A guide to Europe by rail

If you love traveling in Europe and prefer trains to cars, Frommer's has just released ''Europe by Rail" (Wiley, $23.99) a first-ever collaboration with America's source for European rail tickets, Rail Europe. This 880-page guide offers all kinds of information about rail routes (including phone numbers and websites for the national railways of 20 countries, even how to figure out where to stand on the platform to find your assigned car and seat easily. The guide focuses on accommodations, restaurants, and the top attractions in 18 countries, and provides 10 thematic itineraries such as ''Europe's Best Castles & Palaces," and ''Europe for Food Lovers." A full-color fold-out map, detailing main rail routes with city details, is a bonus. Available at bookstores and at www.frommers.com and www.raileurope.com.