Travel by train

Stopping for a short stay or traveling at a short distance?

Vacationing on a small budget or taking along small kids?

You've got to smile BIG 'coz we've got you covered.

Commuting by train is the way to travel on any of these occasions. Riding trains is a good way to explore what an area has to offer. Whether you're going to a festival, a shopping area, a show or an art exhibit, the train will take you there. Either the train goes directly to the location or there's a connection to other transit services.

Three major things you want to look at are: Speed, Convenience and Cost.

1. Lunch in London, Breakfast in Berlin

As this train booking site ad promises, it's possible for you to travel at high speed with passenger trains. With a little research and good planning / timing, you can minimize travel time and maximize your stay.

• With loads of information readily available on the Internet, you can check out train routes and schedules, including schedules of connecting transit services and places you want to visit.

• When traveling with kids, changing trains with tight connections may be stressful so it is recommended that you allocate time to disembark, transfer from one platform to another when needed, and board to the connecting train or bus. If you're all adults, you can hop from one train to another with the least time in between to minimize waiting time.

• Have your arrivals coincide with the hours of operation of tourist destinations you are going to visit to avoid waiting.

• When you get off at a particular station, go to all the possible places you can visit within that area before moving on to the next station.

• Avoid the rush hours, which can be inconvenient for children even with special sections allotted for them.

2. Who doesn't want discounts?

Cost-wise, train are an economic mode of transport but if that's not enough, you can even get discounts for yourself and your children.

• Ask if there are deals for families.

• There's a certain age among children, which qualifies for a free ride. Usually those age 4 and under do not pay.

• Buy train tickets in combination with bus systems.

• Some trains can take you directly to the city, which spares you from spending on cab.

• When traveling in Europe, you can save yourself from paying your accommodation if you sleep while your train travels. Just have your travel time coincide with your bedtime.

3. Convenience conquers!

Convenience wise, discount tickets can be purchased online. For short trips, prior reservations may not even be required. You can show up at the station on the day of your trip and grab a ticket for the next train. Trains also provide convenience in space, time, reach, frequency, and connections.

• Getting around Singapore is a breeze with their mass rapid transit. They have an extensive MRT with lines dotting the entire Singapore map.

• If you can't stuff your big luggage inside the cab, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in California has ample space for people traveling with luggage and can take them directly to the San Francisco Airport. If the train doesn't go directly to the airport, there are shuttles, which will take you there like in Oakland, California.

•Most trains open at 5 a.m. or even earlier during weekdays and close either late in the evening or midnight.

•Trains can take you to more places without the heavy traffic.

•There are no long queues for inspection, no removal of socks and shoes, and no limitations on gels and liquids.

•If you missed the 8 a.m. train, don't panic. Just catch the 8:30 or 9 a.m. train.

•It offers more frequent trips than buses.

4. Joy Ride

When children are asleep or tired, have a break, sit back and relax.

• Watching the contrasting views and landscapes is like watching an MTV with constantly changing scenes at high speed, minus the TV. I often see children entertained by this and glue their faces on the train window.

• Some trains have small play area for kids, bottle warming and baby changing facilities. Avoid seats near toilets, over wheels or in smoking areas.

5. Free Ride. At certain metro stations, there are buses and trolleys which provide free rides around downtown.

At downtown, it's more than listening to the music of the traffic in the city; you can go shopping and go to places of interest. When on a budget, roam around entrance-free places like town center, parks with playground for children, gardens and farmers' market. You can see the local color and have a taste of local flavor at the market.

• If you're getting off at McArthur station in BART, there's Emery-go-round shuttle right outside the station, which will take you to Emeryville electronic and shopping centers.

• From the Walnut Creek Station in BART, take the trolley for a free ride to town center and check out its restaurant and retail offerings.

6. Combo comes cheaper. Buy tickets in bulk or in connection with other lines which you will be taking for the duration of your trip.

• Muni fast passes allow unlimited travel for one calendar month on MUNI and on BART. (Muni provides public transportation within the City and County of San Francisco).

Toootoooot! Make way for train travel. Whether you're on a budget travel, with tots or short on time, hop on the train and you will lose track of most of your worries. There's something traditional about taking a train yet there's something new waiting at each stop. A train ride could turn out to be a vacation in itself.