Catch them before they're gone

[Bemined]

The holiday schedule, during which the Barneveld Zuid services does not run, starts mid July. However some operators already run with shorter trains from mid June, so no guarantees. Apart from the webcam, you can see if it is planned as the 6:55 train will depart from platform 4a rather than 4b when the Plan V comes out of the depot. So when the indicated platform changes back to 4b it is probably not running.

 

[AdamWW]

If not, I would guess that there are now no 2nd class compartments in hauled stock on daytime trains anywhere in western Europe.

I beileve that the latest OeBB Railjet rakes have some second class compartments so they would count if you consider push-pull trains as hauled.

 

[D1511]

It should be, the revision of the first Protos is severely delayed, when it hasn't broken down at least.
June is also early enough as I don't think its likely to run in a holiday timetable.

Excellent news, thank you. Amersfoort is a short hop from where I'm staying, so I'll head over to check those morning diagrams.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2026 ==

The holiday schedule, during which the Barneveld Zuid services does not run, starts mid July. However some operators already run with shorter trains from mid June, so no guarantees. Apart from the webcam, you can see if it is planned as the 6:55 train will depart from platform 4a rather than 4b when the Plan V comes out of the depot. So when the indicated platform changes back to 4b it is probably not running.

Dank u wel! This is very useful info.

 

[danshrimp]

I beileve that the latest OeBB Railjet rakes have some second class compartments so they would count if you consider push-pull trains as hauled.

Very true. Also the Transalpin (Zurich-Graz) sometimes has an OeBB compartment coach.

 

[43096]

It's those bench-like seats with about a foot size gap between the back rest and the head rest!

Indeed. Those seats are appalling and were outdated when the units were built.

Same applies to the old Belgian units with the same setup - I did Welkenraedt to Aachen last week which used to be one of the horrible old things. It’s now a type 18 electric loco with very comfortable I11 stock, so a vast upgrade in every way!

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

The Comeng fleet in Melbourne is now very much on borrowed time. An extra 25 X'trapolis 2.0 trains were ordered in the past week and it's expected that will finish the last of them off.

There's 45.5 six car trains still in service for the time being. 23 EDI refurbished units and 22.5 Alstom refurbished units.

 

[Richard Scott]

The Comeng fleet in Melbourne is now very much on borrowed time. An extra 25 X'trapolis 2.0 trains were ordered in the past week and it's expected that will finish the last of them off.

There's 45.5 six car trains still in service for the time being. 23 EDI refurbished units and 22.5 Alstom refurbished units.

Were plenty around last month when I was there so still lots to be had!

 

[DesDobramento]

Plan V is still planned, but the operator does not provide live changes to the rolling stock planning so the only way to be sure is to go see it or check the webcam. Earlier this month is was still running, last week the Plan V was sighted being pulled by another classic train (the 'Motorpost') so perhaps it had a malfunction and is awaiting repairs.

Hello! - has the Plan V been out and about in recent days after my unsuccessful attempt to ride on it a couple of weeks ago?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 May 2026 ==

I sense that Talgos are now established on the Westerland route with some train IDs now ’ICE’. Are Class 218s on long-distance services here now a thing of the past (still used on some RE6s).

 

[Bemined]

Hello! - has the Plan V been out and about in recent days after my unsuccessful attempt to ride on it a couple of weeks ago?

Reports are that repairs have been completed, although it has not been seen in service yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2026 ==

Today the Plan V entered service once again, it ran between 6:55 and 14:45.

 

[ajrm]

A couple of updates from my InterRail trip earlier this month.

Had a great run from Ulm to Oberstdorf behind a pair of 218s on IC2013 on 19 May, returning to Strasbourg on the 20th.

https://flic.kr/p/2sgbYXr

In Strasbourg the 2 diesel-hauled commuter sets are still working. I caught a run on TER831816, 1701 Strasbourg to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges:

Strasbourg suburban

SNCF BB67400 diesel loco 567511 on the back of TER831816, the 1701 to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, providing the traction for 2 RRR (rames réversibles régionales) units. This is one of two remaining turns out of Strasbourg for these locos.

flic.kr

The other set was in evidence and appears (though I didn't verify this as I was short on time) to operate TER831824, 2004 Strasbourg to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Both sets seem to stay overnight at the country end and return early doors. The graffiti on the RRR stock is appalling but the thrash is very entertaining!

 

[D1511]

It should be, the revision of the first Protos is severely delayed, when it hasn't broken down at least.
June is also early enough as I don't think its likely to run in a holiday timetable.

Hi there! Heading over to the Netherlands tomorrow in search of a morning monkey head from Amersfoort over the next few days.
Do you or @Bemined know if it is out this week please?
Dank U!

 

[route101]

While in Warsaw , I did see an older loco pull an IC set. The loco looked like a Class 85.

