In 2001, I purchased my train tickets once I arrived in France and did considerably better than Rail Europe prices. In 2002, I purchased train tickets for Great Britain on line from Trainline and had them mailed to my first hotel.

While many of us prefer to have all our trip details worked out before we leave, you can usually purchase train tickets nearly up to the time that the train leaves. It is often cheaper than even a railpass.

Barbara in CT