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  1. M

    Right- versus left-hand running

    As far as I know both DB and SNCF in the East are right hand running so there is no change between right and left there... In Aachen the 4 tracks that allow trains to & from Belgium are bi directional so trains can use any of them. There is no fast path, which isn't a problem, because all...
  2. M

    Right- versus left-hand running

    Yes but in Belgium it means you get steady signals in one direction and blinking ones in the other. And also, it look a bit weird to receive the "V" signal telling you enter wrong main regime on a single track line...
  3. M

    Health and safety in a different land...

    Smoking on station platforms in Belgium is officially allowed if you don't stand under a platform canopy. It used to be the standard train start procedure that the train guard closes all doors but his one, then gives the departure signal to the driver (with the ground equipment if any, with the...
  4. M

    Right- versus left-hand running

    Some sections are explicitly allowed, I would say not more than 10 % of the network. For exemple a section before a divergence going uphill, to avoid stopping trains where it will be more difficult for them to restart if stopped at the signal. But it is a rule, not technically enforced. The idea...
  5. M

    Right- versus left-hand running

    The belgian network is now entirely bi-directional, mostly with automatic block signals in both directions. Normal usage is on the left, wrong side running widely used during maintenance, and for overtakings. What is normally not allowed is both tracks used wrong way, i.e. when a train driver is...
  6. M

    Athens to Thessaloniki line

    Of course not. There are already abandoned sections. I think that in a year, all new sections will be commissionned.
  7. M

    Right- versus left-hand running

    Regarding the change in Zidani Most, I was there last friday and can indeed confirm that. To my big surprise, in fact, because I did not know beforehand. Wonderful little station, by the way. Lots of traffic, including freights and loco hauled passengers. Was there for 2 hours and saw some 15...
  8. M

    Health and safety in a different land...

    Renting a car on the destination site is usually much cheaper than embarking your own car on the train with you. That's probably what killed the autotrain model. The only drawback is that you must haul your luggage yourself rather than just leave it in the car. Not too much of a pain when...
  9. M

    What's the best first class service in Europe?

    In Germany and Austria, many trains have a restaurant car. Restaurant car attendants will frequently visit the first class cars to ask travelers whether they want to order something to eat or drink, and then will bring it to the passenger's seat. Very neat, because this way you don't need to...
  10. M

    Connection time at Brussels

    I came back from Frankfurt yesterday, had a connection of 30 minutes, but the ICE was 25 minutes late, and I was loaded with 3 weeks worth of luggage. Arrived on track 6, connecting train on track 21. I made it...
  11. M

    Health and safety in a different land...

    Amazing coïncidence, I was there too. Arrived from Zagreb and overnighted before embarking for Frankfurt and Brussels on Saturday. I also spent a few hours taking pictures in the station, which I found a bit depressing, with much less traffic than I expected for that time of the day. By the...
  12. M

    Lille-Ghent in August

    There is also an hourly train from Lille to Tournai. From there it is easy to join Brussels and Ghent. Will be slower than via Mouscron and Kortrijk but much cheaper than with Thalys.
  13. M

    Future Germany to London rail link axed

    Koeln HBf does not have a track that it could dedicate to E* moves.
  14. M

    French Train Strike advice

    TER rolling stock is owned by the regions.
  15. M

    Irish rail tickets online

    Really ? Change trains and wait 15' just to save two Euros ?
  16. M

    "Smart Train" on virtual tracks

    Guided transport systems running on rubber tires quikly destroy the pavement they are running on, because they all pass at exactly the same place. No other material than metal or very dense concrete can whitstand such a treatment.
  17. M

    London to Italy by train

    I'd say : skip the dull part. Fly from Edimburgh To Zurich, and then use the train to cross the Alps. Make sure you take one going over the Gotthard top and not one going through the tunnel. That will bring you to Milano, and then .Italo To Roma.
  18. M

    Our cat, the rubber-tyred railcar

    And then you've got this typical American expression "What a strange way to run a railway"...
  19. M

    TGV timetables

    Bahn.de does that, although a bit hidden. Plan any itinerary going through that station, chose one of the trains that the site proposes, and in the train schedule windows, all stations listed are active links which, when selected, show all the departures from that station. Exemple ...
  20. M

    Brussels Trams

    No, no important changes. As posted before, your best options are 39/44 and 81 (only during the week, it's low floor during the week-end). There are also a lot of works going on for the moment, but none, as far as I know, that affects those 3 lines. As you will be here during a week-end, 81...

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