Shreds European Trips, Volume 2.

[Techniquest]

It sounds like a rancid hostel at the end there, and €180 for a taxi I'd have said no to! The route sounds like it was nice, but that's some serious ching! The whole lot of Spanish railways, with exception perhaps to the high-speed stuff, sounds like it's run by bosses from Avanti and TransPennine!

 

[shredder1]

It sounds like a rancid hostel at the end there, and €180 for a taxi I'd have said no to! The route sounds like it was nice, but that's some serious ching! The whole lot of Spanish railways, with exception perhaps to the high-speed stuff, sounds like it's run by bosses from Avanti and TransPennine!

Yes it was an expensive taxi ride Tech, but I really wanted to do that line, Just put it down to experience and you cant take it with you I suppose , you take your chance with accommodation of course, although that one was quite bad, but all the others that week were quite good to be fair.

 

[shredder1]

Northern Spain (Day 7). Saturday 11th February 2023.

I had been meaning to traverse the FEVE lines in Northern Spain for some years, back in the 1980`s, I had many family holidays in Majorca and travelled on the old FEVE network on the island and always said I would one day visit the mainland version.

I was out for 8 days and booked a couple of cheap flights through good old Ryanair, direct to Santander. Northern Spain is referred to as green Spain, because it is sheltered by the Basque Threshold which is partly the Cantabrian mountains to the west and the Pyrenees to the east, Northern Spain faces towards the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating a far different climate to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

Another early start in Bilbao, whilst walking into the station I noticed a plinthed steam locomotive, Beyer Peacock 295 Izarra, above the wall at Bilbao Abando railway station. I took breakfast in the station café and then had a brief walk into the city before catching the first FEVE train out to Santander from Bilbao La Concordia, my second trip in the week along this lovely line.

I didn’t take the train all the way into Santander though and instead alighted at Orejo, a junction station for the line to Lierganes, and caught the next train down the branch. Lierganes is a pleasant branch line on the Santander commuter network and has an hourly service from the latter.

I then caught the same service into Santander and caught the next train to Barreda, the location of the power station I passed on my way out to Oviedo a few days previously. Plenty of wagons in the sidings and I was hoping to catch some locomotive workings, or at least see one or two stabled up, but it was quiet.

I caught the next train along the line to Torrelavega Centro, another station with freight wagons parked up in the yard. I went into the town and had an early tea, a lovely Spanish salad with a soft creamy cheese and fresh tuna. Returning to the railway station I caught the next train along the line to Cabezon de las Sal, before returning on another train back into Santander, this is another hourly service on the Santander suburban network.

My last night in Santander and Id booked another Hostal on the front, overlooking the docks, rucksack dropped in the room and I was off with the camera and on into the night. I’d seen a very high outside lift on my first day in Santander, it connected to a footbridge over the railway yard, with a housing estate high above the city. It was a glass fronted lift and gave some excellent views of the railway station and yards, ideal for photographs, so I went up there for a while, before returning to my hostal for the night.

Renfe Feve - Wikipedia

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[shredder1]

Northern Spain (Day 8). Sunday 12th February 2023.

I had been meaning to traverse the FEVE lines in Northern Spain for some years, back in the 1980`s, I had many family holidays in Majorca and travelled on the old FEVE network on the island and always said I would one day visit the mainland version.

I was out for 8 days and booked a couple of cheap flights through good old Ryanair, direct to Santander. Northern Spain is referred to as green Spain, because it is sheltered by the Basque Threshold which is partly the Cantabrian mountains to the west and the Pyrenees to the east, Northern Spain faces towards the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating a far different climate to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

I had my first lay-in of the week, and didn’t get out of bed until 10.00. I didn’t need to get to the airport until 14.00, so I went back into the city and had one last look around, revisiting the outside lift above the railway yards and taking a few more photographs in the sunshine. Id had a good week and covered a lot of new track, but like all rail holidays, there is always so much more you would have liked to do, but I’ll be back.

I caught the bus back to the airport and this time noticed two old Spanish planes on plinths on the way in, so I walked out to photograph them. Santander airport was very efficient, no hanging around for this flight, in fact they had us at runway level waiting for the plane to land, it was away on time and we were back in Manchester in no time at all. Just to round everything off, a rail replacement bus took us from the airport back into Manchester Piccadilly, engineering works apparently. Another bus home from Manchester and that was it, holiday over, thanks for reading and until next time.

