Slow Trains to Venice: A 4,000-Mile Adventure Across Europe

by Tom Chesshyre

Do you love trains? Do you love adventure? If so, join Tom Chesshyre on his meandering rail journey across Europe from London to Venice.

Escaping the rat race for a few happy weeks, Chesshyre indulges in the freedom of the tracks. From France (dogged by rail worker strikes), through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, he travels as far east as Odessa by the Black Sea in Ukraine. With no set plans, simply a desire to let the trains lead the way, he heads back via Hungary, the Balkans and Austria. Along the way he enjoys many an encounter, befriending fellow travellers as well as a conductor or two.

This is a love letter to Europe, written from the trackside.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2020

About the author

Tom Chesshyre has been writing travel stories for UK national newspapers for over15 years. After reading politics at Bristol University and completing a journalism diploma from City University, he had stints at the Cambridge Evening News, Sporting Life and Sky Sports. During this period he won the Independent's young sports writer of the year competition and was runner-up in the Financial Times young business writer awards. His first travel piece was about England's cricket fans in Barbados for the Daily Telegraph. He freelanced for the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, wrote a column for Conde Nast Traveller, and contributed to the Express, the Guardian, and the Independent, before working on the travel desk of the Times. He has assisted with the research on two books - W. G. by Robert Low, a biography of W. G. Grace, and Carlos: Portrait of a Terrorist by Colin Smith, a biography of "Carlos the Jackal". He has written magazine pieces for Wanderlust, Geographical and Business Traveller - and contributes book reviews to the TLS. His travel writing has taken him to more than 75 countries. He lives in south-west London and was born in 1971.

His first book, How Low Can You Go: Round Europe for 1p Each Way (Plus Tax) was published by Hodder in 2007. To Hull and Back: On Holiday in Unsung Britain was published by Summersdale in July 2010, followed by Tales from the Fast Trains: Europe at 186 mph is published in July 2011.

Reviews

[Ben Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read during my honeymoon in Singapore & Bali. A page-turner not too dissimilar to a classic whodunnit novel, I was constantly keen to keep turning the pages whilst following Tom on his journey and seeing what adventures were in store next.

In amongst a lot of fun stories with fellow travellers and great facts about the trains and stations of Tom’s destinations are some insightful points about some important issues of today’s society including immigration and the rise of populist politics within Europe. A must-read for anybody interested in exploring the map of continental Europe and enjoying the journey vicariously via Tom’s epic journey.

[Zhenia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Reading the book was as soothing and entertaining as if I was myself on a train journey through Europe. Subtle humour and witty remarks made the reading feel intimate. Clever observations and detail of the meetings en route made writing alive. Amazing that a book about train journeys was so engaging! Well done