Crowded Platforms and Window Seats: One Family's Interrail Adventure

by Judy Yorke

Thirty-five years after her first interrail trip around Europe, Judy Yorke found herself back on the tracks again, this time with her husband and teenage sons in tow.

This is an entertaining account of the family’s adventures involving 3,000 train miles, 16 locations and a suitcase with a squeaky wheel.

Judy also takes a nostalgic look back at her first trip and offers advice and tips to help anyone inspired to interrail themselves.

Crowded Platforms and Window Seats is a FINALIST in the Wishing Shelf Book awards 2024.

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2024

About the author

Judy Yorke is a journalist, copywriter, editor and writing tutor who loves to travel.

Some of her fondest memories are of interrail holidays taken as a student. She loaded her rucksack with too many books, stayed in youth hostels and lived on bread, cheese and ice-cream.

Last summer, she interrailed again, this time with her husband and two teenage sons. She loved it so much she wrote a book about it.

Her first book, Crowded Platforms and Window Seats, is for people who wonder what interrailing is really like.

With a chapter on her first trip in 1988, it's also for those who interrailed themselves back in the day and would like to reminisce.

It's for anyone who wants to enjoy travel for travel's sake, who would rather gaze out of a train window than squash into an aeroplane seat.

Reviews

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Crowded Platforms and Window Seats
Author: Judy Yorke

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“If you ever thought of going on a ‘train adventure’, this book is for you. Lots of advice and helpful insights.” Female reader, aged 44
“This book reminded me of when I went inter-railing back in the 90s. But it was just me, now a family! Funny in parts; informative too.” Male reader, aged 53
“A nostalgic look at inter-railing – which can be a lot of fun! Accessibly written, often comical, I think most armchair travellers will find this compelling.” Male reader, aged 41
“This ‘travel’ book is a little different as it looks back at the author’s interrailing back in her younger days, comparing it to going interrailing with her family. Insightful, light-hearted, informative too.” Male reader, aged 66
“Helpful tips for travel. This is the sort of book you can jump into on any page and enjoy. The author is a good writer who knows how to keep her story moving as she travel along. If I knew a person who intended to do this sort of trip, I’d advise them to read this book first.” Female reader, aged 32

To Sum It Up:
‘A fact-filled, humour-filled travel adventure as the author (plus family) sets off across Europe by train. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Clarissa Brincat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, but disjointed

I liked the fact that the author is economical with words: she didn't get lost in flowery descriptions, which is something many authors do. However, I expected the description of the 3-week adventure to be longer. Instead, at around the 100-page mark, the focus shifts to the author's 1988 interrailing trip. I think it would have worked better if the 1988 trip memories came first, as a preface to her more recent trip. The flashback is followed by a practical section filled with tips for interrailing. I found this section very boring and think it would have been better to weave the tips into the narrative instead.

[Rien Van Keulen - Roelse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leuk om te lezen. Een fijn, klein boekje dat makkelijk wegleest. Veel herkenning voor treinreizigers.

[HattieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read but not one I'm likely to revisit unless I needed the advice or guidance the book has.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read - useful information if you are thinking of interrailing

[Berticusdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read

Loved this nice easy to read travel book on kindle. Would recommend. Maybe plan my next train travel adventure now!

[Ben Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read. Felt like more of a long-read article than a book. One to refer back to if/when I go interrailing.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This is the third book about interrailing that I’ve read and is without doubt the best. I love the author’s style of writing - informative and humorous - and would recommend this book for prospective interrailers and armchair tourists alike.