As this is the final NS train on #CrossBorderRail, a few thoughts
The experience with Dutch railways is so very cohesive. All the aspects are thought through. The design, the signs, even the materials in the stations. It feels everything is looked after.
Sure it’s not perfect - I’d like it if some trains were a little faster, and some tracks are a bit bumpy. But there is a sort of predictability about it all. You’re not - like in Lier (BE) yesterday - going to be suddenly left with a hopelessly low platform.
Also the two big stations I’ve been to - Den Haag C and Utrecht - might not be super charming but they *work*. Designed for massive passenger flows.
I had a couple of minutes of delay yesterday, but other than that everything has been on time.
Also re. Interrail: you can use all trains, no reservations or supplements, and a digital Interrail pass opens the gates at stations too. So @ns_online a big 👍 from me.
The CO2 level in the NS VIRM train. The train being only about 25% full probably helps most here tbh
And here’s the border I’m approaching. Arnhem - Emmerich (north side of the Rhine) is fine. There’s even an Arnhem - Düsseldorf regional train. But Kleve is stuck on the German side with no connections either to Nijmegen or even Emmerich!
This missing link has a monument!
Danke @DaKrys für die Diskussion am Bahnhof Kleve! Jetzt geht’s weiter nach Düsseldorf
#CrossBorderRail Train 15
NWB 75029 Kleve - Düsseldorf Hbf
Ave speed: 62 km/h
Operator: Nord West Bahn
Train type: Lint
⛽️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free but with a gap)
📶: ⛔️
🍽: ⛔️
This Kleve - Düsseldorf train line is mad. There’s a train every 30 mins. But it’s diesel and mostly single track. Having just chatted to some passengers: that causes problems! The trains won’t run July-November for signal upgrade works. But this needs 2 tracks and ⚡️!
Nijmegen - Kleve, the German side
Nijmegen - Kleve, the Dutch side
Hmmm. Getting through the Ruhrgebiet is looking a bit complex! Handy to know what I’ll be facing though.
#CrossBorderRail Train 16
VIA 52250 Krefeld Hbf - Duisburg Hbf
Ave speed: no idea. Hadn’t intended taking it! Will calculate later
Operator: VIAS
So the train in my original plan today is cancelled. The one I’d planned to take instead is delayed. But an earlier one - that I couldn’t have normally reached - I now can reach because that too is delayed! DB is having one of those days…
Duisburg Hbf
Not my train today, but these @SiemensMobility built RRX trains are the best regional trains I’ve used in Germany. Very well designed inside.
#CrossBorderRail Train 17
IC 2116 Duisburg Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
Ave speed: 103 km/h
Operator: @db_bahn
Train type: Class 101 locomotive & carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅ (lots of space!)
🦽: ✅ (with ramp, not step free)
📶: ⛔️ should be wifi but it’s broken
🍽: ✅
Oh and 30 min late…
We’ve been pottering through the north of the Ruhrgebiet. It’s v hot. The air is bad. Ok, it’ll get me faster to Niebüll but it’s not great.
So DB has managed to send this IC I am on from Gelsenkirchen to Münster (Westfalen) via Hamm (Westfalen) and not via Dortmund - racking up more delay - and they have not said a word over the loudspeakers to inform people of the further delay. Good job I have a map!
Sorry @db_bahn but IC 2216 was worst train on #CrossBorderRail yet. Smelly, hot, 50 min late, wifi broken. Poor info about delays. Staff passed through ONCE in 4 hours. I helped an elderly lady with connections from Bremen as there was no one passing by. I’d expect a bit better
I’m reminded of @K1ngdaKa88’s tweets a few weeks ago about handling a big delay caused by damaged overhead wires near Bern. Can you come and give DB some advice, Lukas? ;-)
Grinding to a halt a few metres from Hamburg Hbf. Nice view as ever though…
Some Schleswig Holstein wind turbines for @JanAlbrecht
A guy I know who lives near Hamburg calls the Marschbahn Hamburg-Westerland the “Am Arschbahn”. And now I think I know what he means…
But here’s some water from a bridge near Friedrichstadt
Today’s the day of tweetups en route! Super to meet you @lukascph at Husum station! Quick chat while the train waited to leave…
Leaving Husum. Nice views!
Oh this is perfect. Terrace of Hotel Landhafen in Niebüll. I’ve still got some non-#CrossBorderRail work to do, but for the moment I’m enjoying sunshine, fresh air, and birds singing in the trees.
Niebüll when it comes to trains is… a little strange.
Today’s postcards to @AdinaValean & one of the project supporters are on their way!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
This morning I’m one of the first new regional trains Maubeuge 🇫🇷 - Charleroi Central 🇧🇪 #CrossBorderRail
It was a bit of a #fail at the station. I needed a ticket to Erquelinnes, the first station in Belgium. But prior to today trains from Maubeuge didn’t stop there!
Ticket machine ⛔️
Ask at the ticket office. “Le train ne s’arrête pas à Erquelinnes!” I politely told the SNCF employee that yes, it did stop at Erquelinnes. I explained the situation to the SNCB train manager and he laughed, confirmed it did stop there, and I bought the ticket online!
Delays in my favour. Maybe? S-Bahn to FFM Flughafen. Get a late running ICE to Köln Messe/Deutz there. Then try to blag my way onto a Thalys Köln Hbf to Bruxelles? It’s a long shot but it might work…
ICE 612 Frankfurt Flughafen to Köln Messe/Deutz.
This is why accurate live running data in apps matters. Were this not running 10 min late I’d not have caught it… but live data allowed me to plan a connection that’d otherwise not work
Already on the 2nd train of the day: TGV Montbard - Paris. All being well I’ll be in Denmark tonight… but that feels a long way off just now! #EGPCongress#crossborderrail
Across Paris RER Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord, walk to Gare de l’Est (faster than changing into a Métro to Est) and it’s onto the TGV to Mannheim. So far so good, but I banked on this bit working 🙂 #EGPCongress#CrossBorderRail
Franco-German train service. Very French prices! And no, it’s too early (and expensive) for #beerontrains 😉
Jeez. It could take until 2025 until TGVs are approved for the line.
And the whole effing point of Stuttgart21 - of which this line is a part - was to create a Paris-München high speed corridor!
Really, how can everyone mess up *so badly*?
And to those going “yeah but there are few TGVs anyway” true, but so it goes on and on. International services are the lowest priority - even when *they were the stated rationale for building the line*