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  1. S

    Mudslide on Modane route

    I'd be inclined to go Milan - Lugano - Basel and then the TGV Lyria at 1928 arriving Paris Lyon at 2242. Saves faffing around with an EC reservation (and possible disappointment) if you go via Zürich or a dreaded RRB if you go via Simplon.
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    Berlin Airport (BER) to Dresden

    Services to Berlin Anhalter Banhof (the principal pre-war terminus for Dresden and the South) were restored in 1947 despite it being severely damaged by bombing. The wrecked train shed roof was removed in 1948. It was, however, in West Berlin so closed in 1952, and services diverted instead to...
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    The end of the Royal Train

    Very disappointing - I though Charles was an enthusiast - is there any track has not done while he still has the opportunity? As an aside are there any royal trains left in Europe - I think the Danish and Dutch ones (a couple of coaches more accurately) have been retired. De Valera in Ireland...
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    Gloucester to Blackpool, June 1940 (Troops)

    M.V. 'Ettrick' was chartered to the Admiralty so would have probably come alongside at the Dockyard. She was relatively small at 11,200 tons so not an issue. Naval special trains could be worked directly from the Yard - after 1942 when the connection at St. Budeaux between the GWR and SR was...
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    Public transport on Mallorca

    The gauge conversion to Inca came at the expense of shutting the rest of system - happily now partially reversed. It was FEVE policy to convert 'non-standard' lines to metre-gauge (or close them) so that standard stock could be procured and moved around as required. In another twist, the...
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    Car-free town

    Most Spanish towns and cities have adopted this model, with their historic cores pedestrianised - and are all the better for it. I can remember back to the '70s how grim some some of them were, clogged with traffic and the noise, fumes and heat! Málaga and Valencia in particular have scrubbed up...
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    Pub gardens facing railway lines

    The 'Victoria Tap' at Manchester Victoria (highly recommended) has a 'beer garden' with plastic grass (!) at the back facing onto the Metrolink tracks. If you are on holiday in Cornwall there is the Fisherman's Arms at Golant, where you can view clay trains on the Fowey branch. In Devon there...
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    Can I use the remaining two days on my interrail pass in Ireland?

    I like Tralee - it is a proper working town, unlike Killarney which is a right old tourist trap. The railway is quite scenic from Mallow onwards - the Ballina / Westport line is pretty ordinary until you get past Claremorris. If you are feeling energetic you can hire a bike and take the old...
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    FIP with Children - suggestions and help please!

    I'd recommend the Netherlands with kids - not too far and you can have an 'adventure' going on the boat Harwich - Hoek overnight. Coupons available - you just pay for the cabins which are reasonably priced (and saves hotel accommodation for a night!). No reservations on trains - you get issued...
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    Trip to Portugal

    The Barcelona to Vigo service, of course, travels on the LAV as far as Zaragoza (and gauge changes west of the city) - there is no way of avoiding this really. There are very occasional services Barcelona to Zaragoza on the old main-line via Caspe but you wouldn't make Vigo the same day.
  11. S

    Trip to Portugal

    Bordeaux to Barcelona - the scenic route would be via Toulouse and Latour de Carol. If you go via Narbonne and Cerbère / Portbou to Barcelona, note that Portbou to Girona is closed at weekends all summer for catenary replacement and is a dreaded RRB.
  12. S

    Trip to Portugal

    The coach station (for Porto) in Vigo is now alongside Urzaiz station - a rare bit of integration for Spain! - in Porto the coach runs to Campanhã coach station the other side of the tracks to the rail station, so you have to get the train or metro to the city-centre. An alternative route to...
  13. S

    Gloucester to Blackpool, June 1940 (Troops)

    Yes, the holiday camp was requistioned - special trams to convey the men to the rifle-ranges at Rossall for target practice were even run! 1750626674 M.V. 'Ettrick' P & O liner sailed from St. Jean de Luz late on 24th June arriving in Plymouth at 1716 on 26th June. She was too big to get into...
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    Gloucester to Blackpool, June 1940 (Troops)

    Was your grandfather evacuated from St. Jean de Luz near the Spanish border in S.W. France? A large contingent of the Polish Army escaped from there on 25th June for Plymouth - in that case special trains would have been provided to onward destinations. Otherwise the 'normal' route back then...
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    [Spain] Dual voltage AVE trains?

    The S-730s were an innovative stop-gap to significantly improve services to Galicia (Vigo, La Coruña) by taking advantage of the LAV Madrid to Medina del Campo. The Galician LAV now runs most of the way, but they are now being usefully employed Madrid - Algeciras and Madrid - Almería (via Granada).
  16. S

    [Spain] Dual voltage AVE trains?

    AVE services are standard gauge, maximum speed 350kph. Alvia services are dual gauge, maximum speed standard gauge 250kph - broad gauge 220kph. Dual gauge to Castellon enables higher speeds on the LAV Madrid - Valencia and no time penalty that going through the gauge-changer would involve...
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    [SE] No-one submitted tenders to run the Norrland night trains

    Presumably there will have to be a directly awarded PSO contract to SJ in the absence of anything else? Of course, LKAB would be quite happy if there were no passenger services at all! The service desperately needs new rolling stock such as the proposed Norwegian EMU night stock.
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    When was the long-distance business commute morning peak?

    Manchester had a 'business' market too, with 'club' trains from the likes of Llandudno and Windermere (c 80 miles) for cotton magnates &c. from pre WW1 onwards. A more civilised arrival time around 1000 - time for a few meetings and a long lunch!
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    Bergen - Oslo Seat reservation

    Yes try Bergen to Myrdal and Myrdal to Oslo as separate reservations. There are also local trains to Bergen- Voss - Myrdal and Myrdal to Oslo that don't require reservation - if you don't mind the longer journey time. The conductors seem to be quite strict now because the the line is so popular...
  20. S

    Portugal to privatise rail through franchising

    Ireland (Republic of) has managed to avoid competitive tendering of services despite being in the EU - it would make no sense there as it doesn't in Portugal. Norway, another small country, is abandoning its disastrous privatisation experiment. I wouldn't be surprised if the right-wing...

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