Renfe Feve - Wikipedia

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[Techniquest]

A rather successful adventure, clearly, and I've had a quick skim of that Wikipedia link now. A fascinating network of lines along the coast there

Anywhere in particular in mind for your next adventure?

 

[shredder1]

A rather successful adventure, clearly, and I've had a quick skim of that Wikipedia link now. A fascinating network of lines along the coast there

Anywhere in particular in mind for your next adventure?

Yes a great network when its all working, lol, Ill have to return and finish off the bus replacement bits I missed. Im off to Poland at the end of next month for 8 days, I had annual leave I had to take off work, so flying into Warsaw for £16.99 and flying back 8 days later from Krakow, £19.99. I get free travel around Warsaw because of my age, so Ill do all the local lines and a few tram routes and the locals sheds, plus try to get over to Bialystok for a day, and then have a couple of days around Krakow shed bashing.

 

[Techniquest]

Nice! It should be a fantastic time there. Poland's on the list to explore more fully one day, should the opportunity come up. It looks like a beautiful country, and I've so far only done Kraków. When the situation in Europe settles back down, then I'll look to going there again.

 

[shredder1]

Yes an amazing country Tech, Ive visited most of the main cities now, but it always inspires me.

 

[shredder1]

Apologies, for some reason day 5 didnt post, here it is.

Northern Spain (Day 5). Thursday 9th February 2023

I had been meaning to traverse the FEVE lines in Northern Spain for some years, back in the 1980`s, I had many family holidays in Majorca and travelled on the old FEVE network on the island and always said I would one day visit the mainland version.

I was out for 8 days and booked a couple of cheap flights through good old Ryanair, direct to Santander. Northern Spain is referred to as green Spain, because it is sheltered by the Basque Threshold which is partly the Cantabrian mountains to the west and the Pyrenees to the east, Northern Spain faces towards the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating a far different climate to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

After a good night’s sleep in the Hostal, I was down at Santiago De Compostela railway station for breakfast, they have an excellent station café. Id purchased a ticket to Leon with a change at Ourense on an 08.20 train, as I wanted to travel cross country. When I arrived at Ourense however I had another disappointment, the line to Monforte de Lemos was closed for engineering, and you’ve guessed it, it was another rail replacement bus, fortunately it wasn’t that far and we were soon on another train heading for Leon, and on another RENFE Talgo Duck.

On arrival into Leon, we passed the loco depot on the way in, and it had quiet a number of freight locos on shed, including some of the older Japanese designs. The high-speed line now goes beneath the main station to a large island platform, the original station, Estación del Norte.is above ground and well preserved, while the regional platforms are above ground in a terminus arrangement, the new station was built in 2011. I walked out to the depot, but security was that tight, I couldn’t get anywhere near it, no over bridges and high walls, so you couldn’t even see into the yard. I later walked out to the FEVE station, which is 12 minutes away across the river, I wanted to check my bearings for the following day, as I intended catching the one train a day back to Bilbao, a journey of 7.5 hours, and thus complete my circular tour.

Returning to Leon RENFE Adif railway station, my next move was to catch a train up to Gijon, another new line for me, and again I was treated to another RENFE Talgo Duck. In fact, on arriving into Gijon I was photographing my train near the ticket barriers when a member of staff came up to me and said Id get a better photograph from the other platform and he let me though the barriers, which I though was very good of him.

Id booked another hostal, 25 EU and around 10 minutes’ walk away from the railway station and amazingly the street it was on, had a guitar shop next door, but sadly it was closed. A great hostal though and again I dropped the rucksack off and went on the town for something to eat and I was on the tapas again. I slept well that night, in anticipation of my FEVE ride the next day from Leon to Bilbao, my train was at 07.10 from Gijon, so it was another early start next day.

Renfe Feve - Wikipedia

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[Techniquest]

You know, I don't know how I didn't notice you hadn't posted that! I must have been reading it in a hurry at work!

 

[shredder1]

You know, I don't know how I didn't notice you hadn't posted that! I must have been reading it in a hurry at work!

Im getting doddery in my old age, lol

 

[Techniquest]

Im getting doddery in my old age, lol

I'd have blamed it on being excited to share the adventure It's surprisingly easy to make these silly mistakes!

 

[shredder1]

I'd have blamed it on being excited to share the adventure It's surprisingly easy to make these silly mistakes!

