(Rail)Urban Myths

[Kris]

Swiss trains are always on time. (Favourite quote from the tabloid press and commuters)

How would they know? Do they monitor the performance tables of Swiss trains the way Tom monitors SWT's

I've seen late Swiss trains and I've only been there a few times.

Our trains have some of the tightest timings ion the World and it's only recently that ours (in the South) have had a bit of leeway built in.

Don't know if it still stands but over here we used to run the 'Highest Average' speed trains in the World with most expresses reaching 100mph at least and most stoppers 75mph. Go to other countrries and there may be TGV's. ICE 3's etc but a lot of the other trains potter around like Thomas the Tank on valium.

The Trains Are Always Late!

Also used by scroats as a reason not to pay. People only really remember the rare occasions when their train is late. The vast majority of the time the trains arrive on schedule or even early.

The trains are always dirty!

Squeeze me! Who makes them dirty? PASSENGERS !!! They come out of the depot spotless - especially at Salisbury which does a superb job.

Train Spotters are dodgy old men in greasy anoraks carrying a pack of sandwiches.

Nope - can't argue with that one

Any others?

 

[Coxster]

Train Spotters are dodgy old men in greasy anoraks carrying a pack of sandwiches.

Nope - can't argue with that one

You should hear what people say about drivers

 

[Darandio]

Train Spotters are dodgy old men in greasy anoraks carrying a pack of sandwiches.

I have actually noticed a few upmarket spotters recently that have replaced the sandwiches with tubes of pringles. Must be on offer or something.

 

[Kris]

You should hear what people say about drivers

:tongue3:

 

[Snapper]

Enthusiasts do come in all shapes and sizes:

Traditional:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p2978993.html

Stereotypical:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p3490951.html

Surprising:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p28890339.html

Female:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p39740507.html

Family:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p39740699.html

Fraternal:
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p28878066.html

As for the original question about railway myths. How about the 'strategic reserve'....?

 

[westcoaster]

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p3490951.html
id believe that is a member from this forum, iirc this was discussed in another topic

 

[rmt]

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p3490951.html
id believe that is a member from this forum, iirc this was discussed in another topic

As is this one.

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p28890333.html

 

[Beaker]

There is the old railway myth that 37427 is rateable.

 

[theblackwatch]

Swiss trains are always on time. (Favourite quote from the tabloid press and commuters)

Nope, 95.6% on time. Good timekeeping but not always on time. European track layouts tend to be far more generous that ours, none of this single lead junction nonsense. There's also a lot more grade separation and bi-di running. There's nothing magical about it over there, they just have historically spent more money on it and have advantages like Bern gauge.

Another thing I noticed in Switzerland during a holiday a few years ago is that the station stop times are much longer, allowing not only interchange between several trains, but providing additional recovery time. And some people on here seem to think it's just MML which has long stops at stations!

 

[Kris]

Another thing I noticed in Switzerland during a holiday a few years ago is that the station stop times are much longer, allowing not only interchange between several trains, but providing additional recovery time. And some people on here seem to think it's just MML which has long stops at stations!

Exactly! That's what I've been telling people - especially commuters for years. It's not unusual to sit at stations for 10 to 15 minutes sometimes.

 

[devon_metro]

I've got one:

First Great Western

 

[icn]

Another thing I noticed in Switzerland during a holiday a few years ago is that the station stop times are much longer, allowing not only interchange between several trains, but providing additional recovery time.

The actual timing in Switzerland is very tight, especially in urban areas. Infrastructure is used very heavily with almost no recovery time. It is usually about 7% additional time to the best(!) technical running time, but for lots of trains its less due to the lack of paths.

The are some single track lines with 6 trains per hour and direction, so one late train can (and will) cause lots of delay to other trains.

Timetabling in Switzerland
Page 15 ist very interesting

 

[Nick W]

Page 15 ist very interesting

They omitted our railways. I wonder if we're top because we filled our mainlines to capacity and rationalised the rest.

 

[Kris]

The actual timing in Switzerland is very tight, especially in urban areas. Infrastructure is used very heavily with almost no recovery time. It is usually about 7% additional time to the best(!) technical running time, but for lots of trains its less due to the lack of paths.

The are some single track lines with 6 trains per hour and direction, so one late train can (and will) cause lots of delay to other trains.

Timetabling in Switzerland
Page 15 ist very interesting

I think you have a wonderful system in Switzerland - big advantage is that there are more staff per passenger and better track layouts.

Big mistakes by the old B.R. led to a lot of track rationalisation particularly single lead junctions - big mistake.

I'm always puzzled - in Switzerland English seems to be the second language or even parellel - you see a lot of adverts in English.

Love the Swiss German in the Interlaken area and surrounding areas - sounds quite musical like Norwegian. Don't like the Bern German which sounds harsh like Dutch. Suppose it's a bit like our soft accent down South compared to Scousers or even Cockneys.

 

[icn]

I think you have a wonderful system in Switzerland - big advantage is that there are more staff per passenger and better track layouts.

There's not much staff left in Switzerland I'm afraid... Swiss Railways may be very efficient with good connections, modern rolling stock and reliable, but it lost much of its charme depsite some beautiful landscapes. That's why I visit GB in June . I'll make a trip through the south by rail.

I'm always puzzled - in Switzerland English seems to be the second language or even parellel - you see a lot of adverts in English.

It's mostly a mix of english and german, called "Denglisch". It doesn't always make sense, but it sounds good :toothy4:

 

[Kris]

Yes - must admit I was sad to see these old units and coaches replaced by faceless modern stuff with new colours.

 

[icn]

But todays railway needs modern rolling stock to be competitive (aircon, low entry, good acceleration...). But there's also a market for heritage railways. SBB has also a heritage foundation:

www.sbbhistoric.ch