How do you stay entertained on a long train ride?

I'm very busy checking my app for how late the train will be, searching for new connections to continue my journey, and calculating whether or not I'll be able to get a compensation.

Otherwise, I'm also interested in technical aspects: signaling, overhead lines, other trains, crossing from one country to another, or just looking at the landscape.

On a long train ride I will invariably be “in the zone” looking out the window for ages.  If I’m on a main line, looking at (among other things) the parallel tracks, the in and out sweep of the points branching off and coming back in, and as we come into a station seeing who’s waiting for the train and imagining what’s going on in their worlds.

On a branch line . . . watching the change in the landscape, the farms and houses as time passes.

Very rarely, reading a book.  There’s too much going on out there to miss.

Wherever possible - having a coffee in the cafe car (or equivalent) and taking a photo of my coffee with the world flying by.

I very often look out of the window too or check on the rail planner app, which trains to which direction are running from the stations my train is calling at.

If a cafe-bar or even a dining car is available, I often go for a little snack or a plain meal there.

On night trains or trains, where I booked myself into a compartment, I often start talking to other travelers about their travel plans, many of these using Interrail too :).

When I’m on a new route or in a new country, I prefer to just look out the window, staring at landscapes, passing cities and towns, stations, the hustle and bustle of the local railways and figuring it out how it all works. Maybe you see a nice place or something peculiar, to check out on a next trip. A very meditative, in the zone moment.

Every now and then with headphones on, for a nice soundtrack paired with the views or a podcast to listen too, mostly for use if you are in a loud/busy carriage. The sounds of the train often have something relaxing too for me. Conversations with other travellers happen, but it’s rather organic. A delay or problem is usually a good conversation starter ^^

If I’m on a route that I travelled a lot or when there’s not much new to see (long tunnels) I usually read a newspaper or a magazine, like I do on my daily commute. On longer journeys and if the train’s not too busy/noisy I grab my e-reader reading books.

When travelling in group, talking with friends, playing a game, having an apero at our seats or do an outie to the on board bar/bistro/restaurant carriage to stretch the legs.

And sometimes trying to help that kind of helpless looking traveller, you just recognise them.

“Is this (the train to) Bruges?” is probably the question I answered the most on trains at home 😅

Everything that everyone has said so far, plus a portable craft project can be useful to pass time. And it’s actually a good device to engage in conversation with other passengers who are often curious about what you are making. I find that train passengers are definitely more talkative than on flights, not sure whether it’s just in my country but often people will tell another nearby passenger their life story then get off the train never to see that person again 😅

Oo a good book but most important is taking in the beautiful scenery! Ask the random backpacker with a large pack are they interrailing or travelling Europe ask them how long they’ve been doing and what they’ve seen 

It depends! I like listening to music and staring out of the window, especially if the sights are pleasing to the eye, or read - I have been in situations where I could not take a book with me and wanted to save my battery, so I couldn’t play music either. I try to chat up the person sitting next to me, if that’s the case! Sometimes the conversation ends up being hours long, and time flies a lot faster if you’re talking. I try my best to keep in touch with the people I meet afterwards, too. It’s always nice to learn about other people’s lives, you can get surprised by how kind strangers are, too :-)

I have the cheapest tablet and I filled it with movies and series. 
On my 8 hour journey I watched several episodes of Friends 😄

Iff it's quiet enough, I read a book or do a crossword puzzle.

 

I generally have my tablet and i play or watch downloaded stuff. But, for who doesn't have a tablet, my suggestion is: clear the memory on your phone! I know you all have billions of useless screenshots lol that space can be used for new photos aka new memories 💛

On my last pass, I had a book with me. I opened it once for the 4 hour ride from Kosice to Budapest - I was alone in a 6-seater carriage. I think I read two pages 💁🏼, then I got up to fix the curtain that had come off half of the hooks. Had fun making a video about that (mainly because I am not tall so it was no easy feat!) - but all that took me about 6 minutes in total 😅 The rest of the time was spent gazing out the window - and the next 12 journeys proved that’s absolutely my go-to. Next pass, the book stays home (but I know I will now also always be on the lookout for hanging curtains!).

On my last pass, I had a book with me. I opened it once for the 4 hour ride from Kosice to Budapest - I was alone in a 6-seater carriage. I think I read two pages 💁🏼, then I got up to fix the curtain that had come off half of the hooks. Had fun making a video about that (mainly because I am not tall so it was no easy feat!) - but all that took me about 6 minutes in total 😅 The rest of the time was spent gazing out the window - and the next 12 journeys proved that’s absolutely my go-to. Next pass, the book stays home (but I know I will now also always be on the lookout for hanging curtains!).

 

Haha this one is nice, I would do the same 😅

Love it 😂