 

[Bemined]

Hi there! Heading over to the Netherlands tomorrow in search of a morning monkey head from Amersfoort over the next few days.
Do you or @Bemined know if it is out this week please?
Dank U!

It was in service this morning.

 

[D1511]

It was in service this morning.

Thank you. Amersfoort here I come!

 

[Richard Scott]

While in Warsaw , I did see an older loco pull an IC set. The loco looked like a Class 85.

Those are EP/EU07s or EP08s. Basically a 3000V DC version of the class 83. The original EU06s (now all withdrawn) were built in UK, the others in Poland under licence. The ET22s (a Co-Co loco) also had EE traction motors and there was a twin loco freight varient of the EU07 know as the ET41.

 

[AY1975]

This is currently down as 20 Sep 2026, which will make it the last use of IC1 stock with DB. I can't speak with any confidence on the replacement other than that I recall hearing something about ICE-T and IC2.

What class of loco currently normally hauls the Gera IC? Is it a conventional loco-hauled set, push-pull with a driving car at one end, or push-pull with a loco at both ends? Is it diesel-hauled throughout, even under the wires, or does it change from an electric to a diesel eastbound and vice versa westbound at Weimar or Erfurt?

 

[duesselmartin]

What class of loco currently normally hauls the Gera IC? Is it a conventional loco-hauled set, push-pull with a driving car at one end, or push-pull with a loco at both ends? Is it diesel-hauled throughout, even under the wires, or does it change from an electric to a diesel eastbound and vice versa westbound at Weimar or Erfurt?

when it runs it changes locos at Weimar, but it has not in a while and its doubtful if it will ever again.

 

[NCT]

Just learnt Konstal trams have been withdrawn from normal service in Poznan ...

Hopefully there will still be some running in Szczecin and Bydgoszcz when I visit in August.

 

[AY1975]

when it runs it changes locos at Weimar, but it has not in a while and its doubtful if it will ever again.

Do you mean that the service hasn't run for a while, or that it has already gone over to a new type of stock (and if the latter, what type of stock now works it)?

Either way I am gutted: I understood that the last use of IC1 stock on this service (and indeed on the entire DB network) was planned for Sunday 20th September, and I have booked tickets for it on what were to have been its last two days of IC1 stock: from Stadtroda to Kassel on Saturday 19th and from Kassel to Dortmund on Sunday 20th.

If it has been cancelled altogether even though it's still in the system (as I managed to book tickets for it), then presumably DB will contact me nearer the time and offer me an alternative itinerary, and if that means arriving at my destination later than scheduled, I will be eligible to claim delay compensation from DB.

 

[Richard Scott]

Do you mean that the service hasn't run for a while, or that it has already gone over to a new type of stock (and if the latter, what type of stock now works it)?

Either way I am gutted: I understood that the last use of IC1 stock on this service (and indeed on the entire DB network) was planned for Sunday 20th September, and I have booked tickets for it on what were to have been its last two days of IC1 stock: from Stadtroda to Kassel on Saturday 19th and from Kassel to Dortmund on Sunday 20th.

If it has been cancelled altogether even though it's still in the system (as I managed to book tickets for it), then presumably DB will contact me nearer the time and offer me an alternative itinerary, and if that means arriving at my destination later than scheduled, I will be eligible to claim delay compensation from DB.

Seems it ran yesterday with 246011.

 

[LUYMun]

What class of loco currently normally hauls the Gera IC? Is it a conventional loco-hauled set, push-pull with a driving car at one end, or push-pull with a loco at both ends? Is it diesel-hauled throughout, even under the wires, or does it change from an electric to a diesel eastbound and vice versa westbound at Weimar or Erfurt?

Class 101 electric locos from Cologne as far as Gotha, then they are exchanged for a diesel Class 246 loco onwards. Similar procedure vice-versa.

There are driving trailers on the classic Intercity routes like this one so it’s very likely it’ll be push-pulled (pulled away from Cologne, pushed towards) but if the driving trailer ends up the wrong way round (which sometimes happen) then conventional loco haulage may persist.

I’m not sure though if this route is going to convert to ICE or will be withdrawn without replacement at September?

 

[Beebman]

Have the final ÖBB 4020s gone yet? Hated those when in Vienna in 2018 and 2022. Found the Desiros much, much nicer.

I've been doing some track-bashing today in the area using a VOR Freizeit day ticket and being a Sunday I was very surprised to see two 8-car formations running on the S4 service. Late this afternoon I headed for Floridsdorf in the hope of maybe catching one and I was pleasantly surprised when the first S4 (the 17:12 to Mödling which I took as far as Meidling) turned up with a twin-unit formation with 4020 283 in (scruffy) red leading 4020 288 in original blue livery.

