RE: The joys and challenges of Europe by rail

I can get to the Eurostar terminal in about an hour from home by train, so it's convenient. Getting to the nearest airport involves driving or more complex public transport. Then there's more waiting around there. We have done the flight to Berlin and train from there before.

Although we had these disruptions it did not ruin our trip or put us off taking the train.

Magdeburg is a nice little town. Local celebrities are scientist Otto von Guericke and Otto the Great. There's an impressive cathedral and other interesting buildings. It's just not on the scale of somewhere like Leipzig or Dresden.