Going green doesn’t just apply to your home and garden; it can also apply to travel. During a time of mounting airline delays and increased baggage fees and restrictions, taking the train in Europe is a smarter, greener option to help reduce your travel expenses and your carbon footprint.

The Eurail Pass is a badge of honor for many backpack-toting college students. It turns 50 next year, and due to the weak dollar overseas and rising fuel costs, train travel is once again becoming an affordable, eco-friendly option for American travelers of all ages.

Trains even have an edge on intra-European low-far carriers because trains arrive in the middle of city center and there’s no real limit on the amount of luggage you can carry.

The traditional Eurail Pass has evolved over the years and is now called the Global Pass. It links the railroads of 20 mainland European countries, and the organization added Croatia and Slovenia just this year.

Besides the Global Pass, there are several passes that practically allow you to make your own itinerary depending on the number of countries you wish to visit. Basically, you should first plan where you want to go and for how long. Then figure out how many days you want to travel by train – it could be 15 consecutive days or 15 days during a two-month period for example.

Choices are either first or second class, and keep in mind reservations are sometimes needed even for the less expensive seats. Eurail Passes are good for passengers who appreciate the scenic journey. Passes also benefit the budget and eco-friendly traveler because they include added value freebies and discounts on ferries, buses, cable cars and museums.

For more information about the Eurail Pass, click HERE.