EuroCity Trains resume cross-border services in Central Europe

[Fenway1912]

Since mid June and as part of a gradually phased approch, EuroCity trains are again running cross-border between most of the Central European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. There are still some exceptions, like trains from Germany and Czech Rep won't start running through to Hungary till July. Also trains from Austria into Italy are not yet back to normal.

Here are some short film clips from EC trains running in and out of Prague's pretty main station, including the novelty of Slovak Vectron locomotives now also reaching Praha hl. n.

I guess by July there should be greater clarity about what the realistic timeline is for Eurostar services to resume between London, Paris, Bruxelles and Amsterdam.

 

[duesselmartin]

Good news. Hopefully Berlin Warszawa will Not only resume, but finally utilise the potential it has.

 

[30907]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the video. I've only seen the 383s on internal Slovak trains before.

Just to clarify: EuroCity is a label applied to international express trains that meet certain standards - and not all operators use the label these days.
Other international trains are running again, too - apparently the "International Express" from Jesenik (CZ) to Krnov (CZ) via Glucholazy (PL) restarts tomorrow; it is worked by the CD equivalent of Pacers!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the video. I've only seen the 383s on internal Slovak trains before.

Just to clarify: EuroCity is a label applied to international express trains that meet certain standards - and not all operators use the label these days.
Other international trains are running again, too - apparently the "International Express" from Jesenik (CZ) to Krnov (CZ) via Glucholazy (PL) restarts tomorrow; it is worked by the CD equivalent of Pacers!

That would be an interesting trip, are they as bouncy/nodding donkey as ours?

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Since mid June and as part of a gradually phased approch, EuroCity trains are again running cross-border between most of the Central European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. There are still some exceptions, like trains from Germany and Czech Rep won't start running through to Hungary till July. Also trains from Austria into Italy are not yet back to normal.

Here are some short film clips from EC trains running in and out of Prague's pretty main station, including the novelty of Slovak Vectron locomotives now also reaching Praha hl. n.

I guess by July there should be greater clarity about what the realistic timeline is for Eurostar services to resume between London, Paris, Bruxelles and Amsterdam.

Nice video, thanks for posting. A few years ago, it may not have been possible to film trains, planes etc like that.

 

[30907]

That would be an interesting trip, are they as bouncy/nodding donkey as ours?

Depends on the track and the speed - they are max 80km/h, suitable for Czech secondary lines, so not to be compared with 75mph on jointed track
They are the "Regionova" 2-car rebuild of the classic CSD "Breadbin" with a non-powered low-floor section. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ČD_Class_814

 

[Jamesrob637]

That would be an interesting trip, are they as bouncy/nodding donkey as ours?

If they're like I caught in January then they're not that bad. Yes they're 4-wheeled but they're extremely short carriages so 8 wheels would be overkill.

 

[shredder1]

So are we allowed to travel around Poland now for non essential and tourist travel, I`m due to fly into Katowice on the 5th July?

 

[burns20]

The Polish Tourism Organization would like to keep you informed with official and reliable information concerning travel to Poland during the COVID-19 crisis.

As of Saturday, June 13th, 2020 Poland has opened its borders, lifted travel restrictions, and the mandatory quarantine for nationals of the European Union, EFTA, EOG, and Switzerland, who are now free to travel and transit through Poland.

As of Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 restrictions on international flights within the EU will be lifted.

Currently, there is no news regarding travel from non-EU countries as the exterior EU borders remain closed.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The Polish Tourism Organization would like to keep you informed with official and reliable information concerning travel to Poland during the COVID-19 crisis.

As of Saturday, June 13th, 2020 Poland has opened its borders, lifted travel restrictions, and the mandatory quarantine for nationals of the European Union, EFTA, EOG, and Switzerland, who are now free to travel and transit through Poland.

As of Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 restrictions on international flights within the EU will be lifted.

Currently, there is no news regarding travel from non-EU countries as the exterior EU borders remain closed.

Does that exclude the UK as we are no longer in the EU?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Does that exclude the UK as we are no longer in the EU?

Most EU existing arrangements still include the UK during the transition period (up to 31 December).
For instance the EHIC cards are still valid till then.
All that's really happened so far is that the UK flag in Brussels was pulled down and they fired the UK MEPs (including Nigel Farage).
We are also excluded from all EU meetings and decisions.
We are still in the customs union and single market, and free movement to/from the UK still applies.

 

[30907]

Most EU existing arrangements still include the UK during the transition period (up to 31 December).
For instance the EHIC cards are still valid till then.
All that's really happened so far is that the UK flag in Brussels was pulled down and they fired the UK MEPs (including Nigel Farage).
We are also excluded from all EU meetings and decisions.
We are still in the customs union and single market.

And are we not in the EFTA anyway?

 

[AlbertBeale]

And are we not in the EFTA anyway?

No. The UK used to be an EFTA member many many years ago (when there were 7 members, including some who left to join what became the EU - like the UK did).

(Re-)joining EFTA was one of the options suggested for the UK if it left the EU; but the current government ruled it out. Part of the advantage of being in EFTA would be to have a "pre-packed" set of arrangements with the remaining EU countries, over trade etc, and various joint agreements to facilitate the continuation of co-operation in areas where the UK has been working with EU countries already. However, to get the maximum out of that arrangement, the UK would have to do what 3 of the current 4 EFTA members do, and be part of the EEA (the European Economic Area) - but that would involve agreeing to stick to various EU rules in return, which (for the current British government) would lose the point of leaving the EU in the first place. It would be possible to be in EFTA but not in the EEA - as is the case with Switzerland - but that also seems outside what the present government would contemplate.

As has been said - until the end of the transition period, the UK and the EU continue to operate to all intents and purposes as though the UK was still an EU member [except with respect to the UK not being involved in EU decision-making, and a tiny number of other minor things], while negotiating what the new relationships will be as from the end of the transition period.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Most EU existing arrangements still include the UK during the transition period (up to 31 December).
For instance the EHIC cards are still valid till then.
All that's really happened so far is that the UK flag in Brussels was pulled down and they fired the UK MEPs (including Nigel Farage).
We are also excluded from all EU meetings and decisions.
We are still in the customs union and single market.

Many thanks for clarifying that.

 

[30907]

No. The UK used to be an EFTA member many many years ago (when there were 7 members, including some who left to join what became the EU - like the UK did).

(Re-)joining EFTA was one of the options suggested for the UK if it left the EU; but the current government ruled it out. Part of the advantage of being in EFTA would be to have a "pre-packed" set of arrangements with the remaining EU countries, over trade etc, and various joint agreements to facilitate the continuation of co-operation in areas where the UK has been working with EU countries already. However, to get the maximum out of that arrangement, the UK would have to do what 3 of the current 4 EFTA members do, and be part of the EEA (the European Economic Area) - but that would involve agreeing to stick to various EU rules in return, which (for the current British government) would lose the point of leaving the EU in the first place. It would be possible to be in EFTA but not in the EEA - as is the case with Switzerland - but that also seems outside what the present government would contemplate.

As has been said - until the end of the transition period, the UK and the EU continue to operate to all intents and purposes as though the UK was still an EU member [except with respect to the UK not being involved in EU decision-making, and a tiny number of other minor things], while negotiating what the new relationships will be as from the end of the transition period.

Thanks, and greetings from Emmerdale to E20

 

[shredder1]

Thank you very much for the info guys, Im in touch with the Polish Tourist board in London now and they are keeping me informed on any changing, they are suggesting a change at the end of the month, I`m booked to fly in next Sunday if it happens, if its still essential only travel though I`ll see if I can get a credit from Ryanair.