Yes that sounds better,

 

[AnthonyRail]

Have you ever done Stuttgart in your adventures?

 

[shredder1]

Have you ever done Stuttgart in your adventures?

Just once a few years ago, it looked quite busy, but I was only changing trains, Id like to get back there.

 

[30907]

Just once a few years ago, it looked quite busy, but I was only changing trains, Id like to get back there.

I spent a few days in Stuttgart a few years ago. It was a church event, and in good German style public transport was included in the price, so of course I used it!

The Degerloch rack tramway, the miniature railway in one of the parks, and the public transport museum in Bad Cannstatt are my principal memories, and the dual-gauge Stadtbahn is a curiosity. The city itself is decidedly post-WW2 and dedicated to car manufacture so didn't wow me - and since then the Hbf has become a complete building site.

 

[shredder1]

I spent a few days in Stuttgart a few years ago. It was a church event, and in good German style public transport was included in the price, so of course I used it!

The Degerloch rack tramway, the miniature railway in one of the parks, and the public transport museum in Bad Cannstatt are my principal memories, and the dual-gauge Stadtbahn is a curiosity. The city itself is decidedly post-WW2 and dedicated to car manufacture so didn't wow me - and since then the Hbf has become a complete building site.

That sounds amazing, I must definitely spend some time there, thanks for sharing

 

[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 1). Sunday 19th March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

I had an early morning flight from Manchester to Warsaw, arriving into Warsaw Modlin Airport by around 09.30. A free bus service takes you from the airport to Modlin railway station, and then a train to the city centre and I alighted at Warsaw Zachodnia (East) station. The station is being completely rebuilt at the moment with track remodelling and an overall roof, the location is a very large building site, it should be nice once completed.

I caught a local service out to Warsaw Aleje Jerozolimskie and from there changed to the WKD (Warsaw Commuter Railway), network, a network I’ve wanted to do for some time now, having only ever been as far as the first station out a few years ago. The first train I caught took me as far as Podkowa Lesna Glowna, where I changed for a train to the top of the line at Grodzisk Mazowieki Radonska, where the depot is located along with a museum, but sadly the museum was closed on my visit.

I returned on the next train to the only branch on the network at Podkowa Lesna Zachodnia for the branch line to Milanowek Grudow, but a lot of work is also taking place on the WKD, (Warsaw Commuter Railway), and much of the network was having the trackwork and pantographs replaced with some of it being down to one line only for the moment and the branch line was also closed. I had however done the main line, so it will be nice to return after the system has been upgraded. I then returned to Warsaw Śródmieście, a station attached to Warsaw Central station and the start of the WKD network.

I next checked into my hotel for the next 4 nights and dropped my rucksack off, before returning to Warsaw Central and catching a train out to Warsaw’s, now only un-rebuilt station, Warsaw Wschodnia (West), the last main station in Warsaw with open platforms and excellent for photography. I spent the rest of my first evening on Warsaw West. I noticed a number of new locomotives replacing the EP pool, in the form of Newag Griffins, a bi modal Bo-Bo, classified as a Newag E4DCUd. After the night had gone, I sampled some Polish Cuisine in a restaurant in the city before returning to my hotel for the night, It had been a good first day.

Warsaw Commuter Railway - Wikipedia

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Warsaw Commuter Railway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 2). Monday 20th March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

After good nights sleep in the hotel and stuffing myself with an excellent continental breakfast, I was soon out on the streets of Warsaw and making my way to Warsaw Srodmiescie railway station, where I caught a train out to Wtochy. I can remember catching a 206 bus to Odolany Cargo depot, which is where I was heading, it used to take about 10 minutes, but that particular bus wasn’t running, and instead I had to catch a 288 bus to get out to the depot, which took nearly an hours after going around a few housing estates and I have to catch the same bus back to Wtochy station.

I did however have an excellent shed visit, taken around by the shed foreman, although there was not as many locos on shed, as my last visit and it appeared that they had moved the scrappers from the back of the shed.

From Wtochy, I boarded a train out to Pruszkow, returning to Warsaw Zachodnia and then another suburban train out to Sulejowek Milosna and then onto Minsk Mazowieki, where I was confronted by a terrifying female ticket inspector, who I think was swearing at me in Polish, apparently, I had travelling outside the area of my free travel, which I was unaware of, so I bought a ticket to get me back into Warsaw.

