Thomas Cook European Timetable
Cover in 1993; elements of this version were in the cover design from 1988–2004 | |
| Editor | Chris Woodcock |
|---|---|
| Former editors | Brendan H. Fox (1985–2013); J. H. Price (1952–85), et al. |
| Categories | Travel reference; passenger rail transport |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 20,000 (as of 1977) |
| First issue | March 1873 (as Cook's Continental Time Tables) |
| Company | European Rail Timetable Ltd (2014–) Thomas Cook Publishing (and predecessor Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd.), 1873–2013 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Based in | Oundle, Northamptonshire |
| Language | English, with 4-page introduction in four other languages |
| Website | European Rail Timetable |
| ISSN | 1748-0817 |
The European Rail Timetable, more commonly known by its former names, the Thomas Cook European Timetable, the Thomas Cook Continental Timetable or simply Cook's Timetable, is an international timetable of selected passenger rail schedules for every country in Europe, along with a small amount of such content from areas outside Europe. It also includes regularly scheduled passenger shipping services and a few coach services on routes where rail services are not operated. Except during World War II and a six-month period in 2013–14, it has been in continuous publication since 1873. Until 2013 it was published by Thomas Cook Publishing in the United Kingdom, and since 1883 has been issued monthly.
In 2013, Thomas Cook discontinued publication of the Timetable, in accordance with a decision to close the company's publishing business altogether, and the final Thomas Cook edition was published in August 2013, ending a 140-year run. However, within a few months a new company, European Rail Timetable Limited, was formed to take over publication of the Timetable. The first issue compiled by the new company was published in March 2014, with the publication title now being European Rail Timetable. In 2016 digital editions were introduced, and the number of printed editions per year was reduced from 12 to 6, but with digital issues thereafter being published monthly.
The Timetable has been recommended by several editors of travel guide books for Europe, one of whom described it as "the most revered and accurate railway reference in existence".