general remarks on German Railway
Starting with the remarkable timetable service available
on the Internet, reasonably straightforward ticket purchase
even 5 minutes before departure, predictable ticket prices
(unlike the airline tickets), frequent service, Bahncard
(50% off the ordinary fare), sometimes very-fast-running trains
(the last ICE I travelled on made 165mph) and the knowledge that connections
are usually maintained for late-running trains.
Edinburgh - Glasgow
A reasonably fast connection. But when approaching Waverley I
heard the sound of trains rattling over joints. I had not heard
this nostalgic sound for quite a while.
When boarding the train, they had not put the sign telling
you to pass about 8 coaches before reaching the train
which actually left the staion. Better not to arrive just in time.
The interior looks refurbished, but some edges show panels
not put 100% into place, or pieces rattling. Quite some things
look to be caused by slopply design quality, the seats keeping
dirt and refuse in the corners being only one point.
I have seen train which are much easier to clean. When turning round
in the terminus someone collects all the rubbish left behind,
that is a positive contrast.
international trains
Somehow these market researchers for the UK train companies
do not know my needs. If the Eurostar ran from Scotland to the
continent, this would provide me with a very interesting connection.
The continental railways usually foresee good connections at least,
but why not running beyond Paris and Brussels?
And what about a direct link to Germany? Given a night train
(is that too hard an effort for your imagination, dear marketing people??)
I (and many others) could win at least half a day on each leg, as even leaving
on a cruelly early morning flight from Scotland brings
one into Germany only short before lunchtime.
By the way, such a night service is the deep desire of a colleague who has
waisted a lot of daytime on planes!
..and more...
on tilting train I regularly use in Germany, on the dull-coloured
railtrack internet pages, being shaken on buses creeping in the
rush hour, the potential of railbased public transport
in Edinburgh, stage coaches opposing the railway
(a subject of the past century??), more than just colour is
needed for good cycle paths...