Did it once but probably not again unless I can’t drive for some reason, like old age. I just love the freedom to be spontaneous about routes and schedules.
No. Taking the train for long distances is too much of a gamble when I’m on a schedule. More than half of my train rides end in delays, missed connections because of trains leaving too early, cancellations, missing wagons and being stranded at some rural station after closing. And most of the time the tickets are more expensive than what I’d spend on gas for the same distance.
I’d really love for it to be a viable alternative but the whole network and service need some major investments until then. The cost cutting over the last decades has been terrible.
my mom travels between Ukraine and Poland by train regularly, but i guess that doesn’t really count as Europe
I personally don’t use trains, because there are no reasonable connections on the routes I frequently use. Also, trips by train (especially when it’s cross-border), are often more expensive than the corresponding flights.
The problem is that cross country trains are a hassle, because many eu countries have there own booking system, gauge width, traffic control infrastructure. Unless you take a popular route between mayor cities, you need to buy multiple tickets and change trains.
The reason the tracks are not standardized is because in the 1800s the military did not want neighboring countries to just roll into their country by train.
You exaggerate somewhat - there are only track-gauge changes at the border of Spain, former Soviet-Union (Moldova, Ukraine, Lithuania) and Finland (way up north…) Also some narrow-gauge mountain railways. Often you do have to change train at the border due to differing electricity systems (openrailwaymap.org shows both). Anyway many borders are in pretty places in the hills or by the sea, good to see the view and get some fresh air. For a really comprehensive exploration of border crossings check out Jon Worth’s site
