Major cities with train services not all converging at one central station

[Austriantrain]

Which international services run out of Franz-Josefs? Are they regular hour daytime services?

Two Vienna - Gmünd - Prague train pairs. Obviously not for Vienna - Prague trips (they are basically a political stunt, meant for regional cross-border connectivity, but mostly useless).

 

[Denis103]

Valencia - Estacio del Nord and Valencia Joaquin Sorolla are both terminal stations

 

[NCT]

Some main line trains (Westbahn) go to Westbahnhof, and some regional and international services to Franz-Josefs Bahnhof.

The "Silva Nortica" services from Vienna to Prague via Gmünd. Here's one example:

vagonWEB » Řazení vlaků » 2026 » ČD R » R 323 Silva Nortica

www.vagonweb.cz

Typically a couple each way per day.

Ooo not noticed these services before!

Two Vienna - Gmünd - Prague train pairs. Obviously not for Vienna - Prague trips (they are basically a political stunt, meant for regional cross-border connectivity, but mostly useless).

The through running is probably a political stunt, but the Vienna - Ceske Velenice and Ceske Velenice - Prague sections are worthwhile train services in their own right though?

 

[43096]

Prague - long-distance services use Hlavni Ndrazi and suburban services mainly use Masarykovo Ndrazi. Changing from a suburban service to a long-distance service often means walking between the two.

I would dispute that suburban services "mainly" use Masarykovo. There's plenty of suburban services in Hlavni Nadrazi, too.

Have we had Manchester yet?

 

[MarcVD]

I’m surprised no-one mentioned Paris.

Boston (North and South Stations)

There once was an intention to link the two, as part of the very expensive ”central artery” underground expressway project. It never came to fruition, notably because diesel trains in a long tunnel were deemed impractical.

 

[The exile]

The through running is probably a political stunt, but the Vienna - Ceske Velenice and Ceske Velenice - Prague sections are worthwhile train services in their own right though?

As no doubt is the cross-border connection (although that will also have an element of political “good to have” to it)

 

[Austriantrain]

The through running is probably a political stunt, but the Vienna - Ceske Velenice and Ceske Velenice - Prague sections are worthwhile train services in their own right though?

On the Czech side, these trains have always existed and were simply extended to Vienna, meaning that on the Austrian side new paths had to be found, which are not good and above all not aligned with the basic (and bad) two-hourly Takt (it rather goes 30-90 minutes). So no, it is not a good use of public money; using it to at least partly offer an hourly service would have been much better.

 

[The exile]

On the Czech side, these trains have always existed and were simply extended to Vienna, meaning that on the Austrian side new paths had to be found, which are not good and above all not aligned with the basic (and bad) two-hourly Takt (it rather goes 30-90 minutes). So no, it is not a good use of public money; using it to at least partly offer an hourly service would have been much better.

That rather depends on which pot that “public money” is coming from.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I would dispute that suburban services "mainly" use Masarykovo. There's plenty of suburban services in Hlavni Nadrazi, too.

There are also suburban services from the W and SW that terminate at Praha-Smíchov, although I suspect at least some of these are due to the reduction in traffic over the Vyton bridge. Currently only the basic service on S7 continues to Hlavní nádraží, with all the peak time extras running to / from Smíchov, as do all S6 and S65 trains.

 

[Austriantrain]

That rather depends on which pot that “public money” is coming from.

I don’t get your point. But for what it’s worth, it’s Austrian money, both from the central government and the regional government of Lower Austria.

 

[cats_five]

Glasgow.

 

[DelW]

I’m surprised no-one mentioned Paris.

The first sentence of the first post says (my bold):

Other than obvious examples like London and Paris

 

[gordonthemoron]

I still haven’t worked out Melbourne

 

[Tester]

I still haven’t worked out Melbourne

Melbourne is different, but not complicated!

All trains going beyond the metro area start and finish at Southern Cross.

Flinders Street/Town Hall is served by all metro trains.

Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central/State Library and Parliament are served by most metro trains.

That's it! - there can be few cities with more comprehensive cover of the central area without changing.

 

[Segedunum]

Melbourne is different, but not complicated!

All trains going beyond the metro area start and finish at Southern Cross.

Flinders Street/Town Hall is served by all metro trains.

Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central/State Library and Parliament are served by most metro trains.

That's it! - there can be few cities with more comprehensive cover of the central area without changing.

The main change this year has been that Cranbourne/Pakenham to Sunbury services now utilise the Metro Tunnel, with new stations at Anzac, Town Hall (for Flinders St) State Library (for Melbourne Central), Parkville & Arden.

