Trains Are The Biz

July 30, 2010 •

Non-Destination of the Week

Shame on the UK’s Independent newspaper which has the best travel section of all the national press, largely thanks to the expert editorship of Simon Calder. But oh dear, what a let-down.

Its ‘48 Hours in Rotterdam’ feature earlier this month http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-rotterdam-2016738.html gives due prominence to the two Transavia flights a day from Gatwick, as well as frequent CityJet flights from London City but fails to mention anything about the high-speed train. This is a disappointment, to say the least, for such a forward-thinking travel journal. I accept - barely - that some people may prefer to fly but not to even have the choice presented?

July 22, 2010 •

The inevitable iPhone App … but designed with typical SNCF elegance.

http://www.sncf.com/

July 22, 2010 •

Leaving the Common Herd Behind

Yes, there are around 33 direct air links between the UK and mainland France, but here are nine beautiful towns and cities that you just can’t fly to. And, if you’ve been following this blog for any time at all you therefore won’t be surprised to learn that, voilà, they’re all on the high-speed TGV network.

So, for the ultimate in travel one-upmanship and, in most cases, the feeling that you’ve ‘discovered’ a new place all of your own, head off for a refreshing break to any one of these …

Rennes, Le Mans, Dijon, Nancy, Besansçon, Rouen, Aix-en-Provence, Maçon and Metz.

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/

July 17, 2010 •

My Top Ten Websites: 3. SNCF

The original and best. Once again French Railways lead the way. And, being French, there is even a Culture section! But notice how the TGV doesn’t feature prominently here; cleverly, it’s been spun off and has its own dedicated website.

July 15, 2010 •

THE “THINKING-MAN’S CRUMPET” OF RAILWAY LITERATURE.

This is an intelligent, beautifully researched book and generally every bit as satisfying as its gorgeous cover.

It makes you feel like a superior human being simply choosing to travel by train.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Railway-Identity-Culture-Keith-Lovegrove/dp/1856694070/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

July 15, 2010 •

Thalys: The Red Miracle

Thalys has to be the ultimate in pan-European co-operation and yet I doubt that there’re many people in the UK who have ever heard of it (let alone can pronounce it).

A red high-speed express, there are only 14 main stations on its network but it’s a network that nonetheless spans four countries: France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

July 10, 2010 •

COLOGNE. Probably one of the most dramatic train arrivals in all of Europe. You walk out of the station and there, directly in front of you, is Cologne Cathedral with the longest facade of any church in the world. For me, this was an experience as awe-inspiring as seeing Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time. I wasn’t particularly surprised to learn that the cathedral took 600 years to be completed but maybe more so to discover that it virtually escaped allied bombing while the city all around it was completely flattened.

Anyway, Cologne’s a lovely cosy city, just 4 hours from London. Plus, when changing at Brussels you can take the ICE, Germany’s answer to the TGV, and as equally impressive.

And is there any airport in the world that can offer such a heart-quickening moment as you walk out of its doors?

July 9, 2010 •

London to the South of France - Direct!

Yes, July 10 is a big day in the travel calendar because it’s the day that Eurostar/TGV begins its weekly scheduled service direct from London St Pancras to Avignon. That’s right, one train, no changes and super-high speed. Leave at 07.17 and arrive in time for a late lunch under the plane trees in Place de l’Horloge just after 2 o’clock.

So it can be done. But why stop at Avignon. Bordeaux, anyone? Strasbourg? Another Icelandic eruption, but this time maybe lasting a year, and the destination board at St Pancras International could well look very different …

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/default.aspx?tabid=1663

July 9, 2010 •

1142 - The number of miles of French high-speed railway (The UK has 67).

July 7, 2010 •

SNAIL RAIL?

I wonder who it was who discovered that if you turned the TGV logo upside down it turned into a snail. Though I’m sure that as holders of the European speed record TGV are hardly bothered …

On the other hand, maybe it was intentional?

July 7, 2010 •

My Top Ten Websites: 2. Rail Europe

This site is like a ‘clearing house’ for booking most rail journeys in Europe and so it’s indispensable really.

It’s also the site that SNCF (French Railways) uses to channel its through-bookings from the UK - but SNCF’s own sites, like everything they do, are far more impressive. Look out for them in this Top 10!

July 6, 2010 •

Ryanair: Maximising Misery

Unfortunately there’s already a Facebook group called ‘Fuck Ryanair’ so it means I can’t start one myself. As it is I’m one of almost two thousand members. (If the language is a bit strong for you there’s also another one called ‘I Hate Ryanair’ with another 1500 followers).

Leaving aside Ryanair’s legendary contempt for its customers when it comes to notions of service, here’s just one example of how bad it can be.

July 4, 2010 •

Fourth of July Express!

Yes, it’s 4 July so I thought an American theme would be fitting.

Firstly, three cheers because with 155,000 miles of track the USA still has by far the largest rail network in the world, though too bad that hardly anyone travels on it any more. Maybe, though, that’s understandable when we’re talking about the country’s vast distances. Back in 1934 a diesel train smashed the coast-to-coast record by completing the 2,500 mile journey between LA and New York in 57 hours; I doubt it would be much quicker today. I guess that’s why the Americans are so good at making planes.

June 30, 2010 •

THE MAKING OF A TGV COMMERCIAL

Once again SNCF, the parent of the TGV, is at the forefront of the coolest and classiest of advertising. This fantastic example, about their baggage transfer service, pulls out all the stops (see the finished product towards the end of the clip).

For here is a state-owned industry, let’s remember, that leads the world not only in high-speed train travel but in the way it’s promoted. The rest of us should be green with envy.

June 28, 2010 •

How Far Can You Get in 25 Minutes?

The last time I flew from London’s Stansted Airport I entered the terminal building, examined the departure boards and made my way over to the check-in desk. Two hours before my flight there was a long queue so I went to the end of it. With four people still in front of me before reaching the desk 25 minutes had passed since I’d first arrived at the airport.