The joy of ‘winterrailing’: my off-season rail adventure in France, Germany and Switzerland

Golden landscapes, cosy cafes and crowd-free sightseeing are just some of the highlights of exploring central Europe by rail in the cooler monthsYou’ve got broadly two options when planning an off-season rail trip in Europe. Hop on a sleeper train and speed as far south as you can in the hope of finding some sunshine, or lean into the oncoming winter.With an October half-term holiday looming, our family decided to embrace the second option, planning a “winterrailing” itinerary