World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys

[evilbrian]

I’ll put the Dunedin train on my list, thanks!

My aim over the next few months is to do Tasmania’s West Coast Railway. It’s a good time to explore closer to home.

Did that one last year. Go for the full day option from Stahan to Queenstown and back, and book the Wilderness carriage. I think it's closed until the New Year though, due to maintenance works.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Did that one last year. Go for the full day option from Stahan to Queenstown and back, and book the Wilderness carriage. I think it's closed until the New Year though, due to maintenance works.

The half day from Queenstown is running but not the full day to Strahan. They’ve increased days of operation due to demand. Apparently tourism is actually up on the west coast compared to this time last year, despite the fact that it’s only intrastate tourists. It’s terrific news for that region.

On Tasmania's isolated West Coast, tourism operators say business is booming

Tasmanians are taking advantage of being stuck in the state during the coronavirus pandemic by exploring the West Coast, with tourism operators in the region reaping the benefits.

www.abc.net.au

 

[UP4014]

The half day from Queenstown is running but not the full day to Strahan. They’ve increased days of operation due to demand. Apparently tourism is actually up on the west coast compared to this time last year, despite the fact that it’s only intrastate tourists. It’s terrific news for that region.

On Tasmania's isolated West Coast, tourism operators say business is booming

Tasmanians are taking advantage of being stuck in the state during the coronavirus pandemic by exploring the West Coast, with tourism operators in the region reaping the benefits.

www.abc.net.au

If the opportunity presents itself, a visit to the Lake Margaret Power Station is interesting, they have a wood stave pipe line which has just been rebuilt as a wood stave pipe line.

 

[Spongbob]

If the opportunity presents itself, a visit to the Lake Margaret Power Station is interesting, they have a wood stave pipe line which has just been rebuilt as a wood stave pipe line.

So nothing new to see?

 

[UP4014]

So nothing new to see?

Depends on if you are a wood stave pipe aficionado I think.

 

[Melburnian1]

Do you have a link for the trip from FW to Istanbul please?

One can buy a Balkans Rail Pass for the last bit - very cheap - and a Eurail consecutive or other pass for Europe. Plus a BritRail Pass for the UK.

It depends of course on how much you'll travel as these get cheaper by the kilometre the more one does.

I have done this trip in reverse order starting in Istanbul, and overnighting in places like Sofia, although on that occasion I did not go all the way to the UK but to Austria.

That Seat 61 website gives some information.

 

[Melburnian1]

There is indeed still a train ferry to ride in Europe. The ferry from Rødby in Denmark to Puttgarden in Germany unfortunately lost its trains last year.

The Berlin Night Express from Berlin to Malmö, an overnighter by ferry from Sassnitz to Trelleborg, but only in midsummer, has been resurrected the last couple of years. Unfortunately, Stena line has suggested the Sassnitz-Trelleborg ferry is kaput post covid, and it’s unclear what the alternative route will be.

And of course ferry is the only way by train to Sicily, and for the time being the only remaining train ferry. Here’s a pic of an intercity split in two and parked in the bowels of a ferry from Messina to Villa San Giovanni. The actual ferry trip is only 20 minutes, but with all the the shunting the total time from arriving one side to leaving the other is nearly two hours.
(Edited to include the bad news)
cheers skip
View attachment 228498

I did that Trelleborg route a few years ago but the arrival time in Germany was pretty early at 0630. Not a criticism, as it was still very interesting, but it didn't allow any lie-in in the morning.

 

[PineappleSkip]

That Seat 61 website gives some information.

<Flailing arms>DANGER WILL ROBINSON!
Indeed Seat61 does, there is some invaluable buying advice here, and you'll find his bottom line on Eurail and its ilk here.

We've done numerous multi country visits, all mostly by rail, but we last bought a Eurail pass 15 years ago, when we realised we'd spent much more than we needed to. Since then we have always priced the cost with point to point tickets (and also with multi country passes) but never found either better value than point to point, including first class where possible.

It was great value if you were doing a grand tour before there were website bookings and the railways started discounting, or if you want utter freedom to jump on a train and your comparison is with last minute full fares. We now want utter freedom to buy well in advance and nab the best seats at a good advance purchase price.

cheers skip

 

[dajop]

We've done numerous multi country visitsI last bought a Eurail pass 15 years ago, and have always priced the cost with point to point tickets (and also with multi country passes) but never found either better value than point to point, including first class.

Agree re Eurail.

Although I found the UK passes better value, the price of rail in UK can be exhorbitant, especially at last minute, Last year we had a quick visit to UK, and did a four day pass (with 3 pax travelling together) that was excellent value.

 

[VPS]

Agree re Eurail.

Although I found the UK passes better value, the price of rail in UK can be exhorbitant, especially at last minute, Last year we had a quick visit to UK, and did a four day pass (with 3 pax travelling together) that was excellent value.

British train prices are so variable. I have friends in Crewe and I can often get the slow train up off peak purchased in advance on my seniors discount card for around 6 pounds. Front up at the station and it can be at least 40 quid. It is interesting though that some of the commuter stations its often difficult to get cheap tickets eg Banbury

 

[dajop]

British train prices are so variable.

I've also heard it said that on occassions it can be cheaper to have two tickets (A to B and B to C) than one ticket A to C depending on city pair, and sometimes even on the same train. The opposite of hidden city ticketing in airlinespeak. Not sure if this is true or not.

[And in Victoria, going from regional city to regional city is cheaper than just travelling to Melbourne, as you just change platforms at Southern X, so don't need to swipe in and swipe out, although in theory it shouldn't be cheaper if you travel through zone 1]

 

[PineappleSkip]

Indeed it can, in the Uk at least. It used to be an art form, but there's a website for everything (at least everything in the UK).

trainsplit.com

splitticketing.co.uk

Cheers skip

 

[Gabriel123]

SBS is currently screening a series "World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys".

Some of the train journeys look delightful. But they are not cheap.

Yes. We are train fanatics and planned to travel by train along Silk Road routes, this year. However, covid is a fact of life and we have to satisfy ourselves catching local trains.

 

[VPS]

Yes. We are train fanatics and planned to travel by train along Silk Road routes, this year. However, covid is a fact of life and we have to satisfy ourselves catching local trains.

Welcome to AFF

This thread has certainly created a lot more bookmarks for me. I can't wait to get out there again

 

[JessicaTam]

Yes. We are train fanatics and planned to travel by train along Silk Road routes, this year. However, covid is a fact of life and we have to satisfy ourselves catching local trains.

Welcome to AFF

This thread has certainly created a lot more bookmarks for me. I can't wait to get out there again

Indeed. And a belated welcome from me as well. Please don't wait another five years until your next post.

 

[Spongbob]

SBS is currently screening a series "World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys".

Maybe it is just me, but does the theme music for this TV show sound similar to another (different context) theme music?
See post #74: So, what music are you listening to now?

 

[OZDUCK]

Maybe it is just me, but does the theme music for this TV show sound similar to another (different context) theme music?
See post #74: So, what music are you listening to now?

I can certainly hear where you are coming from. There does seem to be a lot of similar 'phrases'.