I then checked the service on the online SCOTTY timetable and unlike other S-Bahn services it didn't have 'Niederflurfahrzeug' ('low floor train') as an annotation so this looks like a way to check if a 4020 formation is diagrammed for a particular service.

Anyway on arrival at Meidling I took some pics which I'm attaching - the first is of the interior of 288 and the others are of the two units at Meidling in the platform and then departing.

 

[43096]

I've been doing some track-bashing today in the area using a VOR Freizeit day ticket and being a Sunday I was very surprised to see two 8-car formations running on the S4 service. Late this afternoon I headed for Floridsdorf in the hope of maybe catching one and I was pleasantly surprised when the first S4 (the 17:12 to Mödling which I took as far as Meidling) turned up with a twin-unit formation with 4020 283 in (scruffy) red leading 4020 288 in original blue livery.

I then checked the service on the online SCOTTY timetable and unlike other S-Bahn services it didn't have 'Niederflurfahrzeug' ('low floor train') as an annotation so this looks like a way to check if a 4020 formation is diagrammed for a particular service.

Anyway on arrival at Meidling I took some pics which I'm attaching - the first is of the interior of 288 and the others are of the two units at Meidling in the platform and then departing.

The sooner they go the better - utterly rancid things. The contrast with the Desiro MLs and refurbished Talents is astonishing.

 

[Austriantrain]

I've been doing some track-bashing today in the area using a VOR Freizeit day ticket and being a Sunday I was very surprised to see two 8-car formations running on the S4 service. Late this afternoon I headed for Floridsdorf in the hope of maybe catching one and I was pleasantly surprised when the first S4 (the 17:12 to Mödling which I took as far as Meidling) turned up with a twin-unit formation with 4020 283 in (scruffy) red leading 4020 288 in original blue livery.

I then checked the service on the online SCOTTY timetable and unlike other S-Bahn services it didn't have 'Niederflurfahrzeug' ('low floor train') as an annotation so this looks like a way to check if a 4020 formation is diagrammed for a particular service.

Anyway on arrival at Meidling I took some pics which I'm attaching - the first is of the interior of 288 and the others are of the two units at Meidling in the platform and then departing.

The new 4736 are said to enter service from tomorrow. If it goes well and more units enter service, the days of 4020 are numbered.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've been doing some track-bashing today in the area using a VOR Freizeit day ticket and being a Sunday I was very surprised to see two 8-car formations running on the S4 service. Late this afternoon I headed for Floridsdorf in the hope of maybe catching one and I was pleasantly surprised when the first S4 (the 17:12 to Mödling which I took as far as Meidling) turned up with a twin-unit formation with 4020 283 in (scruffy) red leading 4020 288 in original blue livery.

I then checked the service on the online SCOTTY timetable and unlike other S-Bahn services it didn't have 'Niederflurfahrzeug' ('low floor train') as an annotation so this looks like a way to check if a 4020 formation is diagrammed for a particular service.

Anyway on arrival at Meidling I took some pics which I'm attaching - the first is of the interior of 288 and the others are of the two units at Meidling in the platform and then departing.

The sooner they go the better - utterly rancid things. The contrast with the Desiro MLs and refurbished Talents is astonishing.

Honestly some of the most horrendous trains I’ve been on. Give me a nice fresh Desiro any day.

 

[Beebman]

Still some 4020s out today on S3/4.

 

[Austriantrain]

Still some 4020s out today on S3/4.

Certainly until the end of June. First two 4736 out today on CJX9, but squadron service will take a while. 4020s will be needed at least until all the summer closures/service reductions in and around Vienna start with the school holidays, and who knows what happens after…

 

[AY1975]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned upthread, but something else that you might like to catch before they're gone, as I don't think they've got much longer to go, is the ex-Docklands Light Railway P86 and P89 cars in Essen.

Does anyone know which lines these currently run on, and whether they can still be found in service at all times or only in peak hours?

I thought I read somewhere that you can actually track which services they are operating on some website, presumably the Ruhrbahn site, but I haven't worked out how to do this yet.

 

[duesselmartin]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned upthread, but something else that you might like to catch before they're gone, as I don't think they've got much longer to go, is the ex-Docklands Light Railway P86 and P89 cars in Essen.

Does anyone know which lines these currently run on, and whether they can still be found in service at all times or only in peak hours?

I thought I read somewhere that you can actually track which services they are operating on some website, presumably the Ruhrbahn site, but I haven't worked out how to do this yet.

they seem to be off the U18. The much older Stadtbahnwagen are used on that now, so the Messe/Gruga line seems to be the last haven for them.

 

[The exile]

they seem to be off the U18. The much older Stadtbahnwagen are used on that now, so the Messe/Gruga line seems to be the last haven for them.

Back to their (German) roots then.