When travellers think of great European rail journeys, the same names tend to surface. Yet beyond the flagship expresses lies another Europe — one revealed by regional trains, mountain branches and cross-border connectors.
For readers of the European Rail Timetable, these are often found on the quieter pages: the tables you might skim past on first glance. Here are six underrated routes — with their ERT table numbers — that deserve closer attention.
Italy to Switzerland via the Centovalli railway
ERT Table 551 (Domodossola – Locarno)
Linking Domodossola with Locarno, this cross-border line winds through wooded valleys and over elegant viaducts. It makes a superb scenic alternative to the main Simplon corridor and integrates easily into Milan–Switzerland itineraries. Despite its beauty, it remains refreshingly low-key.
Pyrenean heights on the little yellow train
ERT Table 354 (Villefranche-de-Conflent – Latour-de-Carol)
Climbing to over 1,500 metres, this metre-gauge mountain railway delivers wide Pyrenean panoramas and dramatic engineering. In summer, open carriages enhance the experience.
Latour-de-Carol is a fascinating junction, linking onward to:
-
Perpignan – ERT Table 312
-
Barcelona – ERT Table 656
Together, these tables allow you to craft a superb cross-border mountain itinerary.
Portugal’s vineyard railway: the Douro line
ERT Table 694 (Porto – Pocinho)
Following the River Douro east from Porto, this line threads through terraced vineyards and quiet riverside villages. It is a working regional railway rather than a tourist showpiece — which makes it all the more appealing. It is advisable to take earlier departures from Porto in the summer, particularly at weekends.
Steam in daily service: the Harz narrow gauge railways
ERT Table 867
In Germany’s Harz Mountains, steam remains part of the regular timetable. Services link Wernigerode, Nordhausen and the Brocken summit. Trains to the Brocken can be very busy in peak season, but exploring the quieter branches can be equally rewarding.
Baltic coast calm: Szczecin – Świnoujście
ERT Table 1010
Northern Poland’s Baltic coast offers a very different kind of rail journey — flat horizons, lagoons and access to wide sandy beaches. The regional service between Szczecin and Świnoujście is straightforward but opens up creative routing options, especially when combined with other rail routes in the area or the Scandinavian ferry link in Table 2495.
Why These Routes Matter
Including lesser-known tables in your journey planning offers practical and experiential rewards:
-
Fewer reservations required
-
Lower crowd levels in peak summer
-
Easier flexibility for multi-country trips
-
A more authentic sense of place
All of the routes outlined are easily accessible during the summer 2026 season. While premium scenic trains often sell out early, regional lines typically retain capacity and flexibility.
A Timetable Tip
Next time you plan a journey, deliberately scan a few pages either side of your intended route. The most memorable discoveries often sit in adjacent tables — quietly connecting landscapes, borders and cultures that faster main lines bypass entirely.
Sometimes the magic lies not on the main lines, but along the connecting secondary routes and branch lines.
Photo: ID 41872159. © Morseicinque. Dreamstime.com
