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Alstom have done great things with their Double Deck TGVs but do bear in mind that even 'Continental' loading gauge has limitations: yes, you can comfortably stand up on both decks but they are still somewhat cramped and the toilets particularly so. The incremental seat numbers do come up at...

So, what happened? A power cut that wasn't a power cut, according to NGT, but presumably enough of a frequency/voltage event to trip some of the modern signalling/ATO systems? (Similar to the 2019 Thameslink failure, when c.40% of the C700s failed in traffic once frequency dipped below 49.5Hz...

Fine, they all do indeed sometimes show different availability. All part of the Interrail mystery process. But agreed that booking to Karsruhe would be just fine (subject to right kind of reservation, see below). GBP18 sounds like EUR20, which is the non capacity constrained reservation...

For French domestic reservations, try using www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#Outbound. They charge EUR 4 per reservation rather than EUR2. Or raileurope.com, which often seems to be free. The interrail website only sells a selection of interrail reservations, no doubt there is a logical...

Perhaps the next step is the Press (eg what's left of the Standard)? As you are season ticket holder, in my view GTR is in effect adding a new legal term in your contract with them -- that you have never agreed to (and which is therefore unenforceable). If they are concerned about...

How long have you got? My view is 'no': the train is running as a GN service for track access and reporting purposes, even though it is painted 'Thameslink' on the side. The GN services are also sometimes covered by C387s, which definitely have never had the 1st Class declassified. But...

In Switzerland, most local and regional services, as well as the S-Bahn, work on a 'self-control' principle ie. you are expected to have a ticket or be fined heavily if controlled (v. similar to a Penalty Fare) This is what the 'eye' symbol is about On other services, in principle there is a...

ES generally runs its fleet (and staff!) at high intensity on Fridays to Sundays, so might be able to squeeze in eg. 1 extra per day from Paris. If problem takes longer too address, it could run maybe two extra per day during the week? Generally, most rail operations only have v. limited...

Re: full sized bikes, Santander/Lime etc. bikes and motorscooters on commuter trains. It's becoming moderately common to see these even on the London tube. Gateline staff seem typically just let them through, as do National Rail, presumably as noted to avoid aggro. Even in peak hours. Given...

The 20 min rule plus PIXC measurement is probably best considered to be a 'guideline for action' but, given options tend to be difficult/expensive, often very little can be done other than altering stopping patterns a bit to shuffle demand around. It's not a rule, even though it is often...

Yes, it is rather amusing! I suppose it was all about room for growth....once the Mayor's plans delivered fruit?

Yes, this was an extra flight (not just a 'regauging' of an existing one) and the decision to run it was taken sufficiently early that it appeared on some of the flight chatrooms by 1130 am... so someone over at BA's Waterside base was on the ball commercially! Recall that running one of...

Er.... Fairtiq plus competitors are best viewed as optional services within a broader ticketing platform, eg. the TOCs own one, GBR (in future), . The GPS approach is essentially a cheaper option that putting validators on all stations (remember when SWT had to do this, and did, as a...

Yes, on balance I would say that the route via Paris is better. But you need to book ahead to get the IR discount on Eurostar. There are c.3 TGVs/day which go direct from Paris and it's pretty easy. Quite nice views as you cross (under) the Vosges as well. There's c. 1 ICE/day as well...

I guess this thread makes the case for the 'Passenger Champion' role clear. In retrospect, it is slightly unfortunate that the political leaders in the North 25 years ago preferred to have a separate 'Intercity' operator in the region -- perhaps hoping this would lead to better perception of...

Sure, but how would they fund that? GBR's capital spending will surely be heavily controlled, not least because HS2 is absorbing so much money....!

Given Germany's financial situation, a delay of this order (plus of course not going forward with the planned new ICE order) is no huge surprise, surely?

Yes, in general any Zugbindung is shown on the ticket itself. DB will normally also issue pax a timetable of the journey that was selected (ie. DB requires an itinerary to be created for long distance travel before issuing a ticket) but my understanding is that this is for information only...

Delay Attribution has long been a totemic issue for those who want to make 'the case for change'. This goes right back to the late Sir Alastair Morton and the advent of the Strategic Rail Authority 25 years ago which, apparently, we now understand was 'a model of the past' He introduced the...

https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/network-rail-fined-ps375m-following-margam-track-worker-deaths ORR issued on Friday a press release following NR's health and safety conviction following the terrible incident at Margam in 2019, in which two track workers were hit by an IEP from Swansea...