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Night trains are slower than exactly equivalent day ones, I'd assume as an effort towards noise reduction.going too fast will not be an issue!
Sounds great! When you are asleep and it's dark speed isn't really that important.Night trains are slower than exactly equivalent day ones, I'd assume as an effort towards noise reduction.
Not in my experience. Part of the story is the frequent stops, station noises and passengers noisily getting on and off, and occasionally shunting or other railway activities, depending on the route.I'd assume as an effort towards noise reduction.
I meant along the railways, i.e. the trains make less noise for the inhabitants nearby.Not in my experience. Part of the story is the frequent stops, station noises and passengers noisily getting on and off, and occasionally shunting or other railway activities, depending on the route.
Ok.I meant along the railways, i.e. the trains make less noise for the inhabitants nearby.
Inside, well, noise levels vary greatly.
hmmmm, as far as I know, both of those types of night train will be part of the mix -- and there were more of them left than just the Paris-Toulouse, though not very many.Ok.
I guess many on this forum would like to ride again in the classic couchette. I wonder if this was a pilgrim thing) ?
A quick search indicates that I had wrongly imagined that SNCF was reintroducing their night trains which they stopped running except for the very popular Toulouse - Paris route (that I caught on my way to Germany after finishing a Camino at Sanguesa [because the bus went at the right time] ).
It appears the classic Couchette night trains will not be coming back, so us traditionalists will be disappointed, but a private company is proposing a more upmarket service across Europe.
This is exactly the fleet of train carriages that's being renovated and put back into service for this revival, initially at least -- though most of the older Corail-style carriages that you may remember have been sold or broken apart ; some though are still in, or being returned to service. The future projected lines and line revivals will require some new rolling stock.My memory (perhaps a rail fan can provide a link) is that SNCF upgraded their fleet and built 3,000 carriages including the couchette style (just before the TGV was approved) which then became redundant as the TGV was introduced. And these 3,000 pre-TGV carriages can go 200 km/h and the electric locomotives that haul them much faster.
That’s certainly true - though I’d say many things. One of my favourite sayings from my French husband (though not his originally) goes along the lines. ‘Ah France - we have no oil but we have a lot of ideas’.The French are good at a few things.
And if that includes no vegetable oil it shows how wise they are.we have no oil
Generally, ie not related to France: there is currently a bit of a hype about the comeback of the night trains going on, as one article put it. Profitability is a big issue. ÖBB (Austria) and one or the other of the private companies are apparently able to run their night train connections without loss but there seems to be a general consensus that subsidies, for example from the funds for economic transformation programs in view of climate change, will be necessary. Aim is anyway to replace or reduce air traffic in order to reduce C02 emission. Numerous plans for future night train connections throughout Europe but much of it is just plans. For example that they can use high speed tracks but at low speed prices (for using the tracks).ns will not be coming back, so us traditionalists will be disappointed, but a private company is proposing a more upmarket service across Europe. Which leads onto the question of profit. I suspect they will need government subsidy
Aim is anyway to replace or reduce air traffic.
The privatisation of the railways in various places provides great opportunities for Skulduggery. The SNCF would be extremely familiar with the unreasonable requests for cheap access to the track. Anyhow France has a comprehensive tiered railway network to cater for various train types and speeds.Generally, ie not related to France: there is currently a bit of a hype about the comeback of the night trains going on, as one article put it. Profitability is a big issue. ÖBB (Austria) and one or the other of the private companies are apparently able to run their night train connections without loss but there seems to be a general consensus that subsidies, for example from the funds for economic transformation programs in view of climate change, will be necessary. Aim is anyway to replace or reduce air traffic in order to reduce C02 emission. Numerous plans for future night train connections throughout Europe but much of it is just plans. For example that they can use high speed tracks but at low speed prices (for using the tracks).
It's potentially unconstitutional, as well as potentially against EU Community Law, and is being challenged in Court. Hence the watering down of some of it all.I seem to remember that the original proposal was watered down
LOL, and I swear this is the truth: the first connection that I clicked on gave me the TGV INOUI no. 8560 from Trabes to Lourdes and Dax with a layover in Dax and further connection to Bordeaux Saint-Jean and Paris Montparnasse with +114 minutes delayed and +241 minutes delayed.For the nerds - and anyone checking which trains run on which SNCF lines. Check out Geneva for example
Live train-tracking service discontinued
Our live geolocation tool is no longer available, but you can still get the passenger information you need. Find out how.www.sncf.com
Slight digression:Aim is anyway to replace or reduce air traffic in order to reduce C02 emission. Numerous plans for future night train connections throughout Europe but much of it is just plans. For example that they can use high speed tracks but at low speed prices (for using the tracks).
Indeed -- I almost put these in my OP.There are couchettes. Including couchettes for women only or for women with children only.
You can book a whole couchette at an affordable price if it is not during a period of great affluence (holiday season for example).
Unlikely to be enforced on people in the process of sleeping in non-crowded conditions, especially if they are alone in a couchette compartment or only with family and/or friends ; but there as a rule just in case.Wearing a face mask is obligatory during the whole journey on the train.
The 1st class have four couchettes ; 2nd class 6.They sell only 4 beds in the couchette compartments (which have 6 beds in total, as usual).
I've physically outgrown the available space in the couchette bunks, but when I could still use them in the late 80s and early 90s, that's exactly how I preferred to sleep.And these beds are arranged or must be occupied in the position « tête bêche » in order to maximise the distance between passengers, ie parallel to each other but in opposite directions to each other.
If it is any comfort, I am informed by my two-doors-down transport policy analyst neighbour that all means of transport, bicycles excepted, require substantial subsidies to operate. He claims that the per km figure would shock most readers He will happily discourse on road costs and vehicle and fuel taxes and fees, then migrate into a monologue on trucking and trains, and will close off the dinner with a description of airports and of aircraft manufacture. Having dined well at my table, he informs all that there is no such thing as a free lunch.Generally, ie not related to France: there is currently a bit of a hype about the comeback of the night trains going on, as one article put it. Profitability is a big issue. ÖBB (Austria) and one or the other of the private companies are apparently able to run their night train connections without loss but there seems to be a general consensus that subsidies, for example from the funds for economic transformation programs in view of climate change, will be necessary. Aim is anyway to replace or reduce air traffic in order to reduce C02 emission. Numerous plans for future night train connections throughout Europe but much of it is just plans. For example that they can use high speed tracks but at low speed prices (for using the tracks).
Yeah! The sleeper train from London to Edinburgh and back.I am taking a night train from Edinburgh to London! Sadly, it is almost TOO fast as it leaves at 11:30pm and arrives shortly after 7am. No leisurely morning, for sure.
The scuttlebutt is that Portugal is more keen to see them return than Spain is, because of the increased emphasis in Spain on high-speed routes. But I think the will is there, particularly with this being the Year of Rail in Portugal, and similarly for Europe at large.Any news on the Sud Express or the Lusitania (Lisbon-Hendaye-Madrid)? I heard they had been cancelled and might not return.
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