 

[NCT]

I would dispute that suburban services "mainly" use Masarykovo. There's plenty of suburban services in Hlavni Nadrazi, too.

I think you are right - it's probably closer to 50/50.

Western corridors (S5 and S4 systems) are locked to Masarykovo. North and eastern corridors send trains to both (3/34, 2/9, 1/61). Southern corridors naturally go into Hlavni Dadrazi. S6 and S65only goes to Smichov though.

Have we had Manchester yet?

See last sentence in the opening post.

 

[RT4038]

I’m surprised no-one mentioned Paris.

Perhaps because the OP original post #1 opens with..... ?

Other than obvious examples like London and Paris

Yes, though Westbahn doesn't serve any stations that don't have a 'core' Hbf service?

Not sure what that has to do with your original question? I think Westbahnhof has more international service to Augsburg, Ulm and Stuttgart (2 daytime services) than the Hbf ( 1 Night train) ?

 

[lachlan]

Many Chinese cities have more than one station, even multiple newly built high-speed stations which is an interesting contrast to the UK where multiple stations were owned by different railway companies.

I guess the approach allows for faster through-services with stations positioned optimally for east-west and north-south journeys, at the expense of interchange opportunities that come with funnelling all trains through one station.

 

[The exile]

I don’t get your point. But for what it’s worth, it’s Austrian money, both from the central government and the regional government of Lower Austria.

The fact that it is Austrian money makes your point far more valid than if it had been Czech money as from a purely Austrian point of view funding an hourly service on the Austrian side would probably produce more local benefit. Wouldn’t have been the case if the Czechs had been wanting to put money into encouraging Austrians to spend money in Ceske Budejovice or Prague.

 

[duesselmartin]

Cologne, with a significant amount of ICE train not stopping at the Hauptbahnhof but Messe/Deutz.
Frankfurt (M) where a significant amount of trains stop at the airport only, the Südbahnhof by a handful.
Hamburg, although most stop at the Hauptbahnhof, some call at Altona only, some go only as far as Hamburg-Harburg.

 

[TheGrew]

New York with Grand Central and Penn Station
Whilst not international, Manchester also comes to mind with both Piccadilly and Victoria, and Bradford with Interchange and Foster Square.

 

[Austriantrain]

The fact that it is Austrian money makes your point far more valid than if it had been Czech money as from a purely Austrian point of view funding an hourly service on the Austrian side would probably produce more local benefit. Wouldn’t have been the case if the Czechs had been wanting to put money into encouraging Austrians to spend money in Ceske Budejovice or Prague.

The Czechs, wisely, refused to do anything for these trains, including moving their domestic paths. They do provide the stock, but of course, ÖBB has to pay for it (or compensate with reciprocal train provision).

I am all for direct international trains BTW, but in this case, it is not worth it.

But we are OT; the only relevant thing is that Wien Franz Josefs-Bahnhof has, once again and at least for now, international, somewhat mainline train services. (it does have many more services to Ceske Velenice).

 

[Buzby]

Glasgow

Is that International?

 

[D6130]

Is that International?

It has train services to and from England!

 

[cats_five]

It has train services to and from England!

And Manchester has services to Scotland!

 

[Omnidekkalover]

And Manchester has services to Scotland!

Don't forget Wales

 

[cats_five]

Don't forget Wales

True! And some lancastrians reckon yorkshire is a foreign country

 

[Roast Veg]

Tokyo and Osaka weren't mentioned in the same exclusion as London and Paris, but they each have many convergent points.

While Shinkansen services converge on Tokyo station, JR East limited express services terminating in Tokyo also do so at Shinjuku station on the West side of the city and a handful at Ueno in the north. Most JR commuter services will pass through either Tokyo/Ueno or Shinjuku. Private rail operators have their own stations at Shinjuku and Ueno, and additionally terminate some services at termini in Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Shinagawa, with others running through metro lines in a manner akin to Thameslink or the Elizabeth Line.

Osaka has multiple traditional European large railway terminals at Umeda, Namba, Tennoji, and Uehommachi. There's also a smaller terminus at Yodoyabashi.

 

[duesselmartin]

True! And some lancastrians reckon yorkshire is a foreign country

oddly nobody seems to have a problem with Northern Ireland in the international forum.

 

[Bungle158]

Mumbai. It has at least 5 major long distance terminals. Not all are directly served by local trains. Bandra Terminus and Bandra Local are a 7 min auto rickshaw ride apart for example.

Because of Mumbai's island geography, it can be easier to book for Panvel on the Navi Mumbai (mainland), side. Most long haul trains stop there, including those passing close to but not serving the city.

A branch of the Harbour Line will take you into CSMT, formerly known as Victoria Terminus.