You're in charge of your foreign open access operator

[Aictos]

Following on from this thread:https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...arge-of-your-own-open-access-operator.160249/

The same rules apply but aboard, this can be anywhere in the world with the exception of the UK which can be done in the thread above.

Here's a simple idea.

Suppose, for a second, that you are in charge of your own Open Access train operator. Where do you run to, which trains do you run and what livery do they wear?

Any Open Access operator needs to serve a sizeable market without being totally abstractive. Where in the World is this possible?

For starters I would like to run a Cross Border service between Londonderry and Limerick Colbert via Sligo McDiarmada calling at Londonderry - Strabane - Omagh - Bundoran - Irvinestown - Enniskillen - Sligo McDiarmada - Collooney - Tubbercurry - Swinford - Kiltimagh - Tuam - Athenry - Craughwell - Ardrahan - Gort - Crusheen - Ennis - Sixmilebridge - Limerick Colbert using similar trains to IE's Class 22000 DMUs.

The trains will be formed into 5 car sets with one 1st Class coach and 4 Standard Class coaches.

This will not only provide a second cross border rail link between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but it would restore lost rail links as well as a direct service between the three without having to go into Belfast and Dublin saving time.

 

[317666]

I would revive the TEE brand but using high speed trains (Siemens Velaros perhaps), running limited stop between major European cities (Paris - Brussels - Cologne - Hannover - Berlin for example). The trains would have a mixture of spacious open coaches (predominantly seats around tables with just a few airline seats for those who prefer them) and compartments, and all seats would align with the windows. The trains would feature both a proper sit-down restaurant car, and more of a bistro area where you can just go for a drink or to buy snacks to take back to your seat. Unlike the original TEE, there would be two travel classes in order to provide better competition with air travel (the main goal of the operation), 2+2 in second and 2+1 in first as you'd expect. If this were a success I would expand it to overnight services too, reviving many routes which have been lost in recent years.

 

[bussnapperwm]

With a new chord linking the two HS lines in London being added, I'd introduce a Birmingham - International - Old Oak Common - Stratford International - Lille - Paris (hourly) with a once a day Disney Express.