Is travelling via Interrail in Europe still the same as 40 years ago?

Young people have been exploring Europe with Interrail tickets for decades. In the age of low-cost air travel, is ‘going Interrailing’ still what it was 40 years ago? — WERNER BAUM/dpa

A backpack, a tent, an Interrail ticket – that’s all Tom Steinbrecher needed for his summer holidays back in 1983.

Without making any reservations, the student took the night train from Hamburg in Germany to Paris, France. He pushed two seats together in an empty compartment and let the rattling of the train lull him to sleep.