Interrail June-July 2011

The 2nd of my 2011 gadabouts around Europe...below are details of my route and stopovers...any information about where to eat and drink on stopovers or any points of interest transport wise along the route I would be most grateful.

Sat June 25th

Paris Bercy-Clermont Ferrand-Marseille

Sun June 26th

Marseille-Veynes-Grenoble-Chambery-Geneve-Lausanne (Lausanne to Rolle by Paddle Steamer) Rolle-Geneve

Mon June 27th

Geneve-Gervais Les Bains-Martigny-Montreux-Spiez-Luzern-Goschenen

Tues June 28th

Goschenen-Disentis-Samedan-Tirano-Milan

Weds June 29th

Milan-Verona-Fortezza-San Candido-Lienz-Spittal-Salzburg

Fri July 1st
Salzburg-Linz (Postlingbergbahn)-Selzthal-Leoben-Vienna-Bratislava

Sat July 2nd

Bratislava-Strba-Strbske Pleso-Poprad Tatry-Margecany-Brezno-Zvolen

Sun July 3rd

Zvolen-Bratislava-Sturovo-Budapest

not familiar with most places you are going, but Murphy's Law in Salzburg is the best irish pub there

Hmm. In Marseille, last summer I ate at La Marinière, by the port (Google Maps link http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...LhlS9_--URqG6WTh02mFHA&cbp=12,159.23,,0,10.12) is a characterful local place which does a pretty decent bouillabaisse, amongst other typically Marseillaise dishes. Maybe not absolutely outstanding, and perhaps a little overpriced, but the character of the place (and the warmth of the couple who run it) more or less makes up for it.

And in Milan, not sure I can recommend anywhere specific. But I'd probably advise going down to the area by the (remaining) canal area, near Porta Genova metro and main line station. (Google maps link http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...451318,9.175483&spn=0.00636,0.016512&t=h&z=17 - Ripa di Porta Ticinese and the streets off it might prove most rewarding. A thoroughly pleasant neighbourhood to explore of an evening.)

Can't help at all with anywhere else!

Shame you couldn't overnight in Verona rather than Milan - I guess timetabling doesn't allow it. Verona's great for an evening walkabout.

burns20 said:

Weds June 29th

Milan-Verona-Fortezza-San Candido-Lienz-Spittal-Salzburg

Click to expand...

That's a great day (from Verona onwards ).

Budapest - if you want a few beers on the cheap in the tourist area, I strongly recommend the Captain Cook pub. It's round the back of the basilica, across the main road. But it has a decent, busy terrace and you'll pay about half the price of the tourist traps in front of the basilica. HUF 480 for a large (half-litre) beer - about £1.60 . Food's not bad, too - it comes from the Italian restaurant opposite in the side-street.

Thanks for your replies and suggestions, will try the restaurant in Marseille and the Canal area around Porta Genva looks nice so an evening stroll to burn dinner off there too.

When I arrive at Budapest I have to go straight to Ferihegy to get the plane home to Manchester, alas my last interrail trip had a day in Budapest.

Thanks Again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
IR1427 Martigny 1338 Brig
Brig 1431

EC57 Brig 1444 Milano Centrale
Domodossola 1512

D69 Domodossola 1525 Locarno
Locarno 1714

IR2192 Locarno 1745 Basel
Goschenen 1907
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ment to say...I have a choice of routes between Martigny and Goschenen...I have already done the GoldenPass Classic but like the opulence of the train so was going to do it again.

The other option would be this;

IR1427 Martigny 1338
Brig 1431

EC57 Brig 1444
Domodossola 1512

D69 Domodossola 1525
Locarno 1714

IR2192 Locarno 1745
Goschenen 1907

A few comments on the parts I know myself.

As said previously, the section Clermont-Ferrand Nimes (Ligne des Cévennes) is very scenic and a masterpiece of engineering (many viaducts and tunnels), especially between Langogne and Grand-Combe. Unfortunately, the line has suffered of low maintenance and has many speed restrictions (down to 30km/h).

Veynes Grenoble (Ligne des Alpes) is also a highly scenic route with some beautiful viaducts. X73500 railcars have large windows to enjoy the trip. As far as I remember, best views are on the right when running northward.

Genève Lausanne : not the most interesting part along of Lake of Geneva. The line is never close to the lake shore. The most interesting section is Lausanne Vevey (- Montreux). At Morges, you may have a glimpse on the narrow gauge BAM (left side when going toward Lausanne), and possibly standard gauge wagons on narrow gauge bogies.

Paddle Steamer on the lake, always a good experience. It is worth to pay the extra cost for 1st class to enjoy the landscape on the upper deck. Extra fare ticket for 1st class is available on board.

St Gervais Le Fayet to Martigny : very steep section (90mm/m or 1 in 11) without rack after departure form St Gervais, view on the Mont Blanc massif after Argentière, impressive gorges after the Swiss border (La Chatelard).

Montreux Zweisimmen Spiez : my preferred swiss route ! At Montreux, 3 different gauges in the same station (standard for CFF, metric for the MOB, 80 cm for the MGN). At Chamby station, you can see the museum railway (Blonay Chamby) on left side. At Montbovon, connection (on left side before the station) with a street running railway (TPF). Views not to miss : 1) the panoramic section between gruben and Schönried 2) the aerial view on Zweisimmen station (2 gauges, standard and metric) after Oechseite.

Göschenen : a night here is pefect for trainspotting on the station platform, on the Gothard line. Will you really sleep this night ?

Andermatt Disentis Chur Samedan Tirano : very famous fantastic routes ! Before Filisur station, don't miss the landawasser viaduct, wich is easy to see from the train due to the tight curve on the right. But it is currently covered with scaffoldings for heavy maintenance works.

A last thing about Swiss trains : according to your liking, you can choose between panoramic trains (Golden Pass, Glacier express, Bernina express) or standard trains. Panoramic trains offer excellent views on the landscape and have air conditioning but are often crowded with tourists, while in standard train you have chance to have trains with opening windows an to travel quietly with locals.

Verona Fortezza : the Trento Male narrow gauge railway may be seen a couple of times from the main line, after Trento station. Fortezza San Candido is a highly scenic route, where you can hardly guess if you still in Italy or already in Austria.

You finally hesitate between Golden Pas and Centovalli ? I couldn't choose between these 2 routes...

Éric