A lot of investment is taking place around Warsaw, Zachodnia station is being remodelled and rebuilt and so is much of the track bed to the east of the station, so much work being done at the moment, it was like a very large building site.

I returned on the next train to Warsaw Wschodnia, the last of the main Warsaw stations remaining un-rebuilt and the best for photography from largely open platforms. I later returned to Warsaw Central station, took tea in the city and returned to my hotel for the night. Another excellent day.

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[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 3). Tuesday 21st March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

After a lovely continental breakfast at the hotel, I was soon on the platforms of Warsaw Central ready to do a bit more line bashing around the region. For the first time ever in Poland I was told by security on the station, “photography not allowed” as I was taking a picture of a Bombardier Traxx EU-47, so I waited until “not allowed”, moved down the platform and then took my photographs.

My first line of the day was a train to Warsaw`s other airport, Chopin. A very modern underground station, nice to see both railway stations in Warsaw are rail connected, although a free bus does take you a short distance from Modlin airport to the railhead. I returned on the same service back to the junction at Shuzewiec with a change for a train down to Piaseczno, as I wanted to visit the narrow-gauge railway that operates from Piaseczno Miaso railway station a five-minute walk away. The trains on the narrow gauge railway was not operating on my visit, but I did manage to have a good look around the yard and station, quite a nice set up and one to revisit on a running day.

It had been a damp start to the day, but brightened up as the it moved on, I returned to Piaseczno main line station, as I was taking some photographs from the overbridge, a passer-by warned me to be careful taking photographs of trains, because of the war in Ukraine, he was pleasant enough, and I could understand his concern. Wishing to travel the lines north of Warsaw, I caught a train heading for Warsaw Gdanska, and later completed the northern loop to Legionowo Piaski, before returning to Warsaw Torunska, which I noticed on passing, had a large marshalling yard. After walking across a bridge over the yard, nothing was really in evidence locomotive wise.

I caught the next train back to Warsaw Zachodnia platform 9 and walked around to the main station, catching a train to the next station, Warsaw Ochota and walked around to the bridge which goes over the new Warsaw Glowna railway station and also the railway museum yard.

My next move was to visit the railway museum, it had been about 6 years since my last visit, indeed the site of the new Glowna railway station was just derelict land, it’s nice to see how much the area has been regenerated, although the old Glowna platforms are still in a state of dereliction.

I always find this museum amazing, with some great examples of older Polish locomotives and a very large collection of models and artifacts and I enjoyed a good look around the facilities. The Warsaw museum is sited on part of the old Glowna railway station, but sadly the exhibits are left outside to the elements, through a lack of funding I expect, for a roofed facility. The site is also very small, making photographing the exhibits difficult.

I returned on a tram to the city centre and finished the day off by photographing trams, Warsaw, like a number of European cities, still has quite a selection of both old and new trams operating, although Im more a railway enthusiasts that a tram specialist, I do like my trams and find they are a great way to explore cities. I finished the day off with another excellent Polish dish, before retiring for the night to my hotel.

Piaseczno Narrow Gauge Railway,

Narrow-gauge train

The WLT 2022 season ended on September 25, 2022. We hope to see you in the spring of 2023. The historical narrow-gauge train sets off early afternoon every Saturday from the station in Piaseczno. It goes through Zalesie Dolne, with its historical station dating back to 1930s, through Głosków...

www.wtp.waw.pl

Warsaw Railway Museum

Warsaw Railway Museum - Wikipedia

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Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 4). Wednesday 22nd March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

I was getting really spoiled with those continental breakfasts, the choice was incredible, so I started the day off with a full stomach again, a selection of around 6 cheeses and meats, hot Polish sausage of three kinds, pickled cabbage, some lovely breads and other fancy items, its making me hungry just writing about it.

My forth day in Warsaw, I was extending my travels and moving outside my free pass zones. I was again down on Warsaw Srodmiescie railway station, for those who don’t know one, it’s the underground, heavy rail station in front of Warsaw Centralia. I caught the first train down to Deblin, a town some 173 kilometres’ south west of Warsaw. From Deblin I took the direct line across to Radom, 114 kilometres to the east, and finally the direct line back to Warsaw 104 kilometres. Id taken a direct service from Radom to Warsaw Gdanska and changed there for Warsaw Praga, as Id noticed another marshalling yard that I had passed the day before, and this also had a large bridge going over the length of it, but again, it was in the main, inactive, with no locos in evidence.

