General Train Discussion

[coco50]

Re: You know you are a frequent flyer when ...

I've experienced a similar thing boarding the TGV in Lyon (at the airport station).

It's a real game in Europe - France and Italy from my experience. Hordes of pax standing, gazing at the destination board, like the second coming would occur there, waiting for the platform of the trains they are catching to appear. Then the mad scramble through the gate and the search for the approximate position on the platform where their carriage will be.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: You know you are a frequent flyer when ...

It's a real game in Europe - France and Italy from my experience. Hordes of pax standing, gazing at the destination board, like the second coming would occur there, waiting for the platform of the trains they are catching to appear. Then the mad scramble through the gate and the search for the approximate position on the platform where their carriage will be.

Well the TGV platforms are very well organised into zones and the screens display where each car will stop so you can match that with the car on your ticket.
May be the same process you describe, but it's quite painless.

 

[dajop]

Little bit of trivia aside, caught the train a few weeks ago from Zurich to Innsbruck (Railjet). Very relaxing, got a reasonable meal + small bottle of wine in the restaurant for just under 13 Euro. The best bit, I was allocated seat no. 61, so for a few hours became "the man in seat 61". Google it if you don't understand the reference.

 

[Melburnian1]

So it takes twice as long on the train from Shanghai to Beijing as to drive! An interesting trip, no doubt. I look forward to the trip report.

I am another who does not understand this.

Driving with an hour's break might take 13.5 hours. I am not sure what assumptions are made regarding starting and end points and congestion on the roads though.

As explained by The Man in Seat Sixty One, a typical train timetable is 1000 to 1455 hours: four hours 55 minutes. That's almost triple the speed of driving.

JessicaTam, you may have been looking at some of the older overnight sleeping car trains that are far slower than the modern high speed trains. The latter has more than one variant.

 

[get me outta here]

I looked at the little train above the map, and the little car above the other map and that made sense to me then. Cruiser said he got it 'cough about'.

I am another who does not understand this.

Driving with an hour's break might take 13.5 hours. I am not sure what assumptions are made regarding starting and end points and congestion on the roads though.

As explained by The Man in Seat Sixty One, a typical train timetable is 1000 to 1455 hours: four hours 55 minutes. That's almost triple the speed of driving.

JessicaTam, you may have been looking at some of the older overnight sleeping car trains that are far slower than the modern high speed trains. The latter has more than one variant.

 

[JessicaTam]

I looked at the little train above the map, and the little car above the other map and that made sense to me then. Cruiser said he got it 'cough about'.

Got it, thanks.

 

[CMak]

Question for train travellers
I am thinking of taking the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Los Angles later in the year.
I realise it is a 48 hour journey but I am keen to see some of the country side without driving.
Has anyone done this trip or any other long distance Amtrak services? If so, how was the experience?

 

[Melburnian1]

CMak, I have, but not recently.

Very pleasant. Best to purchase a 'bedroom' (sleeper) if you can afford it. Staff generally good. Seat pitch (if you cannot reserve or afford a sleeper) is generous on the double deck carriages ('Superliners.')

Recent reports on the dining car(s) on Amtrak trains are variable, but USA residents are skilled at making complaints.

A great way to travel and different to Oz so well worth doing. No need for you to worry about sticking to the highway speed limit if driving, so yes, I'd recommend Amtrak.

Have a look at the man from seat sixtyone's good website.

 

[Deleted member]

Mrs GPH sent me a pic overnight of her sleeper accommodation from Hanoi.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Question for train travellers
I am thinking of taking the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Los Angles later in the year.
I realise it is a 48 hour journey but I am keen to see some of the country side without driving.
Has anyone done this trip or any other long distance Amtrak services? If so, how was the experience?

Have done a few. California Zephyr from SFO to Chicago great value for scenery
Fares used to be very cheap compared with Australia, but haven't compared for a couple of years now.
They are obsessed with making all sorts of loudspeaker announcements, it goes on all day, but not at night.
They have this concept of 'community seating' on their dining cars, meaning if there are two of you, you will be seated with two strangers.
The food on board is not rocket science. Via Rail (canada) has much better food and feels generally more relaxed, but the sleeper compartments are much smaller than superliner bedrooms. Viewliner bedrooms (in the East) are also a lot smaller.

Cheers skip

 

[JessicaTam]

It seems Deutsche Bahn want to do away with their sleeper trains by the end of the year. They are to be replaced with standard IC or ICE 'seat only' trains.

 

[Himeno]

Question for train travellers
I am thinking of taking the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Los Angles later in the year.
I realise it is a 48 hour journey but I am keen to see some of the country side without driving.
Has anyone done this trip or any other long distance Amtrak services? If so, how was the experience?

I've had a few Amtrak trips. Longest was Portland-Sacramento (connecting into the central valley) a few years ago. Overnight for the most part. Harder to sleep then in Y on a 777. Limited power (which everyone awake was fighting over) and train was quite late.
Crew came around to book dinner times in the dining car.

 

[seanpodge]

It seems Deutsche Bahn want to do away with their sleeper trains by the end of the year. They are to be replaced with standard IC or ICE 'seat only' trains.

Sleeper trains are an endangered species in Europe, it seems. A real shame.

 

[Mattg]

Little bit of trivia aside, caught the train a few weeks ago from Zurich to Innsbruck (Railjet). Very relaxing, got a reasonable meal + small bottle of wine in the restaurant for just under 13 Euro. The best bit, I was allocated seat no. 61, so for a few hours became "the man in seat 61". Google it if you don't understand the reference.

That's a very scenic route too. Would love to be doing that trip right now!!

It seems Deutsche Bahn want to do away with their sleeper trains by the end of the year. They are to be replaced with standard IC or ICE 'seat only' trains.

No! Those overnight sleeper trains are great. Having a proper bed makes all the difference between a good night's sleep and an uncomfortable, restless night on the train.

Having said that, those Deutsche Bahn sleeper trains are getting quite old and I don't think they have anything to replace them with.

 

[JessicaTam]

No! Those overnight sleeper trains are great. Having a proper bed makes all the difference between a good night's sleep and an uncomfortable, restless night on the train.

Having said that, those Deutsche Bahn sleeper trains are getting quite old and I don't think they have anything to replace them with.

2007 I think.
It is rumoured that ÖBB (the Austrian train network) may take some of the routes.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I've been looking at the possibility of taking the Tazara Railway from Dar-es-Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (or vice versa):shock:. I've read about it on seat61 which, of course, has lots of information.

Has anyone on here travelled on this route?

 

[dajop]

That's a very scenic route too. Would love to be doing that trip right now!!

Unfortunately it wasn't scenic for me. I couldn't leave until after 5pm Friday night, and in order to maximise time in Innsbruck didn't get back until midnight Sunday. Saw no scenery in either direction. Nevertheless saw some amazing scenery in and around Innsbruck.

 

[kelvedon]

Another attempt to revive the Sydney to Melbourne HSR. This group is meeting with the PM today.

New Melbourne-Sydney fast rail pitch to Malcolm Turnbull

 

[coco50]

Another attempt to revive the Sydney to Melbourne HSR. This group is meeting with the PM today.

New Melbourne-Sydney fast rail pitch to Malcolm Turnbull

Sydney to Melbourne in 3 hours on a train. Won't happen any time before 2090. Anyway, I'd still rather fly.

 

[Buzzard]

Sydney to Melbourne in 3 hours on a train. Won't happen any time before 2090. Anyway, I'd still rather fly.

So not in my lifetime. :evil: