Since 2010, the editorial management of Europe by Rail has been coordinated by Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner, who together run a Berlin-based editorial bureau called hidden europe. By the 14th edition (published in June 2016), legacy texts from older editions – penned by a variety of authors – had been almost entirely replaced with completely new journey descriptions. So, with a more uniform authorial voice, the book has in recent years showcased that distinctive style of well-informed narrative travel writing which has been the hallmark of work by Nicky and Susanne. Well-researched, gently opinionated prose which really makes you want to hop on a train.
From 2005 to 2023, Susanne and Nicky edited hidden europe magazine. Words and images by Nicky and Susanne have featured regularly in many European media, often with a focus on rail travel to far-flung parts of the continent. Their work has been translated into many other European languages: German, Italian, Basque, Polish, Russian and many more besides. Both Susanne and Nicky are keen travellers who enjoy nothing more than exploring Europe by train from their base in the German capital of Berlin.
Of course the authors relied on many other experts who moved heaven and earth to help transform Europe by Rail from what it was 15 years ago - a guidebook which was a little long in the tooth - into what it is today. Europe by Rail has since 2018 rated as one of the top-selling guidebooks in the English language. The 19th edition, published in June 2026, looks set to perpetuate that tradition.
Many well-known writers contributed to early editions of Europe by Rail. The book's first editor was Melissa Shales. She sadly passed away on 25 December 2021. Mel was a remarkable woman and a great traveller with a special affection for train travel. It was Mel who, way back in publishing history, sketched out the contents for the launch of Europe by Rail in the 1990s. We would like to think that there's still a dash of Mel's spirit in the book today - athough it now looks so very different from the early editions managed by Mel.
The current authors want to record their thanks to Tim and Anne Locke who were wise counsellors at the planning stage for the 12th edition, and sat for some days with the editors around a table in Berlin, helping to redefine the scope of the book. It was with that 12th edition that Europe by Rail took on a completely new look. Tim had of course been editor of some earlier editions of Europe by Rail. Berlin-based writer Paul Scraton worked with us on the 12th and 13th editions and has always been exceptionally supportive of the entire Europe by Rail project.
Susanne and Nicky are alone responsible for the selection of journeys for inclusion. To some extent, we have been influenced by what features in the European Rail Timetable but the choice of what to add in or remove is ours and ours alone. Susanne and Nicky wish to record their appreciation to Chris Woodcock and the team who produce that timetable for their painstaking commitment to a publication which inspires like no other.
Nicky and Susanne have now prepared the 19th edition of Europe by Rail which will be published in June 2026.
