An index lists all places shown in the timetable together with relevant table numbers, and maps at the start of each country also guide you to the correct tables for your journey.

The International section makes it easy to find long-distance connections, and the country by country sections show all major lines and many minor ones, from Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Great Britain in the west to Moscow, Ukraine and Istanbul in the east.

Other features include station location plans, public holidays, exchange rates, a time comparison chart and a glossary of terms translated into four languages. Special tables give details of car-carrying trains and airport to city-centre links. The shipping section shows hundreds of routes, whether by ferry, catamaran or fast-ferry, and includes contact details for the operators.

The Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable is a perfect companion and reference source - a great way to see Europe by train - indispensable to travel professionals wanting accurate information for their clients.

European Rail Timetable - Special Features

Alternate editions of the European Rail Timetable contain special features on rail related topics (in these editions, the information on car-carrying trains is reduced to a single page). The features are updated on an annual basis and appear in the following editions:

• January: Sample Fares - A selection of point to point fares for each European country to give you an idea of the cost of rail travel.
• March: Cruise Trains and Rail Holidays - The principal luxury cruise trains, together with brief details of companies specialising in rail-based holidays.
• May: Rail Passes - Europe-wide passes such as Inter-Rail and Eurail, as well as passes covering individual countries or regions.
• July: Tourist Railways - The principal steam and heritage railways throughout Europe, including timetable details.
• September: High Speed Trains - Describes the different types of high-speed train, together with an overview of future developments.
• November: Night Trains - Details of different types of overnight accommodation, including terms and conditions of carriage and cabin layout plans.