Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

Does the European Rail Timetable, published by Thomas Cook since 1873, have a future with a new publisher? Plans are afoot for the relaunch of a book that has defined horizons for generations of travellers.

article summary —

Thomas Cook might be turning in his grave at the news that the company bearing his name no longer escorts travellers from England to Switzerland (see previous article). But other news from the same company this month will surely be enough to raise the ghost of Cook.

In 1873, Thomas Cook launched his Continental Timetable and Tourist’s Handbook, the title which evolved over the years into the remarkable European Rail Timetable. In March this year, the company celebrated 140 years of timetable publishing with great fanfare and we at hidden europe felt privileged to be a part of that heritage — through our responsibility for the Thomas Cook title Europe by Rail and, latterly, our role in providing a ‘Route of the Month’ feature for each issue of the European Rail Timetable.


This is just an excerpt. If you are a subscriber to hidden europe magazine, you can log in to read the full text online. Of course you can also read the full article in the print edition of hidden europe 40.

About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 40.