From Warsaw Praga I returned on the next train back to Warsaw Gdanska and then took another train through to Legionowo`s main station, with a change to Legionowo Przystanek station at the other end of the triangle, I then caught a train down the direct line to Warsaw Wschodia and spent the next few hours photographing all movements, before returning to Warsaw Centralia station, another meal on the town, and then returning to my hotel for the night. It was largely a day of line bashing, quite enjoyable and relaxing, a great day.

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[rg177]

Sounds like a good adventure so far - I've grown quite fond of Poland in the past year or so - enjoyed many short trips there.

The museum in Warsaw is indeed interesting - I've been there twice now and it's nice to have a wander around outside.

My other half is from Kraków so I know the city well, I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on.

I'm back there in May, doing the Vilnius-Mockava-Kraków train (with the change of trains at the border), before heading for Wałbrzych and the Czech border at Lichkov.

 

[shredder1]

Sounds like a good adventure so far - I've grown quite fond of Poland in the past year or so - enjoyed many short trips there.

The museum in Warsaw is indeed interesting - I've been there twice now and it's nice to have a wander around outside.

My other half is from Kraków so I know the city well, I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on.

I'm back there in May, doing the Vilnius-Mockava-Kraków train (with the change of trains at the border), before heading for Wałbrzych and the Czech border at Lichkov.

Thanks very much, yes Poland is an amazing country, Ive been around the museum at Warsaw twice now, Vilnius also has a nice little museum attached to the railway station, sounds like a nice trip, Ive travelled on the route a few times now, enjoy.

 

[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 5). Thursday 23rd March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

My fifth day in Poland, and I said goodbye to Warsaw with still lots to do and see, but I’ll be back. I was travelling on a high speed PKP Intercity Polish Pendolino to the city of Krakow, a journey of 155 kilometres at 2 hours 17 minutes, so not the fastest in Europe, but comfortable. I’d been up early and showered at the hotel, making sure I had my last continental breakfast before departing. Id booked a reservation on a train just before 08.00 and first made my way down the stairs to Warsaw Srodmiescie station and then through the tunnels to Warsaw Central to save negotiating with the trams and traffic above ground. After a quite mooch around both stations, I was soon seated on the Polish Pendolino and taking a leisurely ride down to Krakow.

It was my first visit since Covid to Krakow and nice to get back to this city, I first checked in at my room, a five-minute walk from the main railway station Glowny, in an area Id stayed before. It was a strange shaped room, they call them a maisonette, it was alright, with a cooker, fridge, television, bathroom suite, with some stairs leading to a very low ceiling bedroom with a mattress on the floor, they had made good use of the space and for £25 it was fine for the night.

After dropping off my rucksack, I returned to the Krakow Glowny railway station and caught a train down to the airport, as this was a line I hadn’t done before, I then returned on the same train which went through Glowny station and on to Plaszow, the site of a former ghetto in World War 2 and indeed Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory.

Plaszow can be a busy railway station though and four electric EP 07 locomotives were parked up in the yard. I followed my previous steps from Plaszow railway station and continued alomng a series of dirt tracks which took me to the EMU depot and the old steam sheds at Plaszow, two locomotives were still stoo,d rusting away in the yard, a TY51 and a Prussian tank TWK-57, from memory there was a third locomotive left here, but it seemed to have gone, hopefully for preservation and not the cutters torch.

After leaving Plaszow yard, I followed another old railway line and then onto a dirt track that took me along the side of the main line and onto Prokocim railway station and from the platforms I could just make out the lines of abandoned ET 22 locomotive in the PKP Cargo yard, although they had cleared a few out since my last visit, this is at the end of another walk down a dirt track.

From Biezanow Cargo Depot, a dirt road takes you down to the Intercity depot at Prokocim, and the depot still retains its magnificent coaling tower. I moved onto the tracks to get a few photographs of the coaling tower, and continued heading for the depot, when I noticed two guys in uniforms that looked like police coming in my direction, with no escape I waited until I was close to them and said “jin dobre” smiling, and they said the same back and walked past me, phew!

I took a few photographs of the locomotives on the way in the depot and then went to the shed foreman’s office and a lovely fellow came out to greet me and took me all over both depot`s, (its split with a traverse in the middle of two straight sheds). I had an excellent visit, I then returned to Biezanow, which is actually nearer to the depot than Prokocim station.

