Freep: Make tracks in Europe - by Ellen Creager

For the complete report from the Detroit Free Press click on this link

Europe's fast trains are pure pleasure. The confusing part for Americans is figuring out the logistics of riding them. How do you get a ticket, and should you buy it in advance? What's the difference between a fast train and a regular train? How do you find the right station and track? Where do you stand on the platform? How do you get your ticket punched? There basically are two kinds of trains in Europe -- regular and high-speed. Confusingly, each country's high-speed service is called by a different name. The Belgians have Thalys (pronounced TAL-is). The British have Eurostar. The French have TGV. The Spanish have AVE, and so on. All of them are very, very fast. Most speed along at 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour -- about 100 m.p.h. faster than poky U.S. trains.