171–180 of 267 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Copenhagen to Berlin overnight. You go to bed in the train around midnight and wake up in Berlin around 8 or 9. Nothing can be more convenient.
It's too close of a distance for a night train. It should take maybe three hours on properly developed railways that do not go around.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're right that China has security checks for trains but I don't consider them comparable to flying. The train security checks are much faster. I've rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes in line. You don't have to take off your shoes, don't have to take out laptops and things from your luggage, and drinks and liquids are generally allowed. I've only on a couple occasions been asked by security in China to take a s…
The shoe thing is an American peculiarity. In Europe I never had to take off my shoes, even when I flew to the US. And now some airports (eg LCY) don’t even require taking liquids and laptops out of the luggage.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>what could be more pleasant than being able to criss-cross Europe in night trains that are affordable, comfortable and sustainable? Doing it by plane at a fraction of the time and cost.
The cost of flying is externalized on the environment; time can vary depending on actual distance, after you consider getting to/from the airport, or the last 100km to your destination. I think the two options are fairly competitive with one another.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On commute distances with a monthly ticket, train has been competitive for a while, but longer distances are tough, especially if you’re multiple people.
As a student I used the Interrail ticket to travel all over europe on a shoestring budget. Also there are plenty of offerings, which let you travel larger distances for a low price (e.g., ÖBB Sparschiene 29 eur vienna to amsterdam), you have to book it some time in advance though, similarly to flying...
Sleep comfortably through the night. The train movements are soothing after a while.
In the morning a serviceman in the train wakes us up with coffee and warm breakfast.
Before Noon, we were driving off at Vienna towards our destination- Salzburg.
I wish this facility existed everywhere - any major city to another major city across Europe. Imagine how many cars it would take off the road!
I really wish the European Union does more than what it already does to unify the train systems and invest heavily in passenger focussed train tracks all across Europe. Make us not want to drive!
No hours long security checks and walking in the airport. Comfortable train booths, save on hotel room costs by traveling overnight, bring a lot of luggage with you if you wish… what is not to like?! And by the way pollute less and not doom our planet.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
In America, Amtrak also asks for your ID. But this is peanuts compared to the way the TSA treats people at airports.
They say that they check ID, but I've traveled dozens of times in coach and business (both with single-use tickets and 10-ride passes) and a handful of times in a sleeper, and I've never been IDed once.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The trouble lies in the old rolling stock. They bought all that from Deutsche Bahn who suddenly stopped all sleeper train services a few years ago. Deutsche Bahn had neglected that segment for years and did not invest into more than the bare maintenance to keep the stock rolling.
Because it's unprofitable. We need to either accept that we need to subsidise these kind of services for climate protection or ban flights inside the European Union
I love night trains. I’ve taken them from Warsaw to Prague, Prague to Zurich, and Verona to Paris. It’s by far my preferred option - you get a decent nights sleep and whilst the tickets are more expensive it’s one fewer nights in a hotel which normally offsets it. I still really want to do the two in the UK, the Caledonian Sleeper and the Night Riviera.
You pay extra to sleep 10 hours on a train versus 2 hours by plane at half the cost?
Also, there is the environment. If that were factored in properly in the prices (and that's being worked on), the train would be a lot cheaper.
I love night trains. I’ve taken them from Warsaw to Prague, Prague to Zurich, and Verona to Paris. It’s by far my preferred option - you get a decent nights sleep and whilst the tickets are more expensive it’s one fewer nights in a hotel which normally offsets it. I still really want to do the two in the UK, the Caledonian Sleeper and the Night Riviera.
You pay extra to sleep 10 hours on a train versus 2 hours by plane at half the cost?
Personally, my only complaint I ever had about the ÖBB was that they got rid of the repeating noise trains used to make. A noise they used to advertise with in the past.