Right.

Jon Worth

Eurostar

Jon Worth

Welcome to today's thread - #CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days Baltic Circuit - Bruxelles - Köln - Dresden Neustadt - Usti nad Labem

Crossing these borders:
Aachen - Welkenraedt (visited before)
Schöna - Dolní Žleb (visited before)

These borders on the borders map:
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-all-the-borders_935041#7/50.506/9.635
(They’re pretty far apart though!)

Today's routes on the routes map:
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#7/51.028/8.789
(You might need to use the key!)

Jon Worth

#CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days Baltic Circuit Train 7 of 29
EST 9435
13:25 Bruxelles Midi - Köln Hbf 15:15
Eurostar

Train type: Alstom PBKA, 8 Carriages
️
: ️
🦽: (needs lift on platform)
🛜:
️:
🧳: ️ (one of *the worst designs* - see next toot)
🧽:

Jon Worth

These are among the worst designed trains for (dis-)embarking - the inbound train was +18 but it takes ages to board

And I’m privileged today - I’m travelling sort of 1st class (1st class seat, but no food) but there’s no luggage space as they’ve filled two vestibules for the business class passengers’ food trolleys

These sorts of things are annoying - the privileges for the very rich cut against the purpose of a train - to transport passengers

Jon Worth

EST 9435
13:25 Bruxelles Midi - Köln Hbf 15:15 (currently +25 at Liège)

Distance: 222.9km
Average speed: 122km/h

3 stops:
Liège-Guillemins
Aachen Hbf
Köln Hbf

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#10/47.4234/4.5779

Jon Worth

Here's today's intro video, filmed at Gare du Midi https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/1w715kuBeykaAjhfottNXB

Jon Worth

There seems to be both a medical emergency on a train, and a points problem ahead in Köln, and I am now almost +30 departing Liège - hell knows whether I am going to get through this

Thankfully I am on Interrail today meaning I can take any train (and even route via Nürnberg instead of Dresden)

But were I using normal tickets I'd be both very nervous and possibly out off pocket due to what's ahead…

Jon Worth

Also is there any digital way to find the composition of a Eurostar train? SNCF Connect can show me TGV compositions but not Eurostar. Railer can’t, so it’s not in any SNCB API. Bahn App can’t. Eurostar’s own app doesn’t. Is there any way?

Jon Worth

Bundespolizei go through the train at Aachen

No one with dark skin in my carriage, so no one got checked

Jon Worth

Oh well

No Czechia tonight

Diversion between Aachen and Köln, going via Rheydt

What do I do? Hmmm. Divert to Berlin, sleep on a friend’s sofa, try to get to Litomerice tomorrow? Still try to get to Dresden?

Jon Worth

Ah no. Diversion cancelled. Heading to Köln. Likely not fast enough to connect with anything, but let’s see

Jon Worth

Ok, this ranks as the most weird reason for one of my train delays ever - thanks @dl1eam for the info

POL-K: 241108-4-K/REK Polizisten finden Frauenleiche in Einfamilienhaus in Bergheim - mutmaßlicher Tatverdächtiger vermutlich von Bahn erfasst und getötet

Polizei Köln - Köln - Staatsanwaltschaft und Polizei Köln geben bekannt: Nach einem Zeugenhinweis ...✚ Mehr lesen

presseportal.de (www.presseportal.de)

Body of a dead woman found, suspect flees the scene, tries to cross a railway and is hit by a train! 🤯

Jon Worth

Also, could Eurostar please just give up the Köln route, and we have a DB ICE Bruxelles-Köln every hour instead

Nicer trains, better prices, and ICE3neo has solved the train reliability issues

Eurostar is short of stock for Amsterdam - Bruxelles - Paris, so just stick to that?

Jon Worth

DIY Quiet Zone? I approve

Jon Worth

A screen. With connections on it! 🥰 (yeah I’ve been in France too long, it’s nice to be back in Germany)

Jon Worth

Forgot to post this in the chaos earlier. This was Aachen - Welkenraedt #CrossBorderRail But I’ve been there a few* times before

* - at least 200 times

Jon Worth

#CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days Baltic Circuit Train 8 of 29
ICE 1911
15:55 Köln Hbf - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 17:03
DB Fernverkehr

Train type: Siemens Bombardier ICE4 long version, 13 carriages
️
: (needs reservation)
🦽: (has on board lift, lift on platform as backup)
🛜:
️:
🧳: (luggage racks big enough for a folding bike. FTW!)
🧽:
(It gets a top score!)

(I forgot to photograph it though)