Sncf/sncb

[Eurostar]

Hi.

Speaking as an ex-Eurostar driver, if anyone want's to ask anything about the French or Belgian railway systems, I may be able to help. Questions may be on the Classic signalling or the In Cab systems or Traction. I don't claim to know it all, but do know a fair bit.
Feel free to ask. I'll always try to help.

 

[generalvegitable]

Hi, what is the difference between sncf and sncb?

 

[Drsatan]

Hi, what is the difference between sncf and sncb?

SNCF is the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français, or French National Railways, the state-owned railway operator in France. SNCB is the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges, the Belgian state-owned railway operator.

Hope this helps

 

[37401]

SNCF is the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français, SNCB is the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges

I think ill just stick to saying SNCF & SNCB

 

[90019]

I think ill just stick to saying SNCF & SNCB

Technically it's Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen/Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges, or NMBS/SNCB, because they speak both Dutch and French

(IIRC, they trade under the name NMBS/SNCB Group)

 

[37401]

blimey thats a mouthfull!

 

[90019]

blimey that a mouthfull!

Just a tad

 

[Trog]

Technically it's Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen/Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges, or NMBS/SNCB, because they speak both Dutch and French

Its all double Dutch to me.

 

[generalvegitable]

Its all double Dutch to me.

no its just single here's double:
Nationale Nationale Maatschappij Maatschappij der der Belgische Belgische Spoorwege Spoorwege

 

[90019]

no its just single here's double:
Nationale Nationale Maatschappij Maatschappij der der Belgische Belgische Spoorwege Spoorwege

Umm, woosh...

*sigh*

 

[gordonthemoron]

what is the speed limit on the new stretch of 'high speed' line between Brussels and Aachen? The trains don't seem to go very fast

 

[Nebukan]

what is the speed limit on the new stretch of 'high speed' line between Brussels and Aachen? The trains don't seem to go very fast

160 or 200 km/h (100 or 125 mph) on the LN 36 (the old line) and 320 km/h (200 mph) on the high speed line between Lidge (Liège) and Aachen.

 

[Oracle]

There is of course also the German-speaking western area ...but no-one seems to have bothered about altering the national railoperator's titling into Deutsch!

 

[starrymarkb]

Technically it's Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen/Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges, or NMBS/SNCB, because they speak both Dutch and French

(IIRC, they trade under the name NMBS/SNCB Group)

SBB are worse...
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen/Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses/Ferrovie federali svizzere/Viafiers federalas svizras

 

[90019]

SBB are worse...
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen/Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses/Ferrovie federali svizzere/Viafiers federalas svizras

Oh yeah.

It's even a long winded acronym on the trains!
SBB CFF FFS

 

[A60K]

SBB are worse...
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen/Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses/Ferrovie federali svizzere/Viafiers federalas svizras

Apart from in the Swiss national timetable I've never seen the last title used - I know you're absolutely right and that is the official Romansch translation, but do SBB use it day-to-day? I believe they do actually also use the English name, Swiss Federal Railways, on signage as well at the airport stations!

At Chur and Landquart stations (the only two SBB stations in the partly Romansch-speaking Graubunden canton) all the references that I've seen have been in German. IIRC tickets at those stations get issued with the standard SBB CFF FFS logo and German text.

The Rhatische Bahn does of course use Romansch - Viafier Retica I think it is - along with other languages as they are almost the sole operator in Graubunden.

 

[Teaboy1]

Yes I have a question......whats the deal with cold Eurostar trains hitting warm humid air in the tunnel?? They are electric and should be able to withstand a bit of ice on the panto, etc
Would not happen in Japan!

 

[mbonwick]

It's not as simple as that.

Due to the adverse weather in France, E* were running slower, allowing more snow to build up. Additionally, the snow has been quite dry and easily blown about.

In short, when the E*s entered the 20 degree tunnel, the snow that had found its way near the motors etc on the undersides melted, causing short circuits.

 

[starrymarkb]

So 'The Wrong Kind of Snow' that KO'd BR's 317 fleet in the 80s/90s

 

[gordonthemoron]

So 'The Wrong Kind of Snow' that KO'd BR's 317 fleet in the 80s/90s

and the 91s in 1991 (strange coincidence)

 

[mbonwick]

Pretty much, yeah.