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Things that railways in other countries do better than in the UK

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AY1975

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Following on from the thread on things that UK railways get right compared to other countries at https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...get-right-compared-to-other-countries.185635/ can you think of any examples of things that train operators in mainland Europe (or any other part of the world for that matter) do better than in the UK, that UK train operators would do well to learn from?

Here's one to start you off: the provision of timetable information at stations. In many countries in mainland Europe, each station has departure sheets (and usually arrival sheets as well at least for major stations), with the departures arranged hour by hour and listing all calling points for each train.

Also, in Germany most ICE, IC and EC trains have on-board timetable leaflets showing the train's entire journey and listing the available connections at each station en route. These are called "Ihr Fahrplan" ("your timetable"). In the 1970s and '80s they were called "Ihr Zugbegleiter" ("your train accompanier") and many Germans still refer to them as the "Zugbegleiter" (which is also another word for "Schaffner" (train conductor)). Some other national operators also provide these on-board timetable leaflets on international trains.
 
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yorksrob

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They still had compartment carriages when I travelled in BeNeLux a couple of years ago.
 

class387

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Most European countries have level boarding which we really should be specifying on new trains (as GA have).

A lot more high speed rail in most of Western Europe than here.

Cheap railtours and heritage stock on regular services like in Czechia would be good for enthusiasts. ;)
 

AlbertBeale

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The practice in most European trains - at least in my experience - of not having people shouting into mobile phones all round you. I've often seen people picking up their phone and going into the vestibule between carriages to make or take a call.

Also, children's play areas on some trains.

And sometimes compartments as well as open carriages.

Also, some of them have much nicer buffets - food-wise, and sometimes layout - than is common in Britain. And the coffee brought to me by the attendant on an Italian sleeper train one morning was almost the best morning coffee I've ever tasted...
 

radamfi

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Proper integrated services where connecting services are carefully timed to meet at interchange stations so that people can travel in several directions without long transfer times. Local buses actually calling at the station, rather than a bus station half a mile away or a bus stop across a busy road.
 

newmilton

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1) Platform information on the printed displayed timetable.

2) Displays showing the composition of the train and where to stand on the platform - even if (as happened to me in Lyon last week), they occasionally suddenly change direction sending everyone running madly to the opposite end of the platform.

3) Ticket machines that allow you to buy from any station on any date, i.e. not only from the station you're at on that day only.
 

AlbertBeale

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1) Platform information on the printed displayed timetable.

2) Displays showing the composition of the train and where to stand on the platform - even if (as happened to me in Lyon last week), they occasionally suddenly change direction sending everyone running madly to the opposite end of the platform.

3) Ticket machines that allow you to buy from any station on any date, i.e. not only from the station you're at on that day only.

Yes - in Italy, I found it excellent that even on a small station the machine (though there were usually staff too!) would sell tickets from other stations, and including obscure returns for just part of the outward journey, and bike tickets for if you were picking up a bike partway through the journey etc ... all very flexible and amazing! And the machine suggested train timings that matched, though tickets were often valid over a period of days; also it made clear if there was a choice of express trains and local trains at different prices, and gave you all the timing options so you could decide whether to pay the higher price.

It made you believe that the railways could run as a public service with the interests of the passengers a high priority!
 

Western Lord

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Most European countries have level boarding which we really should be specifying on new trains (as GA have).
There may be some level boarding, but I suspect that most trains in Europe, due to the low level platforms, require you to climb steps (TGVs etc.)
 

AlexNL

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There may be some level boarding, but I suspect that most trains in Europe, due to the low level platforms, require you to climb steps (TGVs etc.)
Most platforms in Western Europe are either at 55cm or 76cm above the rail. For both heights, trains with level boarding exist. On single deckers, the floor height matches the platform exactly. On double deckers, there may be either a slope leading to the lower deck or there is a hybrid solution with single deck coaches.

On TGVs/ICEs it's different, you still have to navigate some steps there although it is getting better. The Stadler SMILE (SBB Giruno) high speed train (250 km/h) has level boarding, for example.
 

hexagon789

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Most European countries have level boarding which we really should be specifying on new trains (as GA have).

I have only ever found that on their newest of trains, those of a similar vintage to our Mk3s/Mk4s are usually a significant climb up.
 

70014IronDuke

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Yes - in Italy, I found it excellent that even on a small station the machine (though there were usually staff too!) would sell tickets from other stations, and including obscure returns for just part of the outward journey, and bike tickets for if you were picking up a bike partway through the journey etc ... all very flexible and amazing! And the machine suggested train timings that matched, though tickets were often valid over a period of days; also it made clear if there was a choice of express trains and local trains at different prices, and gave you all the timing options so you could decide whether to pay the higher price.

It made you believe that the railways could run as a public service with the interests of the passengers a high priority!

How totally absurd!
Thank goodness, even if any odd-bod should even think of it. it would never catch on here! :)
 

175mph

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Proper integrated services where connecting services are carefully timed to meet at interchange stations so that people can travel in several directions without long transfer times. Local buses actually calling at the station, rather than a bus station half a mile away or a bus stop across a busy road.
At least Hull has that aspect covered then, as well as Doncaster. :)
 

Bletchleyite

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At least Hull has that aspect covered then, as well as Doncaster. :)

Milton Keynes has that, for now at least; the idiots at MKDP and the Council want to remove the buses to the old bus station and leave the cars there, which is a case of rather having it the wrong way round. Just like the utterly dimwitted decision at Cardiff.
 

JonasB

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I like that. They will do small series & (try to) deliver on time, without any mishaps.

They are good at it as well, and they will handle small and odd requests. Like the new suburban train for Stockholm with the not so common gauge 891 mm.

Slightly off topic: are there any UK-based train manufacturers, producing for export?

Not that I know. Road transport of rail vehicles is expensive, and demand for trains built for british loading gauge is pretty low in the rest of Europe.
 

radamfi

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Buying a ticket just before travel is usually easier than in the UK, where long queues at ticket offices and machines can mean missing the train or travelling without a ticket and risking a penalty fare or even prosecution.

Obviously most places now have mobile ticketing. Some countries also have touch in touch out smartcards. Others have paper tickets that can be bought in advance and validated when required. For example, Belgium has their Rail Pass giving 10 single trips for 83.00 or 10 local trips for 24.00.

Britain has no long distance train service at peak times other than for well-heeled business people.
 

JonasB

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A few suggestions to answer the original question:

-Larger loading gauge so more spacious trains.
-Most of the network electrified.
-Luggage racks for larger luggage, even on regional trains. (Might exist, but I've sometimes had problems finding a place for my luggage when I've travelled with a larger suitcase.)
-Easy to buy connecting journeys and get all of them on one ticket.
-High speed rail.
 

anme

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Eh? The UK is by far best at that. Most European railways don't offer it at all, it's one bit of card per vehicle journey other than regional services.

Well I'm not sure that's true. Plenty of European railways outside the UK have one ticket per journey.
 

JonasB

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Eh? The UK is by far best at that. Most European railways don't offer it at all, it's one bit of card per vehicle journey other than regional services.

Maybe I was a bit vague, I meant connecting journey not necessarily by train. Here in Sweden most (but unfortunately not all) transport companies cooperate so you can buy a pretty long and complicated journey involving metro, long distance train, local train, city bus, coach, ferry etc on one ticket. I've not been able to do that in the UK.
 
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