VG, 07 Aug 2008
Verg good map, if your interrailing, this is much better than the map you get with the ticket, many more stations are listed, although if your just staying in major cities/capitols you can prob make do with the interrail suypplied map.

VG, 07 Aug 2008
Verg good map, if your interrailing, this is much better than the map you get with the ticket, many more stations are listed, although if your just staying in major cities/capitols you can prob make do with the interrail suypplied map.

truly awful, 24 Aug 2007
You'd be better off spending the money on phone bills and printer ink getting better , more up-to-date info off the internet. This book is truly awful.

Dire, 19 Mar 2007
Planning a trip to Cologne I looked around for a guide book, finding no Time Out, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guide I was forced to turn to this guide - I wish I hadnt. This book gives I suppose a basic introduction to the city highlighting the general attractions but when it comes to the details it really falls down and is in fact laughable - highlights for me included the recommended restaurants section which gave details of McDonalds and Pizza Hut, the total lack of cross referencing areas and attractions to the city maps and the illogical layout which meant that it was extremely difficult to find information.

VG, 07 Aug 2008
Verg good map, if your interrailing, this is much better than the map you get with the ticket, many more stations are listed, although if your just staying in major cities/capitols you can prob make do with the interrail suypplied map.

truly awful, 24 Aug 2007
You'd be better off spending the money on phone bills and printer ink getting better , more up-to-date info off the internet. This book is truly awful.

Dire, 19 Mar 2007
Planning a trip to Cologne I looked around for a guide book, finding no Time Out, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guide I was forced to turn to this guide - I wish I hadnt. This book gives I suppose a basic introduction to the city highlighting the general attractions but when it comes to the details it really falls down and is in fact laughable - highlights for me included the recommended restaurants section which gave details of McDonalds and Pizza Hut, the total lack of cross referencing areas and attractions to the city maps and the illogical layout which meant that it was extremely difficult to find information.

Near essential for interrailing!, 07 Aug 2008
just got bk after 5 wks interrailing and i used this quite alot. Its quite bulky and heavy and thought b4 travelling... do i really need it? shall i just use the internet or go to stations to ask about schedules? well, it comes ito its own when you arrive somewhere, dont like it and want to go somewhere else, gives your more freedom. you can usually find the train time you want from this 'bible'. not all routes are listed, but unless your travelling around tiny, small rural villages, this wont matter.

VG, 07 Aug 2008
Verg good map, if your interrailing, this is much better than the map you get with the ticket, many more stations are listed, although if your just staying in major cities/capitols you can prob make do with the interrail suypplied map.

truly awful, 24 Aug 2007
You'd be better off spending the money on phone bills and printer ink getting better , more up-to-date info off the internet. This book is truly awful.

Dire, 19 Mar 2007
Planning a trip to Cologne I looked around for a guide book, finding no Time Out, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guide I was forced to turn to this guide - I wish I hadnt. This book gives I suppose a basic introduction to the city highlighting the general attractions but when it comes to the details it really falls down and is in fact laughable - highlights for me included the recommended restaurants section which gave details of McDonalds and Pizza Hut, the total lack of cross referencing areas and attractions to the city maps and the illogical layout which meant that it was extremely difficult to find information.

Near essential for interrailing!, 07 Aug 2008
just got bk after 5 wks interrailing and i used this quite alot. Its quite bulky and heavy and thought b4 travelling... do i really need it? shall i just use the internet or go to stations to ask about schedules? well, it comes ito its own when you arrive somewhere, dont like it and want to go somewhere else, gives your more freedom. you can usually find the train time you want from this 'bible'. not all routes are listed, but unless your travelling around tiny, small rural villages, this wont matter.

Criticism of Thomas Cook rail map , 12 Jun 2007
The Thomas Cook rail map is a poor piece of cartography as it is poorly drawn, fails to interpret complex networks, and despite the claim on its cover, does not show all lines in the UK. The following headings describe these problems but are not exhaustive.

Complete failure to interpret complex urban areas despite the large scale of the map
The conurbations of Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester are not explained or the detail shown, except London which is covered fully.
This means for example Birmingham Snow Hill and the Jewelry line are not shown, Glasgow Central and Queen Street major termini not identified, etc, etc. The map gives the impression you can change in Birmingham between the Chiltern and Virgin routes, and between Cardiff Bay at the South Wales main line.

Does not include 'all' railways
For example, no Wrexham Central, no Dewsbury - Sowerby Bridge or Halifax - Huddersfield, no Stockton - Middlesbrough, no Paisley Canal, Ardrossan Harbour, Newcraighall or Larkhall branches.

Wrong angles into stations/junctions
For example: Littlehampton junctions shown wrongly, Exeter South Western line should enter from SE not NE, Durham coast line shown entering Newcastle from SE - should be SW, Fife Circle should lead south to Kircaldy, Dundee line at Perth should come in from the NE not SE

TOCs not always accurate
For example: Southern runs to Reigate, Virgin Cross Country does run Guildford - Redhill

Unusual station selection
For example: tiny Leigh in Kent, but no Castleford or Pontefract, Burnley multiple stations not shown, Falkirk multiple stations not shown, no Carstairs, Dumbarton, Dyce (even though the airport is shown), no Stalybridge

Unclear junctions
Not always clear if a junction is effected or not where lines of the same colour cross, for example: Strood/Rochester; Maidstone; Gloucester unclear, station is off mainline on Chepstow line; Falkirk

Unclear stopping patterns
Not always clear if station ovals covering lines is significant, for example: Virgin XC passes Gloucester (correct) but shows Virgin XC stopping at Mexborough but not Rotherham; map shows Virgin West Country stopping at local stations (ie Rugeley).

