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   Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:25:01 JST Jon Worth

   Departing Montbard for Paris this morning. Then onwards to Bruxelles. Not a regular #CrossBorderRail thread today - I’m going to #ConnectingEuropeDays - I’ll post using that tag

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     pettter (pettter@mastodon.acc.umu.se)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:29 JST pettter

     in reply to

     @jon Is the added complexity and unit cost worth it, generally? What are the advantages? I'm not familiar at all with the tech, so I'm just asking out of curiosity if you have the time to give your opinion.

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:34 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     Also the Digital Automated Coupler is obviously a sensible idea. But can a combination of European Commission, EU Member States and rail firms *actually do it*? Without turning it into a morass of delays and complexity? #ConnectingEuropeDays

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:38 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     There’s going to be some “Brussels declaration” on rail priorities, trying to tell the next European Commission what to prioritise. Are even the Member States getting annoyed at Valean’s lack of action? #ConnectingEuropeDays

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:42 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     I’m so estranged from political processes. Someone has written a speech for Gilkinet, has put words in his mouth. There’s no engagement in his mind with what’s coming out of his mouth. #ConnectingEuropeDays

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:46 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     So I’ve got into the #ConnectingEuropeDays pre event at Train World Schaerbeek. Gilkinet giving his opening bla bla. Topic for this bit: freight and digital automated coupler.

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:51 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     You know you’re in Belgium because the trains have graffiti covering the windows. Worse here than anywhere else in Northern Europe. #ConnectingEuropeDays

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:54 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     If Gilkinet (or anyone else) is serious about night trains, there’s only one question that matters.

     To run more international night trains, someone (other than ÖBB) has to order more night train carriages for international use. Who will? And how will it be financed? No answer to that, then no progress.

     #ConnectingEuropeDays

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:56 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     There’s an informal meeting of transport ministers at same time as #ConnectingEuropeDays

     Georges Gilkinet reckons he can use the meeting to boost night trains. Will it be more than hot air and electioneering from him? https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/03/30/the-return-of-the-night-train-belgium-plans-to-boost-sleeper-services-during-its-eu-presid

     Saying “fair competition between modes” sounds nice but is damned hard to do

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:58 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     On the “premium” service to Bruxelles for #ConnectingEuropeDays - Eurostar (ex-Thalys), my least favourite rail company. Paris-Bruxelles-Paris, €152 return, 2nd class

     Only way to take a bike on this? Fold it

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:24:59 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     Here’s the #ConnectingEuropeDays programme https://transport.ec.europa.eu/connectingeuropedays/programme_en I don’t know if I’m allowed into the event about Digital Automatic Coupler at 1100 (I’m accredited only for the conference part). So I might not hear Wissing 😭 😭

     I’m on a panel Thursday together with Michael Peterson (boss DB Fernverkehr) and Monique Goyens (BEUC)

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     pettter (pettter@mastodon.acc.umu.se)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:29:16 JST pettter

     in reply to

     @jon Even if you count the labour needed to manufacture and maintain them, and to guard against whatever interesting failure modes they might develop under different conditions?

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     Jon Worth (jon@gruene.social)'s status on Tuesday, 02-Apr-2024 18:29:17 JST Jon Worth

     in reply to

     • pettter

     @pettter it’s a MASSIVE saving - in time to compose freight trains, and saving massive personnel costs - where even recruiting staff is v hard.