Train Travel

[Stereodude]

Germany's climate generally isn't such that AC is needed. Ditto for France. They treat temperatures over about 90 degrees as a health emergency as a consequence of that.

Basically western Europe has a much milder climate than folks in the USA are used to.

It was pretty hot when I got to Munich on Monday. It was over 30C. The weather since then has been much cooler, but they tell me its cooler than normal the last few days. It's also rained off and on the last 3 days.

 

[LOST6200]

Germany's climate generally isn't such that AC is needed. Ditto for France. They treat temperatures over about 90 degrees as a health emergency as a consequence of that.

Is that baded on expereince? Try three sumers in Germabny and tell me you don;t miss the A/C.

 

[Howell]

I ended up taking the Starlight To Portland. I'll take the Cascades back. I anticipate liking the Starlight more. It is a double-decker.

Anyway I'm in the south-east of Portland until Friday.

 

[Pradeep]

Getting this back on topic:

Well, I can throw in my $.02 about the train/subway system in Germany after having ridden it in Munich and Frankfurt, as well as taking the ICE (InterCity Express) between Munich and Frankfurt.

The S-Train (Surface) and U-Train (Underground) system works pretty well. The whole system seems to work on the honor system for riding it. There aren't any turnstiles or anything like I've seen in Taipei, Las Vegas, etc keeping only paying customers on the train. The trains were clean though not necessarily new, very on time, and not air conditioned. The ticket machines are very confusing to someone who doesn't read German though.

Whilst there aren't any turnstiles there is definitely enforcement, when I was riding the U two undercover cops got on, one young woman who went thru each carriage (as the train sat in the station), and a bigger guy standing close by in case assistance is needed. Very discreetly she flashed her ID card, I showed her my ticket, and she kept moving. Dunno what the penalty for illegal riding is but I'm sure it is substantial.

 

[Pradeep]

You don't want to know what the subways were like in the summers before they had AC. It was basically like descending into the depths of hell. [/URL]

Apparently London won't get done with ACing their Underground for many years yet. Biggest problem is the deepest stations.

 

[timwhit]

I'll be taking Amtrak from Chicago to Kansas City to visit my sister over Thanksgiving. Train ride is actually faster than driving by about an hour and a half, not counting traffic getting out of Chicago or stopping to eat. I just hope the train is running on time.

 

[ddrueding]

I just hope the train is running on time.

Based on my few-dozen experiences with Amtrak, I would rule out that possibility right now. The fact that it can be an hour late and still be a net-positive makes it a good choice though.

 

[Howell]

I ended up taking the Starlight To Portland. I'll take the Cascades back. I anticipate liking the Starlight more. It is a double-decker.

Anyway I'm in the south-east of Portland until Friday.

And the conclusion to the story:

After the bridge collapse in MLPS they checked all of the train equipment and shutdown the whole Cascades route. They wanted to stick me on a bus but I had them put me on the Starlight again. I had to wait an hour for the new departure time but other than that everything was on time.

-Howell

 

[timwhit]

I'll be taking Amtrak from Chicago to Kansas City to visit my sister over Thanksgiving. Train ride is actually faster than driving by about an hour and a half, not counting traffic getting out of Chicago or stopping to eat. I just hope the train is running on time.

I enjoyed the train. It left on time both going and coming back. Though, it was about 25 minutes late getting to Kansas City and about an hour late getting back to Chicago. Still beats airport security any day. We ate in the dining car both times and I thought the food was pretty decent. On the way back the train was having some kind of electrical problem and lost power to all the cars for about half the ride. This was mainly a problem because the toilets won't flush without electricity. All in all it was a good experience and I'll probably take it again in the future if the rates are competitive.