In this solo episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken takes you along on her winter steam train adventure through Germany - from snowy train platforms in Saxony to wooden vintage carriages, smoky landscapes, and a behind-the-scenes look inside the locomotive cabin.

You’ll hear and see what it feels like to travel on a coal-powered steam train, how these historic trains actually work, and why slow travel experiences like this can make you appreciate modern train travel even more. Clara also shares practical tips for affordable train travel in Germany, including how to use the Deutschland Ticket, Sachsen Ticket, and smart booking hacks for Deutsche Bahn.

This episode blends storytelling, travel inspiration, and practical tips for anyone curious about slow travel, sustainable transport, and unique train journeys in Europe.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it’s like to ride a historic steam train in Germany
• How steam trains work (in simple terms)
• Inside the locomotive cabin experience
• The environmental impact of steam trains vs modern trains
• Why slow travel feels more meaningful
• Winter train travel in Saxony
• Sachsen Ticket vs Deutschland Ticket explained
• How to save money on German train travel
• Deutsche Bahn app tips & booking hacks
• Using Omio for European train tickets (with a discount tip)

You can get €10 discount on your first purchase of train tickets on Omio:

https://go-refer.omio.com/oVAM15 - Or if you prefer to use a code, enter this code when you pay: claraf2z3v6f

📍This journey took place on the Lößnitzgrundbahn between Radebeul Ost and Radeburg - 20 minutes by train from Dresden - 1h30 by train from Leipzig.

Whether you’re a train lover, a slow travel fan, or just looking for a unique weekend trip idea in Germany, this episode will inspire you to travel differently.

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• Follow Paul Waye on Instagram @wayeoflife
• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Train travel is often praised as a sustainable alternative to flying.
But if you’ve spent time around train stations, platforms, and tracks, you’ve probably noticed something else: trash. A lot of it.

In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Paul Waye, the world’s first professional plogger - someone who runs and picks up litter at the same time. Recorded on location in the Netherlands, this conversation talkes about why public spaces around trains are so polluted, why cigarette butts are one of the biggest hidden problems, and what behavior change really looks like in everyday life.

Paul shares how plogging started during his daily run to the train station, how it grew into a full-time job, and why the first piece of trash you pick up matters more than how much you collect. Together, Clara and Paul talk about train stations, commuter behavior, deposit systems, smoking bans, and why infrastructure alone isn’t enough if habits don’t change.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What plogging actually is
• Why trash piles up just outside train stations
• The cigarette butt problem most travelers overlook
• How deposit systems work in countries like Germany and the Netherlands
• Why clean trains don’t always mean clean tracks
• Behavior vs. infrastructure in sustainable travel
• Simple ways travelers and commuters can make a difference

This episode is a reminder that sustainable travel isn’t only about how you move; it’s also about how you behave once you arrive.

sustainable travel • train travel europe • slow travel • eco travel • cigarette butts pollution • microplastic pollution • sustainable transport • green travel myth • train stations europe • environmental impact travel • travel devil podcast • Clara Francken • plogging • plastic pollution travel • sustainable mobility • public transport sustainability • climate conscious travel • ethical travel europe • travel podcast europe • Paul Waye • plogging train stations

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• Follow Paul Waye on Instagram @wayeoflife
• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Is there anything more beautiful than arriving at your destination by land instead of air? In this solo episode, host Clara Francken shares exactly how she traveled from Greece to Germany without flying - using ferries, regional trains, high-speed trains, and even the most stunning Flixbus ride of her entire life.

This episode is a mix of stories, practical tips, cost breakdowns, and slow-travel inspiration. Whether you dream of doing an Interrail trip, want to reduce your travel footprint, or simply love hearing about chaotic but wholesome journeys… this one’s for you.

✨ Total cost: €254.80
✨ Route: Greece → Italy → Switzerland → Liechtenstein → Austria → Germany
✨ Best part: The views. The views!!

What we cover:

• Why I traveled overland instead of flying
• Ferries between Greek islands & Italy
• Night ferry experience (and the €9 hack!)
• Italy’s magical coastline trains
• A small meltdown in Bari’s train station
• The most beautiful Flixbus route I’ve ever taken
• Crossing Liechtenstein’s tiny railway
• Austria’s stunning Railjet trains
• Final reflections on sustainable travel

Write us your thoughts on the show

Want more?

• Follow Paul Waye on Instagram @wayeoflife
• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel