European Rail Buff News
Jul 14th, 2005, 09:02 AM
#22
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EVEN FOR ITALY A LONG TIME
In what is probably a Guinness World Record, the new station at Portici on the Napoli-Torre Circumvesuviana rail line has opened after 22 years of construction! Beaucratic infighting and incompetence led to many delays. the old station becomes the town library.
In what is probably a Guinness World Record, the new station at Portici on the Napoli-Torre Circumvesuviana rail line has opened after 22 years of construction! Beaucratic infighting and incompetence led to many delays. the old station becomes the town library.
Jul 14th, 2005, 09:52 AM
#23
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The Brussels-Amsterdam high-speed rail line is due to open in 2007. currently Thalys high-speed trains only run at top speed until near Brussels then poke along thru Antwerp and Holland to Amsterdam. the new line features a new stop at Antwerp Centrale station, currently bypassed by Thalys trains which only halt at Antwerpen-Berchem, in the suburbs as Antwerpen-Centrale is currently a dead-end spur line off the mainline. the new line burrows under Antwerpen Centrale with a stop there and then continue on thru the port area to Roosendaal. Paris-amsterdam soon in under 4 hours!
Jul 14th, 2005, 01:07 PM
#24
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TGV DUPLEX TRAINS
The success of the Paris-Lyon/Avignon TGV line is such that many trains are at capacity so SNCF in recent years has launched TGV Duplex, or doubledecker TGVs on the route rather than launching more trains, which may not be possible due to necessary spacing. To me this is great, you get better views from being up top!
TER Trains have also been introduced in recent years on regional routes - these move at a much higher speed than the older regional trains, approaching high-speed times. (Train Express Regional) These along with regular interval timetables hopefully will boost feeder trains to TGV lines and increase use of regional trains. A long day from the old <Michelines>, as the French once called locals because originally the Michelin company developed trains with rubber wheels for local services but these flopped but the word Micheline stuck.
The success of the Paris-Lyon/Avignon TGV line is such that many trains are at capacity so SNCF in recent years has launched TGV Duplex, or doubledecker TGVs on the route rather than launching more trains, which may not be possible due to necessary spacing. To me this is great, you get better views from being up top!
TER Trains have also been introduced in recent years on regional routes - these move at a much higher speed than the older regional trains, approaching high-speed times. (Train Express Regional) These along with regular interval timetables hopefully will boost feeder trains to TGV lines and increase use of regional trains. A long day from the old <Michelines>, as the French once called locals because originally the Michelin company developed trains with rubber wheels for local services but these flopped but the word Micheline stuck.
Jul 14th, 2005, 03:46 PM
#25
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NETHERLANDS RAILWAYS & SMART CARDS
NS Reizigers, the Dutch Railways, says it will by 2007 at least begin sale of tickets by a Chip Card (smart card) that will give 50% off off-peak rail fares.
DB SUPERMARKET PUTSCH
The German Railways recently put tickets on sale thru the Lidl supermarket chain for a flat 49.90 euros for any destination in Germany - though there were thousands of tickets reserved for the scheme, they sold out in one hour. No word on if it will be repeated but DB hopes to start providing such novel outlets for its tickets, especially promotional fares.
DB SERVICE STORES
DB, seeking to be more client oriented, has also opened 800 DB Service Stores in stations, mainly smaller stations where the store serves as ticket seller, newsstand, bakery and food shop - On Sundays DB stations and airports are often the only places, besides petrol stations, selling any groceries and they can be mobbed with locals. In Berlin recently at the tiny Zoo food store it was a real mob scene on a Sunday night.
NS Reizigers, the Dutch Railways, says it will by 2007 at least begin sale of tickets by a Chip Card (smart card) that will give 50% off off-peak rail fares.
DB SUPERMARKET PUTSCH
The German Railways recently put tickets on sale thru the Lidl supermarket chain for a flat 49.90 euros for any destination in Germany - though there were thousands of tickets reserved for the scheme, they sold out in one hour. No word on if it will be repeated but DB hopes to start providing such novel outlets for its tickets, especially promotional fares.
DB SERVICE STORES
DB, seeking to be more client oriented, has also opened 800 DB Service Stores in stations, mainly smaller stations where the store serves as ticket seller, newsstand, bakery and food shop - On Sundays DB stations and airports are often the only places, besides petrol stations, selling any groceries and they can be mobbed with locals. In Berlin recently at the tiny Zoo food store it was a real mob scene on a Sunday night.
Jul 15th, 2005, 06:31 AM
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NORWAY NIGHT TRAIN ROBBERY
One thinks of Norway as the safest country on Earth so it is surprising that in May the Trondheim-Oslo overnight train was victimized by a gang that used duplicate key cards to gain entry to 30 cabins whilst passengers were sleeping and stole many handbags, purses, etc. Passengers didn't realize they had been robbed until waking up in the morning, leading some to believe they had been gassed as well. 2 years ago the Stavenger-Oslo night train was similarly robbed and after that attack Norwegian Railways changed locks to the need key cards like in many hotels these days but somehow the banditos got copies of the cards.
INLANDSBANAN DOWN TO 1 TRAIN A DAY
Sweden's Inlandbanan railway running thru the heart of Reindeer and Lapp country running between Gallivare and Ostersund is now strictly a tourist service and is down to one trip a day only in summer (thru Sep 11, 2005).
NORWAY TRAINS & RESERVATIONS
Norway has dropped previous mandatory reservation requirements on many of its trains, such as the Bergen line.
One thinks of Norway as the safest country on Earth so it is surprising that in May the Trondheim-Oslo overnight train was victimized by a gang that used duplicate key cards to gain entry to 30 cabins whilst passengers were sleeping and stole many handbags, purses, etc. Passengers didn't realize they had been robbed until waking up in the morning, leading some to believe they had been gassed as well. 2 years ago the Stavenger-Oslo night train was similarly robbed and after that attack Norwegian Railways changed locks to the need key cards like in many hotels these days but somehow the banditos got copies of the cards.
INLANDSBANAN DOWN TO 1 TRAIN A DAY
Sweden's Inlandbanan railway running thru the heart of Reindeer and Lapp country running between Gallivare and Ostersund is now strictly a tourist service and is down to one trip a day only in summer (thru Sep 11, 2005).
NORWAY TRAINS & RESERVATIONS
Norway has dropped previous mandatory reservation requirements on many of its trains, such as the Bergen line.
Jul 15th, 2005, 08:18 AM
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NETHERLANDS TRAINS TO REINTRODUCE CATERING?
The once ubiquitous coffee wagons were recently eliminted from most Dutch trains because it was thought that competition from a growing number of station kiosks was making them unprofitable. But it seems NS officials are having second thoughts and may reintroduce some snack carts on some trains as a test. Personally, though the carts can be a bother, i like the opportunity to nab a cup of strong Dutch koffee on the train - though i too usually bring my own aboard from station kiosks as they tend to be cheaper.
The once ubiquitous coffee wagons were recently eliminted from most Dutch trains because it was thought that competition from a growing number of station kiosks was making them unprofitable. But it seems NS officials are having second thoughts and may reintroduce some snack carts on some trains as a test. Personally, though the carts can be a bother, i like the opportunity to nab a cup of strong Dutch koffee on the train - though i too usually bring my own aboard from station kiosks as they tend to be cheaper.
Jul 15th, 2005, 10:08 AM
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TOLEDO AVE SPUR DELAYED
the 7km spur line off the Madrid-Seville AVE hi-speed rail line's opening has been delayed until 'sometime before the end of 2005'. Does anyone know if to go from Toledo to say Seville you would have to backtrack to Madrid on this new link or would there be a new station you could transfer to before Madrid, currently i believe there is no AVE stop between Madrid and Seville save Cordoba? Or possible there may be Toledo-Seville trains though i doubt there would be enough demand for that.
the 7km spur line off the Madrid-Seville AVE hi-speed rail line's opening has been delayed until 'sometime before the end of 2005'. Does anyone know if to go from Toledo to say Seville you would have to backtrack to Madrid on this new link or would there be a new station you could transfer to before Madrid, currently i believe there is no AVE stop between Madrid and Seville save Cordoba? Or possible there may be Toledo-Seville trains though i doubt there would be enough demand for that.
