Thomas Cook European Timetable
An international reference publication covering selected passenger rail schedules across Europe, supplemented by ferry, ship, coach and travel-planning information.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Thomas Cook European Timetable is the former name of a long-running international railway timetable publication now issued as the European Rail Timetable. It originated in the United Kingdom in 1873, when Thomas Cook employee John Bredall proposed a consolidated guide to railway and steamship schedules in continental Europe. The first issue appeared in March of that year as Cook's Continental Time Tables & Tourist's Handbook. The publication was initially quarterly, but became monthly in 1883 and remained a recurring travel reference for generations of rail passengers. The timetable has never attempted to reproduce every train, station or route in each country. Its purpose has been to provide a compact, portable selection of major railway lines and many secondary routes, together with selected international services. It has also included scheduled passenger shipping, ferry connections and a limited number of coach services where rail alternatives were unavailable. Supporting material has varied over time and has included route maps, station-connection maps, visa and passport information, customs and baggage guidance, currency notes, climate tables, railway terminology and lists of scenic routes. Seasonal supplements have also provided advance information about forthcoming summer and winter schedules. The publication passed through several names. From its establishment through most of the twentieth century it generally used “Continental” in the title, reflecting its emphasis on mainland Europe. A short-lived worldwide expansion led to the title Thomas Cook International Timetable from 1977 to 1980. Non-European material was subsequently developed in a separate Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, and the main publication became Thomas Cook European Timetable in 1988. “Rail” was added in 2005, producing Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, although the book continued to carry selected non-rail services. Editorial and format changes followed developments in railway operations and travel technology. The timetable adopted the 24-hour clock in 1919, introduced route-numbered tables after the Second World War, and added map indexes that linked covered railway lines to individual tables. It documented major international services including Trans-Europe Express and, later, EuroCity trains. Place names increasingly shifted from English forms to local spellings during the 1970s, while route distances changed from miles to kilometres in 1976. The traditional compact softcover format was retained, although the page dimensions and typical issue length grew substantially after the war. Publication was interrupted during the Second World War after the August 1939 issue, and resumed in 1946. It otherwise maintained a long publishing run, including a major post-war period in which the disappearance of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide left Cook's timetable as a particularly prominent international rail reference. The 1,500th edition was marked in June 2011. Thomas Cook discontinued the timetable in 2013 as part of its decision to close its publishing business. The final Thomas Cook edition appeared in August 2013. European Rail Timetable Limited was then established to continue the publication, and its first issue appeared in March 2014 under the title European Rail Timetable. Digital editions were introduced in 2016. At the same time, the number of printed issues was reduced from twelve to six per year, while digital issues continued monthly. In early 2025, printed publication was reduced further to two annual editions, Winter and Summer, with monthly digital editions continuing. The publication remains a specialist reference for travellers planning complex European rail journeys and for readers interested in the structure and history of international passenger transport.
History
The publication began in March 1873 after John Bredall, an employee of Thomas Cook & Son, proposed a consolidated guide to railway and steamship schedules for continental Europe. John Mason Cook approved the project, and Bredall served as its first, part-time editor. The first issue was titled Cook's Continental Time Tables & Tourist's Handbook. The title later incorporated references to tourist information and steamship schedules. Publication was quarterly at first and became monthly at the start of 1883. For most of its early history, the book used “Continental” rather than “European” in its title. The wording reflected the publication's concentration on mainland Europe and distinguished it from material covering Britain and overseas destinations. A temporary expansion of coverage produced Thomas Cook International Timetable between 1977 and 1980. Much of the non-European material was then transferred to the Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, while the principal publication reverted to a continental focus. In January 1988 it became Thomas Cook European Timetable, and in 2005 the word “Rail” was added. The book survived the disruption of the First World War, although shipping schedules became more prominent because railway services in some countries were affected. The Second World War caused a complete suspension after the August 1939 issue. Publication resumed in 1946. In the post-war era, the disappearance of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide left Cook's publication with less direct competition in the international European timetable market. Thomas Cook also introduced subscription sales in addition to selling individual issues. Editorial content developed alongside changes in railway practice. A 24-hour clock was adopted in December 1919. Route tables were numbered after the war, and new index maps introduced in 1954 connected covered railway lines with their table numbers. The publication added or maintained information about international named trains, car-sleeper services, Trans-Europe Express services and, later, EuroCity routes. Seasonal advance-schedule supplements became a regular feature in 1958. Around the 1970s, the book increasingly used local spellings for cities and changed all route distances from miles to kilometres in 1976. The timetable's central function remained practical portability. It selected principal railway lines and many minor lines instead of attempting to list every scheduled movement. Its pages also covered selected passenger shipping and ferry routes, and some coach links where rail service was not available. Other recurring material included station maps, travel terminology, border and documentation guidance, currency information, climate tables and scenic-route references. Some of these features were reduced as travel information became more readily available online and European border and currency arrangements became simpler. The publication introduced a Route of the Month feature in 2013, using narrative writing to describe a European rail journey while directing readers to relevant tables. A second travel-planning feature, Tip of the Month, followed in 2015. The last Thomas Cook edition was published in August 2013, when Thomas Cook closed its publishing business. European Rail Timetable Limited was created soon afterward, and the publication returned in March 2014 as European Rail Timetable. Digital issues arrived in 2016. Printed frequency was subsequently reduced from twelve issues to six, and in early 2025 to two annual editions, while digital issues continued monthly. The publication therefore persists in a different corporate and format structure while retaining the core timetable-reference function established in the nineteenth century.
