Tales from the Fast Trains: Europe at 186 mph: Amazon.co.uk: Tom Chesshyre: Books

Review

Chesshyre... is an interesting, knowledgeable, discerning tour guide and a most genial companion --Alexander Frater, author of Tales from the Torrid Zone

transforms seemingly unsurprising familiar territory whether the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras or the cities of Frankfurt and Antwerp into the stage for insights and adventures --Dea Birkett, author of Serpent in Paradise

'If you've 'done' Paris and Bruges and are wondering, 'Where next?', then this may be a quiet revelation' --Andrew Marr

'splended twenty-first-century railway adventure. At last, this IS the age of the train' --Simon Calder

'compulsory reading' --Mark Smith, THE MAN IN SEAT 61

'Great fun, and an exhilirating read' --Sara Wheeler --Reviews for Tales from the Fast Trains

His eye for noteworthy detail and mild appetite for touristic adventure is affably engaging. --The Times, 24th September 2011

Featured in The Times 2nd July 2011 and serialised on thetimes.co.uk.

`travels across Europe on high-speed trains to explore off-beat places like mysterious Luxembourg, super-trendy Rotterdam, much-maligned Frankfurt and lakeside Lausanne.'

...keeps you guessing due to the fact you never quite know what s in store for the pair next. --Wanderlust magazine, August/September 2011

'... showing how Britons too can enjoy the type of travel best characterised by the Kraftwerk song Trans-Europe Express.' --Condé Nast Traveller, July 2011

It's so good... Tales from the Fast Trains is one man's account of a lifestyle change brought about by a lack of love for airport security, hidden airline charges and jet lag. If you ve ever been tempted to buy that inter-rail pass then this book about fast-tracking it to Laussanne, living it up in Rotterdam and travelling at an average 200 miles per hour, will make a delightful addition to your bookshelf.' --St Christopher s Beds & Bars: Live Your Life E-zine: August 2011 issue

a rare and welcome delight... such an original and compelling premise... a cracking narrative which should hopefully ignite light bulbs in the minds of many a traveller wanting a quick and painless weekend escape. --Trainsonthebrain.com, 26th August 2011

'Well written and very readable, this is a book that will inspire you to discover convenient destinations that don t usually appear on the holiday list. --The Good Book Guide, September 2011

'I found Tales of the Fast Trains to be a great read. I d recommend this book for a wanderluster hoping for some inspiration on choosing a European rail itinerary these destinations can be visited from anywhere in Europe, not just London... If that sounds right up your alley, then grab a copy. --SharingTravelExperiences.com, 6th September 2011 --Reviews for Tales from the Fast Trains

...keeps you guessing due to the fact you never quite know what s in store for the pair next. Wanderlust magazine, August/September 2011 ... showing how Britons too can enjoy the type of travel best characterised by the Kraftwerk song Trans-Europe Express. Condé Nast Traveller, July 2011 It s so good... Tales from the Fast Trains is one man s account of a lifestyle change brought about by a lack of love for airport security, hidden airline charges and jet lag. If you ve ever been tempted to buy that inter-rail pass then this book about fast-tracking it to Laussanne, living it up in Rotterdam and travelling at an average 200 miles per hour, will make a delightful addition to your bookshelf.' St Christopher s Beds & Bars: Live Your Life E-zine: August 2011 issue a rare and welcome delight... such an original and compelling premise... a cracking narrative which should hopefully ignite light bulbs in the minds of many a traveller wanting a quick and painless weekend escape. Trainsonthebrain.com, 26th August 2011 'Well written and very readable, this is a book that will inspire you to discover convenient destinations that don t usually appear on the holiday list. The Good Book Guide, September 2011 --Reviews for Tales from the Fast Trains

'I found Tales of the Fast Trains to be a great read. I d recommend this book for a wanderluster hoping for some inspiration on choosing a European rail itinerary these destinations can be visited from anywhere in Europe, not just London... If that sounds right up your alley, then grab a copy. SharingTravelExperiences.com, 6th September 2011 --Reviews for Tales from the Fast Trains

'I found Tales of the Fast Trains to be a great read. I d recommend this book for a wanderluster hoping for some inspiration on choosing a European rail itinerary these destinations can be visited from anywhere in Europe, not just London... If that sounds right up your alley, then grab a copy. SharingTravelExperiences.com, 6th September 2011 --Reviews for Tales from the Fast Trains

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"Keeps you guessing due to the fact you never quite know what's in store." --"Wanderlust" magazine

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Take the fast train, it's the only way to fly! 13 July 2011

By Adrenalin Streams TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This is a timely, well-written and ultimately inspiring book in which Tom Chesshyre, a travel writer for The Times, decides to explore the possibilities for weekend breaks around Europe offered up by the increasing number of high speed rail links that have been built in recent years. The author and his girlfriend "E" explore Dijon, Antwerp, Lille, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Lausanne, Rotterdam, Marseilles, Bruges, Tours, Cologne, Girona, and Paris over a six month period. Chesshyre does a beautiful job describing the character of the places he visits and, in addition, also fully imparts a sense of the added enjoyment that travelling by train to these destinations brought him. Apart from the train's green credentials (worthy but probably not your main consideration) the added enjoyment came from the ease of check-in, the central city departure and arrival, the comfort (not only seating but the fact of being able to move around), the sense of being on holiday the moment he boarded the train, and the joy of actually feeling he was travelling (apparently it's a rhythm thing!) and of being able to see and experience up close the changes of countryside and terrain on the way to each destination. The plane will remain the first (and probably only) choice of transport for really long haul holidays, but in "Tales From The Fast Trains" Tom Chesshyre has sold this reader at least on the very real opportunities for taking the train for holiday breaks in Europe, and in a way that makes travel enjoyable again and an integral part of the holiday.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

A new world of rail travel 10 Aug 2011

By Henry Layard

Tom Chesshyre has hit the spot again with his third `What if...' book. [The previous volumes reported from the exotic destinations available on bucket airlines and what it is like to visit some of Britain's less sung destinations.] This time Chesshyre sets off on a series of high speed train journeys starting at London's St Pancras station, and hurtling across Europe for long weekend breaks as far apart and afield as Holland, German, France, northern Spain and Switzerland. Chesshyre again brings his destinations to life, reporting his enjoyment of the the towns he and his girlfriend visit. Not for him (on this occasion at least) the dreadful airport queues, but swiftly city centre to city centre, watching the countryside flash by. Railways (to a very large extent) made our civilisation: with the advent of high speed, they are again expanding travel possibilities. Chesshyre captures the possibilities and the pleasures they offer with his shrewd eye and amusing pen.

My best read of 2011 16 July 2011

By Tiger Tiger

Just finished reading 'Tales From The Fast Trains' and wanted to recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different this summer... Like most of us, the author is sick of airport delays and long-haul flights and sets out to explore Europe with his girlfriend by high-speed rail. It's an entirely unique adventure - they visit Dijon, Antwerp, Lausanne, Girona, plus many other places you might not think to go - and now I want to see all these places!

It kind of reminded me of an 'On The Road' by train, cos a lot of these cities are off the beaten track, and there's something existential, meandering, almost questing about all these thousands of miles by high-speed (and not so high-speed) rail. And it's all right here on our doorstep, just a few hours away.

I loved this book. Am ordering copies for all the Europhiles I know. And booking myself a ticket to Bruges...