Jul 15th, 2005, 11:07 AM
#29
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ROME-NAPLES HIGH-SPEED LINE TO OPEN
The new Rome-Naples high-speed rail line is due to open on Dec 15, 2005. Trains will hit 300 km/hr, making this Italy's fastest line. the line will use a unique higher voltage than any other line in Italy, thus the higher speeds.
The new Rome-Naples high-speed rail line is due to open on Dec 15, 2005. Trains will hit 300 km/hr, making this Italy's fastest line. the line will use a unique higher voltage than any other line in Italy, thus the higher speeds.
Jul 18th, 2005, 07:56 AM
#30
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BRIANCON-ALPS TUNNEL?
To alleviate the heavily used freight and passenger route on the Modane route, the French and Italian railways are seriously considering blasting a new tunnel thru the Alps between Briancon, currently a rail deadend, and Italy, rejoining the Modan-Turino line there.
THALYS QUITS ZAVENTEM
The one daily Thalys train to go from Paris directly to Brussels' Zaventem Airport has ceased serving the airort, now terminating at Brussels-Midi, from where suttles go to the airport.
To alleviate the heavily used freight and passenger route on the Modane route, the French and Italian railways are seriously considering blasting a new tunnel thru the Alps between Briancon, currently a rail deadend, and Italy, rejoining the Modan-Turino line there.
THALYS QUITS ZAVENTEM
The one daily Thalys train to go from Paris directly to Brussels' Zaventem Airport has ceased serving the airort, now terminating at Brussels-Midi, from where suttles go to the airport.
Jul 19th, 2005, 09:14 AM
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BARCELONA-FIGUERES AVE UPDATE
Spanish authorities have decided to fund preparations for a 14.4 km section of the future Barcelona-Figueres high-speed line, part of the eventual high-speed line to France. This segment will feature four tunnels and is expected to open in 2009.
NEW BUDAPEST-VENICE-ZAGREB TRAIN
A new EC train (52/53 called the Goldoni has been launched Budapest-Zagreb via Venice.
Spanish authorities have decided to fund preparations for a 14.4 km section of the future Barcelona-Figueres high-speed line, part of the eventual high-speed line to France. This segment will feature four tunnels and is expected to open in 2009.
NEW BUDAPEST-VENICE-ZAGREB TRAIN
A new EC train (52/53 called the Goldoni has been launched Budapest-Zagreb via Venice.
Jul 19th, 2005, 12:46 PM
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UK'S GNER TO START ITALIAN SERVICE?
Uk train operator GNER, operator of many trains over the successful east coast mainline to Scotland has obtained a license to offer long-distance passenger service in Italy! Caio!
Uk train operator GNER, operator of many trains over the successful east coast mainline to Scotland has obtained a license to offer long-distance passenger service in Italy! Caio!
Jul 21st, 2005, 09:11 AM
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UK: VIRGIN WEST COAST WAY UP
Passenger traffic on Virgin's West Coast line is up 43% since the introduction of fast Pendolino trains last fall - speeding up travel times. In Dec 2005 when some track improvements are finalized (or actually signiling) times will be speeded up another 15-20 minutes.
Passenger traffic on Virgin's West Coast line is up 43% since the introduction of fast Pendolino trains last fall - speeding up travel times. In Dec 2005 when some track improvements are finalized (or actually signiling) times will be speeded up another 15-20 minutes.
Jul 25th, 2005, 11:34 AM
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NEW CZECH SPEED RECORD
The Czech Railways new prototype Pendolino train set a national speed record in Nov 05 - hitting 237 km/hr near Breclav - smashing the previous record of 219 km/hr in 1972, on a railway test circuit. With a max in service speed of 160km/hr the Breclav-Brno line is the fastest part of the Czech Railways lines. (160 km/hr would be slow by French standards!)
The Czech Railways new prototype Pendolino train set a national speed record in Nov 05 - hitting 237 km/hr near Breclav - smashing the previous record of 219 km/hr in 1972, on a railway test circuit. With a max in service speed of 160km/hr the Breclav-Brno line is the fastest part of the Czech Railways lines. (160 km/hr would be slow by French standards!)
