Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-11
RATES IN EUROPE.
Varying Charges In England and
Continental Countries.

Consul George Nicholas INT writinf
from Nuremberg. says that most Ameri,
can tourists return from a tour % Ell.
rope with an impression of cheap trans
portation on the government-owned rail-
roads OF Europe. but with many COM
plants as to the lack of what in tho
United States are regarded as the or
dinary conveniences OF travel, Concerns
ing these and passenger rates the con.
sui says:
The lack OF such convcnerces is real
enough, but the cheapness is more seem.
ing than real. and is largely due TO thl
shortness OF distances. Passenger rates
differ considerably in the different coun-
tries. Most of the railroads are owned
and operated by the State. but in som,
countries there are both State and pr
vate roads. and in England the railroads
are all private corporations. The follow
ing are the regular passenger rates. re-
duced to cents per mile, in the various
European countries. all of which save
England. have government ownership OF
railroad:
EXTRAS MAKE FARES HIGH.
From this table IT would appear that
In Germany railway travel Is cheapest,
bu, this is not really the case The facts
that round-trlp tickets at less than TWO
ira fares have been abolished. that ex-
ira fare foral express trains is charged.
and that there is no free baggage makes
travel In Germany more expensive than
In Belgium. These extras are. however,
so tritling as 20 still leave Germany be-
tween Belgium and France as regards
actual cost Of railway travel.
Railway fares IN Holland on private
liens are slightly higher than in France.
on the government lines the same rates
are charged for all distances UP TO 81
miles, for tickets for greater distances
the rate decreases as the distance In
creases. In Italy the rates per mile are
still higher but a differential tariff Of
fers some advantages on account OF ths
relatively greater distances. For dis.
tances over SS4 miles. the dare does not
increase. In other words, a ticket from
Chiasso on the northern border. to Pal
erno In tho extreme south, costs no
more than ticket from ChiasSo to
Naples. although the distance 10 40 or
300 miles greater. In Switzerland the
rates per mile are slightly lower than in
Italy
The highest passenger rates prevail on
the privately owned lines OF England.
and these vary greatly for the different
railways and for different trains on the
same lines. The minimum 10. however,
higher than the maximum anywhere on
the Continent. Lower than even In Bel
GUM however are the rates per mile
for travel on the ordinary Russian rail-
way trains. The main reason for this ID
that distances IN Russia are great and
the masses so poor that without very
low rates there would be few who could
afford TO traYel by rail Russian railway
trains are, too. ms . rule. most primitive
and afford fewer comforts or conven-
fences Tor the traveller than any other.
This, Of course does not apply to q few
such trains as the trans Siberian OK
press. Tor which the rates are high; nor
does any Of the above apply to the oc-
casional train dc luxe 10 be found in
other countries OF tho Continent. and for
which special rates are charged
Fer the purpose Of comparison II may
be added that in no country of Europe
does even "iirst-class' offer tho COM
forts md convoniences of the ordinary
passenger train I'm America.