From Biezanow I caught the next train back to Krakow Glowny, had an excellent six course meal in the old city, traditional Polish food at its best and then spend the rest of the evening was spent photographing the trams, before returning to Krakow Glowny station and a final few railway photographs and then retiring to my room for the night, I slept well on the mattress on the floor, it had been a good day.

Schindler's Factory Guided Tour in Krakow

The site of the moving events depicted in Spielberg’s Academy Award–winning Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler’s Factory is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in the Second World War. This small-group tour, with licensed guide, lets you make the absolute most of the engaging interactive...

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[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 6). Friday 24th March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

I only had the maisonette apartment for the one night, so had a 15 minute walk to my next accommodation, on the opposite side of Glowny railway station and just outside the old city, a conventional room this time with all the trimmings and breakfast and a television with an English speaking channel, which made a nice change.

My original plan was to catch a train down to the open-air preservation site at Chabowka, on the Zakopane line, but the line was closed and a bus service was operating, which would have meant around 5 hours on a bus, so instead I just stayed around Krakow, and spent some time tram bashing, (look away now if you don’t like trams). I covered routes 50, 18, 3 and 11, calling in at Glowny railway station in between and also catching a route 50 tram out to Plaszow and spending some time on that railway station there.

As darkness fell, I was back in the old city, dining on another traditional polish dish of pierogies, Polish dumplings, with a variety of fillings, its no wonder I increase in weight on my travels. I later retired to my new accommodation, watched a little television, (I don’t mean it was a small television, I mean I only watched it for a short time). I them jumped in bed and had a lovely night’s sleep, it had been a pretty chilled out day really.

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[Techniquest]

Definitely a productive and enjoyable time there, and Kraków needs a full on revisit by me. Quite, I want to try the PKP Pendolino at some point, do you know if they do anything other than the Warsaw to Kraków route?

 

[shredder1]

Definitely a productive and enjoyable time there, and Kraków needs a full on revisit by me. Quite, I want to try the PKP Pendolino at some point, do you know if they do anything other than the Warsaw to Kraków route?

Yes the Polish Pendos do a number of routes, here Tech,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_Poland

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks! Gdansk has been on my list to visit for too long, maybe I will have to combine these things at some point. Poznan is also on the desired list, but of course the priority is Zakopane!

 

[shredder1]

Thanks! Gdansk has been on my list to visit for too long, maybe I will have to combine these things at some point. Poznan is also on the desired list, but of course the priority is Zakopane!

Gdansk is quite historic and a lovely city, Gdynia has the depot, worth a visit. Zakopane is at the back of the Tatras of course, its only a small station and a bit touristy at the other end, its worth a trip, you will however go past Chabowka, not that is the open air museum with an outside turntable full of old steam locos. Poznan station is completed now and I believe steam are running back in there, but yes its a big country and trains are relatively slow, so probably best concentrating on certain areas, I would check out the line to Hel too, a train ride from Gdynia, in the summer they have quite a variety of locos doing the line

 

[shredder1]

Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. (Day 7). Saturday 25th March 2023.

A weeks break over in Poland, essentially exploring the cities of Warsaw and Krakow. Although having visited theses cites a few times before, I wanted to explore them a little more and take advance of my new found free travel, being over 70 now, I also wanted to explore Warsaw`s local rail network.

My last day of the trip and I was flying back to Manchester from Krakow, but not until 21.30, so I had another full day in front of me. The breakfast at the hotel was better than the ones I had in Warsaw; in that it was a larger select.
I started the day by travelling a few more tram routes, free travel for me of course and probably the best way to see a city is by tram, plus occasionally you may pass railway yards that you have not seen before. This time I completed routes 4, 8 and 22 before becoming wanting a change and going back onto the railways. So, it was back on the platforms of Krakow Glowny railway station for the afternoon.

I took tea in the old city and treated myself to another six-course meal to set me up for the flight home. The hotel had allowed me to leave my rucksack, so I collected this and returned to Glowny railway station for a few hours, before catching a train to Krakow airport.

My flight from Krakow to Manchester was on time, and got me back into Manchester just after the last train and tram had left, fortunately there was a bus to take me into the city, but this still left me with a few hours to spare before the first bus out. I did however manage to get a taxi, at £20 it was dearer than my flights, Id also forgotten that the clocks went forward, so I wouldn’t have had as long to wait for the first bus, as I thought, but never mind, it had been a good week away and I enjoyed every minute of it, thanks for reading.

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