Euro quiz # 42 - Trains, Trains and Railways...
 

1- In the U.K. how can you tell at a station if someone is a train spotter?

2- This London station is said to have at peak periods one train rolling thru it every 13 seconds! That's why they call it Britain's Busiest Railway station.

3- Where would you hop the Tren Eskro?

4- What is Europe's highlest in altitude train station?

5- What is the difference on overnibght trains between the Sleeping Car and a Couchette Car (types of accommodations in both)?

6- Florence has two secondary train stations which some trains only stop at, not going into the deadend Santa Maria Novella town center station - what are the names of those other two stations?

7- Paris has six main railway termini - serving so-called 'Grandes Lignes" of long-distance and suburban trains - name then as found on a map in clockwise order.

8- The Eurostar train London to Paris/Brussels has how four stations they train may stop at inbetween London and Paris/Brussels - name them?

9- In Germany what is the difference between a U-Bahn train and an S-Bahn train in urban areas?

10- In Italy there are three types of faster trains:

A -Frecciabianca
B- Frecciargento
C- Frecciarossa

What is the difference in these higher-speed trains in the type of tracks they run on and what goes the fastest overall speed?

The winner gets free use of train WCs for one year!

Oh - about the prize - I forgot to say 'Plus S & H'!

The prize cuts me out then, since local Dutch trains don't have loos.

Shouldn't this "quiz" be in the forum????

It is in the forum - the European forum because it solely concentrates on European travel - I try to construct the quiz not to just be a game but to be a learning tool for novice travelers who may pick up info useful to them or places they may not have heard to and want to go, food treats they may want to try, etc.

Plus you mean the Lounge - and many European travel experts cannot post in the closed-shop Lounge - restricted only to old-timer Fodorgarchs. Many cannot enter the Lounge.

Q- 11- why do you think it belongs in the Lounge (if that is what you meant)?

1. they stand on the platform with a notebook and never get on a train.

2.Clapham Junction.

4. the Jungfraujoch

5. sleeping cars have proper berths, couchettes have seats that recline.

6. non lo so [i don't know!]

7. can't do them in order - Gard du Nord, Montparnasse, Gare du Lyon,

8. Ashford, Lille

9. U-Bahn is underground, S-Bahn is the suburban over-ground service.

10 - no idea. you tell me.

You forgot the anorak for answer 1 Ann :).

annhig gets 4 correct - could take the prize maybe not - percy makes the final call (plus S & H!)

and yes hetismij makes a good point about the anorak - see anoraks in these images of train spotters:

https://www.google.com/search?q=brit...w=1455&bih=977

i think you should give the other participants ! an extension, Pal. They are probably still doing their research!

research ain't allowed under the rules! You obviously are hewing to that rule. You are now on single secret probation!

I'd give you # 1, 2 4 and 9 as correct - the others lacking or incomplete but that's the point just try - that makes it fun, for me at least!

what did i get wrong about the sleeping berths and couchettes, Pal?

or would that be telling?

7. Nord, Est, Lyon, Austerlitz, Montparnasse, St. Lazare

I think PalenQ os the anorak :)O

You did good on # 8 annhig, the other two are Ebbsflett and the last one starts with "C".

#3 . I can only gives hints
It is in France and close to SJdLuz . It starts with "H"

#7 You did well annhig with three.
The others are Gare d' "A" and Gare Saint "L" and finally Gare de I' "E"

I am only giving initials. !! :)

#10. PalenQ this may be a little tough for most people, so be nice.

Just a few hints.

A- This is the slower of all three trains and runs on the common tradition tracks.

B- This one runs on high speed lines only and runs faster than "A"

C- Well I will let you figure out what "C " does !!


annhig your answer for #5 is good enough.!! and remember I AM
the judge ! :)

#6: Here are the initials of the other two trains.
F.C.M. and F.R.

Have to go will be back later. It is 1:30 PM right now, in western North America.

The Lounge may not be a good idea because not everyone can get into the Lounge.

Cruise Forum may be better because it does not scroll down fast , where as Europe does.

People do all kinds of River Cruises in Europe and Mediterranean.

I Just a thought, I will not flex my Judge Powers ( :) ), as PalenQ does the questions

Couchettes have berths and blankets, compartments are for 6 passengers each and you'll share with strangers (unless you are in a party of 6, of course). Sleepers have proper bedding on the berths and private cabins for 1 or 2 passengers, and generally more comfort.

For number 5, I'd say that couchettes have proper berths that fold up (like a futon) to become uncomfortable seats. The old couchettes I remember from my youth didn't fold up at all, if I remember correctly.

Number 6 is Campo di Marte and Rifredi.

Number 7: I'll add Gare de l'Est, Bercy? (or has that been merged with Lyons?), and Austerlitz. I think I'm missing one, and definitely if Bercy doesn't count. The overnight trains between Paris and Italy used to leave from there.

Number 10 is:

A. the slowest of the "Freccia" trains, usually made up of old refurbished Eurostar Italia stock, runs on any track. The name means "White Arrow"-

B. Intermediate speed. They run on both the high-speed tracks and also on the older tracks. Means "Silver arrow".

C. The fastest trains, running only on routes with track adapted to their high speeds. "Red arrow".

Not one question about the Spanish trains?

What is the most irritating website to reserve a train?

The AVE from Madrid to Barcelona passes near what famous sight creating vibrations with every trip?

quokka has couchettes right but percy - generous percy gave annhig credit for reclining seats - kind of right - there are some first-class couchettes in some countries (France) with 4 strangers in a compartment - couchettes are mixed strangers - men - women - dogs - well no dogs

sleeping cars have yes private double and singles but some also have T-3s or Tourist Triples in addition to T-1 and T-2 compartments.

some overnight trains do have reclining seats - generally called Pullman seats I think and some evenhave regular seats - fewer and fewer of these as 'hotel trains' have taken over with no regulr cars.

Thanks to bvienci for her ? his superb description of the three type of faster Italian trains.

I forgot about Gare de Bercy and yes it wualifies as a Grand Gare I guess under my definition of a terminus - dead-end terminal station - thea makes seven all told - Austerlitz - Montparnasse - Saint-Lazare- Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est; Gare du Lyon and Bercy - and not sure about the de's or du's!

And percy did error on #10 - bvienci, who lives in Italy I believe, of course got it right.

#s 3 and 8 remain to be answered - with percy's helpfuyl hints.

Now over to the Lounge for some abuse!

Am also looking for volunteers to take over once in a while or once is a lot - my cupboard is getting bare! If anyone would be so kind to substitute - if I have not posted the day's Quiz yet feel free to do #43 or whatever should be next. Dank u wel!

-" couchettes are mixed strangers - men - women -"
Not in France. There are compartments for women travelling alone.