An Interrail Passholder’s tale

An Interrail Passholder’s tale  Just as with road and air travel, whilst the vast majority of journeys go smoothly, occasonally not everything goes according to plan. AERA exists to promote travel by rail, but it also has a duty to hold the train operators to account...

Using the Newhaven – Dieppe Ferry

For 30 years Eurostar has been the fast rail services from England to France, using the Channel Tunnel. But there  are still alternatives, one of which is the Newhaven – Dieppe ferry run by DFDS. Indeed this was traditionally  the cheapest cross-Channel route from...
The ease of travelling to France by train

The ease of travelling to France by train

By Trevor Garrod For over two decades I have organised group visits by train to the Continent, using the services of an AERA member, and had one such group booked to go to Montpellier in May 2020. Obviously the visit had to be postponed more than once, but almost all...
Return to Stena

Return to Stena

It was April 1st when I made my first trip on the Harwich – Hoek van Holland ferry since 2020. Because of other commitments I found it convenient to stay the night in a hotel in Dovercourt and use the day sailing, coming back to England on the night sailing April...

Night Trains Back on Track?

AERA is in regular contact with Back-on-Track – a network of independent campaigns in many European countries for improved international services, especially night trains. Our Secretary (in an individual capacity) has taken part in their activities, including –by zoom...

European Year of Rail?

Trevor Garrod Secretary, AERA tgarrod21@gmail.com This is European Year of Rail – though British readers may be forgiven for not knowing, since the fact has been barely publicised in the UK. It is regrettable that the UK Government has failed to support this...

Trains Are a Safe Way To Travel

TRAINS ARE A SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL Because of COVID 19, some people have been claiming that trains are an unsafe way to travel, without providing any clear evidence to back their claim. Research in several European countries, including the UK, Germany, Austria, France...

AERA General Meeting – July 2020

AERA held a General Meeting with zoom on July 29th. Members reviewed the changing travel scene as the Government advice on “essential travel only” was relaxed and replaced by emphasis on “safer travel.” We consider it is vital to have  a joint...