s St Pancras station and, amid the lists of domestic departures to such prosaic spots as Luton and Leicester , continental destinations now feature. Brussels rubs shoulders with Bedford . Choose the right time, and you might even see Avignon , Bourg-Saint-Maurice or Marne la Vallée-Chessy. And, on 4 May this year, a new Eurostar destination will appear: Aix-en-Provence .

Table 17a in the latest edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable reveals the basic facts about this new service. On the outward journey to the sunny south of France , the Eurostar train will run without any scheduled stops from Ashford ( Kent ) to Lyon in the Rhône Valley . Beyond Lyon it follows the high-speed line south to Aix with a stop along the way at Avignon TGV station.

Eurostar say that the new service is by way of an experiment, just testing the water for a possible enhanced offering to Provence . The rail operator already runs a very successful summer-season service from London to Avignon , and the new trains to Aix are additional to the regular Avignon service.

With a journey time of just over six hours from St Pancras to Aix-en-Provence , Eurostar will surely pull a big crowd for its test trains. The experimental service to Aix will run in May and June, with the regular summer departures to Avignon continuing through to 31 August.

Canny travellers devise their own itineraries, and anyone with an up-to-date copy of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable can plans trips to Aix (or indeed anywhere else in Provence ) on days when Eurostar does not run direct. With an easy change of trains in Lille , travellers from London can make same-day connections through to all the major Riviera resorts.

A printed timetable is an invitation to adventure, and Europe seems that much closer to London as you sit on Eurostar, timetable to hand, planning a web of journeys across Europe. If you have a real appetite for rail travel, then Berlin , Milan , Barcelona and Vienna are all reachable in a one-day journey from London . The Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable shows how.

The writer is co-editor of hidden europe magazine (http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk) She is also the principal author of the Thomas Cook title ‘ Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide for Independent Travellers’.