- 2025
Print schedule reduced to two editions
[1]Printed publication moved to Winter and Summer editions, with monthly digital issues retained.
- 2016
Digital editions introduced
[1]The timetable expanded into digital publication while reducing the number of printed issues.
- 2014
Independent successor publication launched
[1]European Rail Timetable Limited published the first European Rail Timetable issue in March.
- 2013
Final Thomas Cook edition
[1]Thomas Cook ended publication, with the August issue serving as the final edition under its imprint.
- 2011
1,500th edition
[1]The publication marked its 1,500th edition in June.
- 2005
Rail added to the title
[1]The title became Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, although some shipping and coach information remained.
- 1988
Title changes to Thomas Cook European Timetable
[1]The longstanding Continental title was replaced by European.
- 1976
Distances converted to kilometres
[1]Route distances in the timetable changed from miles to kilometres.
- 1954
Route-numbered index maps introduced
[1]A new set of index maps linked covered rail lines with numbered timetable tables.
- 1946
Post-war publication resumes
[1]The timetable returned after the wartime interruption.
Products and positioning
A compact, authoritative specialist reference for planning international European rail travel, combining selected railway schedules with supporting route, station and transport information.
Printed travel reference · 1873
Thomas Cook European Timetable
The principal historical product was a softcover international timetable selecting major and many secondary passenger rail routes throughout Europe. It also carried selected ferry, passenger-ship and coach services, plus route maps, station information and practical travel guidance. The book was designed to remain portable rather than provide a complete listing of every train and station.
Printed and digital travel reference · 2014
European Rail Timetable
The successor publication launched in 2014 after Thomas Cook withdrew from publishing. It retains the core function of presenting selected international European rail schedules, supported by transport connections, maps and travel-planning material. Printed editions are now issued as Winter and Summer volumes, while digital editions continue monthly.
Editorial travel feature · 2013
Route of the Month
A recurring narrative feature describing a particular European rail journey and directing readers to the relevant timetable tables. It connects the publication's reference function with practical travel inspiration.
Brand decisions
2025
Further reduction in print frequencyStrategyBackground
The publication continued adapting its format and production schedule in an environment where digital information is increasingly important.
Action taken
Printed issues were reduced to two annual editions, designated Winter and Summer, while monthly digital issues continued.
Aftermath
The publication retained both physical and digital distribution, with digital becoming the more frequent format.
2016
Shift toward digital publicationStrategyBackground
Changing travel-information habits and the practical limits of frequent print production encouraged a digital format.
Action taken
Digital editions were introduced, printed publication was reduced to six issues per year, and digital issues continued monthly.
Aftermath
The timetable maintained monthly updating through digital editions while retaining a smaller printed offering.
2014
Publication transferred to a new independent publisherM&ABackground
The discontinuation by Thomas Cook created a gap in publication after a 140-year run.
Action taken
European Rail Timetable Limited took over publication and released a new issue in March 2014.
Aftermath
The timetable continued under a new name and corporate arrangement.
2013
Thomas Cook closes its publishing operationStrategyBackground
Thomas Cook decided to discontinue its publishing business, bringing the long-running timetable's publication under the Thomas Cook imprint to an end.
Action taken
The August 2013 edition was issued as the final Thomas Cook edition.
Aftermath
An independent company was formed within months to continue the publication under the European Rail Timetable name.
Recent events
- 2025
Printed publication reduced to two annual editions[1]
Product generation
The print schedule was reduced to Winter and Summer editions, while monthly digital publication continued.
- 2016
Digital editions introduced and print frequency reduced[1]
Product launch
Digital editions were added while the frequency of printed editions was reduced to six annually; digital issues continued to appear monthly.
- 2014
European Rail Timetable Limited resumes publication[1]
Other
A newly formed independent publisher took over the timetable and released its first issue in March 2014 under the European Rail Timetable name.
- 2013
Thomas Cook ends publication of its European timetable[1]
Other
Thomas Cook discontinued the timetable as part of the closure of its publishing business. The August 2013 issue was the final edition under the Thomas Cook publishing operation.
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