European Train System- Reference Book

I don't think you will find a whole book because the subject is not that complicated. Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door has a section that is more than adequate for using trains, rail passes and p2p. The whole book is useful for all aspect of European travel and worth the purchase if this is your first trip. Otherwise go to the book store, read it, and make a couple of notes. I know most Americans view train travel as complicated but it is simple and once you been on one or two train you will recognize how easy it is. Second, most seasoned travelers will recommend the use of open jaw tickets to save time in back tracking to original arrival point unless you are doing some type of a circle tour. Unless you have purchased your ticket you might consider coming home from Munich and save a few bucks.

Thomas Cook publishes several rail guides, these may be what you´re looking for. Formerly, they would publish a yearly giant refernce book with near complete time tables for western Europe, but this was unwieldy and became nearly obsolete by the time each edition hit the book shops. They now publish smaller volumes that don´t attempt the same level of comprehensiveness. But as Frank notes, rail travel really isn´t difficult, even if you don´t speak the language. The only "don´ts" I can think of are: don´t get on a train without a ticket, don´t get on the wrong train, and don´t use RailEurope, EUrail, or any other third party ticket and pass reseller.

Check out seat61.com. There are also books, man in seat 61.

Jackson, I have a few suggestions that might help. To begin with, you might read the Rail Skills section in the Guidebook Europe Through The Back Door. That will provide a good introduction to rail travel in Europe. You might also consider downloading the free PDF Rail Guide from this website (click the "Railpasses" tab at the top, and then look in the lower right corner). You may also find it helpful to have a look at This Short Video. It's a bit "dated" but provides some good tips. Given your home location, you're actually in a VERY FORTUNATE POSITION, and have an an advantage over most of us here! You might consider taking the short Ferry ride across to Edmonds one morning and visiting ETBD headquarters (it's at 130 Fourth Avenue North, not too far from the Ferry dock). While there you could browse the Guidebooks, speak to Rick's rail experts and pick up any Guidebooks you'll need or a Railpass if necessary. You might even have an opportunity to speak to Rick! Happy travels!

You want the Thomas Cook railguide. I like having the paper version, too.

Another recommendation for the Thomas Cook European Timetable.