Last month my wife and I were travelling in Europe. She had a Schengen visa. We wanted to travel from Budapest to Venice - both in Schengen countries. Train was the only option. We got tickets for a sleeper.

Five hours out of Budapest, surprise surprise: the train travels through non-Schengen Croatia. The wife and two other Asians travelling on Schengen visas were forced off the train in the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere. (I went along for the ride.) It took us four connections and another 140 euros to get to Venice, travelling throughout the night.

This happens every night. Both on the route from Budapest to Venice and from Venice to Budapest. Only Schengen visa holders are tossed out. If you come from one of the countries that can enter Europe visa-free, you'll be given a stamp and permission to pass, as I was on my Australian passport.

'Serves you right', you might say. 'Should have checked the visa requirements for Croatia.' The thing is, there is no way to find out in advance which route the train is taking. So there's nothing to alert you to check the visa requirements for Croatia.

Be warned if you're heading that way.

I've started a website to raise a little dust over the issue: http://www.shameoncroatiangov.org.

'Serves you right', you might say. 'Should have checked the visa requirements for Croatia.' The thing is, there is no way to find out in advance which route the train is taking. So there's nothing to alert you to check the visa requirements for Croatia.

Crickey, sounds quite awful and I can see how this can catch people out.

Good info.

Moss

Aweful indeed. One minute your tucked in bed. Next thing you're on the platform and your train chugs off without you.