I remember how I used to wait to journey by train when I was a small child! We do become jaded in our ideas as we grow older, but in truth, there is no other mode of transport that gives so much satisfaction and joy as a train! Trains have existed since time immemorial and are the best ways to take an individual from one destination to another. It is indeed the best way to view the countryside! Since trains are willing to take you anywhere and everywhere, they can be used to take a look at the whole country in one go, with a long one-off trip; or one can indulge in hopping on and hopping off whenever the mood prevails to take a closer look at particular sites in cities or places.

Wherever you want to go, planning is essential for train trips. In some parts of the world, trains run far less frequently than in the West. In Africa, some trains run only once a week, and there is only one starting point from which to alight. It is good to check out train timetables over the Internet, or to purchase guides in your local bookstore, that give comprehensive times, dates and places of departure.

Most passengers purchase legitimate tickets before getting into any train; sometimes, travelers do journey ticketless. But should he/she be caught, there are heavy fines to pay! Some countries are very strict about that. In India, it is possible for a passenger to travel ticketless on the roof of a train simply because the crowd is too large for a ticket checker to get hold of that passenger! Should he be caught, he is fined heavily. Even traveling in a first-class carriage while holding a second-class ticket, is forbidden by the railway authorities.

There have been so many developments in this area that train travel has become incredulously cheap! Most developing countries even offer first-class travel at affordable prices. Of course, some areas of Europe and the US cannot boast of the same. Also, with the extra comforts provided, the journey is bound to be more pleasurable! Additional benefits provided by the railway authorities are discounted tickets. Such tickets can be bought online or at the railway station itself. One is given a discount on this ticket if he/she is of a certain age or purchases the ticket in advance. Other factors playing a role are duration of the journey, time and day of the week when the journey is to take place. This type of facility becomes convenient should a traveler wish to tour the entire country. The price paid for the ticket is definitely worth it! A word of caution though. It is possible to be cheated if one is not acquainted with all the facts. So a travel agent is the best one to purchase such a ticket for you in such cases.

On long train trips, find out in advance if food and drink are available. On board catering should be available on the timetable, and sometimes there is a dining car on board the train. If none are available, don't overlook the possibilities of station restaurants, though if you are travelling in a developing country, exercise caution with both the food and drink at all times. There is nothing quite as bad as being ill on a moving train over a long journey.

Depending on the duration of your trip, it is always good to travel light - the universal law of most travel. Though porters are normally available on train trips, a mass of luggage is an encumbrance on a train. Pack essentials only and choose wisely according to the climate and the length of you trip.

Since most countries offer a well-developed railway network, a traveler need not stick to only those routes which he/she has traveled often. He/She can explore other areas too, and make his/her life more exciting!