Inconsistency
For example: reversal shown at Morecambe and Cromer but not Swansea or Bere Alston

Graphics
Overlarge symbols for historic buildings etc., not sure if these are accessible from rail stations or not, inconsistent selection
The selection of 'scenic routes' is subjective, for example: Shrewesbury - Chirk and western end of Newquay branch are not that great
Generally poor alignment between stations and captions

This is just a selection of the multiple problems occurring on this map, which is very disappointing from a publisher the likes of Thomas Cook as it does not stack up to the claims of its publicity, and is of little practical use as a travelers guide.

VG, 07 Aug 2008
Verg good map, if your interrailing, this is much better than the map you get with the ticket, many more stations are listed, although if your just staying in major cities/capitols you can prob make do with the interrail suypplied map.

truly awful, 24 Aug 2007
You'd be better off spending the money on phone bills and printer ink getting better , more up-to-date info off the internet. This book is truly awful.

Dire, 19 Mar 2007
Planning a trip to Cologne I looked around for a guide book, finding no Time Out, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guide I was forced to turn to this guide - I wish I hadnt. This book gives I suppose a basic introduction to the city highlighting the general attractions but when it comes to the details it really falls down and is in fact laughable - highlights for me included the recommended restaurants section which gave details of McDonalds and Pizza Hut, the total lack of cross referencing areas and attractions to the city maps and the illogical layout which meant that it was extremely difficult to find information.

Near essential for interrailing!, 07 Aug 2008
just got bk after 5 wks interrailing and i used this quite alot. Its quite bulky and heavy and thought b4 travelling... do i really need it? shall i just use the internet or go to stations to ask about schedules? well, it comes ito its own when you arrive somewhere, dont like it and want to go somewhere else, gives your more freedom. you can usually find the train time you want from this 'bible'. not all routes are listed, but unless your travelling around tiny, small rural villages, this wont matter.

Criticism of Thomas Cook rail map , 12 Jun 2007
The Thomas Cook rail map is a poor piece of cartography as it is poorly drawn, fails to interpret complex networks, and despite the claim on its cover, does not show all lines in the UK. The following headings describe these problems but are not exhaustive.

Complete failure to interpret complex urban areas despite the large scale of the map
The conurbations of Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester are not explained or the detail shown, except London which is covered fully.
This means for example Birmingham Snow Hill and the Jewelry line are not shown, Glasgow Central and Queen Street major termini not identified, etc, etc. The map gives the impression you can change in Birmingham between the Chiltern and Virgin routes, and between Cardiff Bay at the South Wales main line.

Does not include 'all' railways
For example, no Wrexham Central, no Dewsbury - Sowerby Bridge or Halifax - Huddersfield, no Stockton - Middlesbrough, no Paisley Canal, Ardrossan Harbour, Newcraighall or Larkhall branches.

Wrong angles into stations/junctions
For example: Littlehampton junctions shown wrongly, Exeter South Western line should enter from SE not NE, Durham coast line shown entering Newcastle from SE - should be SW, Fife Circle should lead south to Kircaldy, Dundee line at Perth should come in from the NE not SE

TOCs not always accurate
For example: Southern runs to Reigate, Virgin Cross Country does run Guildford - Redhill

Unusual station selection
For example: tiny Leigh in Kent, but no Castleford or Pontefract, Burnley multiple stations not shown, Falkirk multiple stations not shown, no Carstairs, Dumbarton, Dyce (even though the airport is shown), no Stalybridge

Unclear junctions
Not always clear if a junction is effected or not where lines of the same colour cross, for example: Strood/Rochester; Maidstone; Gloucester unclear, station is off mainline on Chepstow line; Falkirk

Unclear stopping patterns
Not always clear if station ovals covering lines is significant, for example: Virgin XC passes Gloucester (correct) but shows Virgin XC stopping at Mexborough but not Rotherham; map shows Virgin West Country stopping at local stations (ie Rugeley).

Inconsistency
For example: reversal shown at Morecambe and Cromer but not Swansea or Bere Alston

Graphics
Overlarge symbols for historic buildings etc., not sure if these are accessible from rail stations or not, inconsistent selection
The selection of 'scenic routes' is subjective, for example: Shrewesbury - Chirk and western end of Newquay branch are not that great
Generally poor alignment between stations and captions

This is just a selection of the multiple problems occurring on this map, which is very disappointing from a publisher the likes of Thomas Cook as it does not stack up to the claims of its publicity, and is of little practical use as a travelers guide.

Great guide to a fantastic city, 10 Sep 2008
Firstly, I would have to congratulate 'CitySpots' on publishing a guidebook dedicated to the beautiful city of Strasbourg: a guidebook which appears to be the only one of its kind! However, we did not feel the absence of other guidebooks during our time in Strasbourg, as this book gave all the information we needed to have a fabulous stay. Unlike many guidebooks, this one did not suggest wildly expensive shops, restaurants or hotels but recommended ones within the average tourist's budget and of very good quality. Indeed, we booked our hotel on the basis of one of the entries in the guidebook and were not disappointed. The layout was easy to digest, entries were concise but informative and the book itself was a small enough size to be carried around every day. We would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to explore Strasbourg.

As with any guidebooks not published in the year you travel, 1 or 2 entries were out-of-date but these were very few and far between. Overall, a very useful and informative guidebook.