Passengers travelling from Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof will probably never get this particular view of the flowing lines of the station above the platforms. Wien HBhf opened in 2014 and has become an important hub for rail travellers in Austria and beyond ever since… Photo © Leopold Brix / Dreamstime

You can travel south to Andalucia at high speed if you choose, but if you have a few hours to spare, why not take the old rail route that runs through the gorge at Despeñaperros?

Interesting to have the chance this month to travel on the Glacier Express in a carriage which was largely empty. It was a spontaneous decision seeing the rare empty carriage. Paid the supplement onboard.

“Görltz, right on the Polish border, has one of the finest city centres in central Europe with a dazzling array of Renaissance, Gothic and baroque architecture…” and you’ll find Görlitz close to the start of Route 38 in our book...

“In time we come to the Cinque Terre coast where, prior to the coming of the railway, a string of villages clinging to the cliffs relied entirely on boats for their connection with the outside world…” (from Route 46 in the 19th edition of Europe by Rail). Photo © Ahara / Dreamstime

Want a peek inside the 19th edition of our book? Here’s one of our ‘Sidetracks’ features from Europe by Rail, all about some of the best mountain excursions you can do by train in the Alps…

A tram ride is a fine way to take the pulse of the Rua Augusta in Lisbon, and the railway is a fine way to take the pulse of Portugal. Route 24 in our book is designed to do just that, as we follow the Atlantic coast of Iberia... Photo © Angelo Cordeschi / Dreamstime

For a couple of weeks this autumn - first half of November - the Bernina Express will run via the beautiful Prättigau railway instead of Albula. A rare chance to take a direct train from Klosters to Italy, running via Zernez to pick up the regular Bernina route at Samedan.

Spotted near Aranjuez in April this year. A Renfe train crossing the Rio Tajo (River Tagus). A lush valley before the arid lands of La Mancha. This old main line to the south from Madrid is a gorgeous route.

Very chic interior design and a full service restaurant car on board.

Swiss style on a long journey through Germany. Twice daily SBB trains from Basel to Hamburg offer a superb alternative to DB ICE trains. This is the ECE8 at Mannheim.

We describe crossing the Forth Bridge in Europe by Rail as a real magic moment… and if you are travelling north from Edinburgh, make sure to sit on the right side of the train to get a fine view of the bridge as you approach. Photo © Tomáš Bureš / Dreamstime

Which side of the train do you need to sit on for the best view of the coast, for example as you are passing through Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera as you travel along Route 46 of our book? Photo © Sergey Dzyuba / Dreamstime

Long term followers of Europe by Rail will know that we are great advocates for slow travel, but sometimes there is a need to get somewhere quickly… and Spain’s high-speed lines can certainly do that, for example on the AVE between Barcelona and Madrid… Photo © Pedro2009 / Dreamstime

Dresden station is not only the gateway to this fascinating city on the Elbe river in eastern Germany, but it is also the starting point for a journey to the mountains from the 19th edition of Europe by Rail…

Santiago Calatrava’s spectacular and fluid design for Liège-Guillemins railway station lies at the heart of a bold urban renewal programme. If you’re stopping for a photo, the station is arguably even better appreciated from the road outside… Photo © Boarding1now

Have you already got your hands on a copy of the 19th edition of Europe by Rail? If you’ve enjoyed planning your future railway trips or simply a spot of armchair travel over a hot weekend, could we ask you a favour?

PLM was the company which introduced such celebrated luxury trains as the Côte d'Azur Rapide and Le Train Bleu - names which evoke the romance of travel in a bygone age. Here's a poster from when travellers took a version of our Route 14 back in 1895...

The #52routes of Europe by Rail. But which one to take next? Which one cuts the mustard? How about Route 14, which takes the slow route from Paris to Geneva via the lovely French city of Dijon (see what we did there?) Photo © Sergey Dzyuba / Dreamstime

The 19th edition of Europe by Rail is out now, and as well as some lesser known treasures along the railways of the continent there are of course some classics, such as the Semmering Railway - one of Europe’s finest mountain routes...

The cover star of the 19th edition of our book is the Gotthard Railway, which opened in 1882. It features on Route 42 of Europe by Rail, and here you can see a Schweizerische Südostbahn train crossing the River Reuss near the village of Wassen.

The 19th edition of Europe by Rail is the definitive guide to rail travel in Europe, with 52 routes, “sidetracks” features on railway history and memorable short detours, as well as tips and info to inspire your next European railway adventure.

One of the joys of exploring Europe by Rail is stopping off on a whim at a small station in the hills. This is Le Tretien in Switzerland. The 19th edition of our book Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide is published today.

Not so often that an ICE makes a scheduled stop in Emmerich.

What nicer way to mark publication da of the 19th edition of "Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide" than by riding the Hanzelijn west from Zwolle in the Netherlands? A regional train seen here at Lelystad.

What is the perfect railway carriage? If you opt for the belle époque style of carriages which are used on some local Golden Pass trains from Zweisimmen to Montreux you can combine the theatre of the Swiss landscapes with a spot of time travel…

When you dream of a European railway adventure, what comes to mind? How about a journey through snowy mountains, for example on the Albula Railway from Chur in the Rhine Valley to the Engadine region? Photo © Boarding1now

At the start of this month, I didn't even know Lüneburg-West station existed. It's not in HAFAS, but seems to be a semi-detached bit of Lüneburg's main station. But in last ten days, I have been through it thrice. On Euronight, ComfortJet and ICE-L trains.

Sometimes the best railways are the ones of yesteryear. The old Spey Valley railway near Nethy Bridge is now part of the Speyside Way. Follow it down the valley towards Grantown-on-Spey (East) and beyond.

Have enjoyed trying a few night train operators these past weeks. European Sleeper was fun. Less success with RDC/SJ Berlin to Sweden which terminated short in Hamburg, just three hours into the journey.