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 😅