Notices by Dominic Stucki (dominicstucki@urbanists.social)

RE: https://mastodon.social/@larstransportworld/116905784168662116

Damnit! Are we sure that this is not the Spanish-French border? Usually, only SNCF and RENFE would manage to mess up connections so badly.

The best is, that 269/403 has an hour wait in Oulu and then misses the connection in Haparanda by 5 minutes. Seriously, what's that?! 🤬

*ding-dong*🔔

Guten Tag. Ich möchte gerne mit Ihnen über Hochleistungs-Eisenbahnen sprechen.

Thread (1/x) 🧵.

Through the beautiful quiet and empty landscapes of the Ardennes in the Belgian living room aka type i11 coach on the old main line. This train really lacks a bistro or at least a vending machine, it would be the perfect time for a coffee now!
#BrelephantAndCastle

Through occasional showers and occasional spots of sun in a heavenly quiet train. A perfect train ride. 😊
I really love this stretch of Line between Luxembourg and Namur.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Arrival in Brussels. I could change at Brussel-Noord, but there is enough time to do the detour via Bruxelles-Midi, to get on the next train before the "crowds". Just a short change of platform and into the next classic train. The Dutch living room is not as cozy as the Belgian one.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Another change in Rotterdam-Centraal, surrounded by trains in the fantastic NS yellow colours, for the short 5 mins hop with a Sprinter train to Schiedam-Centrum. Then Metro line B to Hoek van Holland Haven.
#BrelephantAndCastle

This was fährly obvious, wasn't it? (Sorry).
The Stena Line ferry terminal is located in the old station building, just across the road from the metro station. I prefer the classic route via ferry over the Eurostar, even if it takes much longer. No queues, no crowds. Ten minutes after getting off the metro, I was in my cabin.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Stena Line sails twice a day between Hoek van Holland and Harwich, both terminals are connected to the rail network. The ship offers shops, a basic restaurant and two bars. Time for a late dinner and a beer afterwards!
#BrelephantAndCastle

I prefer the silence of night crossings. Sitting in a lounge chair with a beer or coffee in the nearly empty café late at night, listening to the motor's distant humming while the ship slowly rolls from side to side in the waves. Perfect! 🥰
#BrelephantAndCastle

Weeton station at nightfall. Back to Leeds with a class 158. And off to bed, as I decided on a program for the following day while sitting on the rock.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Arrival is early tomorrow, off to bed. Good night!
#BrelephantAndCastle

Morning! As usual, the melody of «Don't worry, be happy» on the ship's loudspeaker wake me up at 05:30. Tea and croissant at the bar.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Past a nice retro Pacer and a possibilty to talk to the signaller (Rail Alphabet! 🥰) and then the landscape gradually changed from pasture to moor.
#BrelephantAndCastle

On time at 06:30, disembarkation starts for the roughly 15 foot passengers. Correct but very annoying border control, asking a lot of questions. Why don't you have a ticket back? Why don't you know yet where exactly you'll spend the three weeks? No Sir, I'll not immigrate and exploit your social systems.
Anyway. I'm out. Morning, Britain! 🇬🇧 👋
#BrelephantAndCastle

Garsdale station in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The few houses around here have a direct service to and from Leeds! 🤯
Which tells us a few thing about the British railway system, but I'm not diving into that yet. I'm here for the fantastic landscape. 😍
#BrelephantAndCastle

British rail experts: Any recommendation on a good journey planner app for android? The National Rail app doesn't work on my device.

Off we go - finally on British trains! 🥰 Short detour via Manningtree to get a coffee from the station café. Due to OLE damage further towards London, this took more time than expected. I don't mind, as my only plan for today is meeting a friend for a beer on the other side of the Pennines.
#BrelephantAndCastle

Back to the quaint station of Garsdale. In the waiting room, you can learn about the line and stories around it. Did you know, that they had installations to refil water on steam locos on the go? 🤯 I never heard of that before. More here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_trough
#BrelephantAndCastle

This is Stadler Flirt country. First to Ipswich with the Intercity version, then onwards to Cambridge with a bi-mode unit. Impeccable passenger information about the disruption!
#BrelephantAndCastle

Given the weather, the day was spent exploring some new lines in the class 170 territories of the East Midlands.
#BrelephantAndCastle