schengen countries travel

Within Schengen there are no border check points so nothing to do if driving or on a train. If picking up a ticket I assume you show the passport for ID purposes.

Depends on your mode of transportation between the countries. If flying, you will need to show your passport as part of typical airport security procedures. On a train, you typically have a conductor check whatever you designated as identification when you purchased your tickets (e.g. a credit card, driver's license, passport). I've only ever had a security guard ask me for a passport once, on my very first European train ride, from Amsterdam to Brussels and it has never happened again despite numerous border crossings. I have not crossed a border by car, but I don't expect you will be stopped for a passport check.

Countries in Schengen are like states in the US - open borders (although the Schengen Treaty does allow countries to impose border controls under special circumstances). You show your passport on entering or leaving Schengen (eg, at the airport).

Thank you. I am travelling overnight so was curious if I would be woken up every border.

Hi Maggie - long time no see.

Are you going after the December timetable change? I just got official notification this afternoon of the long expected termination of all CNL trains from the timetable change....

However, there's no word so far of any changes to Vienna-Zurich or Vienna-Venice night trains. Of course, flying a budget airline can be cheaper.

I doubt on an overnight train you would encounter a passport check. If you have a couchette, and the conductor expects some type of check, they may ask for your passport to hold for that purpose. Other than that, during the day, and with all the security measures that have been taken, it would not be out of the question for police to enter a train at a stop and walk through to check papers, getting off at the next stop; but not as a routine.

Yes, if you are on a night train that crosses borders, and if you have some sort of sleeping compartment (couchette or compartment) it will have an attendant who will check your ticket, show you your compartment, brief you on how to lock the door, where the light switch is, where the bathroom is, asking what time you want to be woken before your destination, etc. He will also ask for your passport and keep it in his office at the end of the car. That way if border police do get on, he has all the passports of the passengers in the car if they care to check them. That way, they won't have to wake everybody up. You get your passport back with your wake-up knock.
Oh yeh, he might be a she.