Ahhhhhhh 😎

Sunny morning. Quiet early morning train. Perfect.

And I’m on a double track mainline *that’s not electrified* AGAIN. This time Lichtenfels - Kulmbach - Hof

When @schienenallianz says Germany needs to electrify main lines, they could just basically put “Bavaria” instead. Because apart from 1 line in each of Schleswig Holstein and Thüringen, the rest of the priority projects are ALL here!

Sod #CrossBorderRail

I need to start #CrossBayernRail

There’s so much you could do *comparatively easily* to improve regional rail here. All these non electrified main lines are absurd

Ok, the re-planning meant I have only now calculated everything for the train assessments!

#CrossBorderRail Train 46

RE 10 (58226)
17:05 Nürnberg Hbf - Fürth (Bay) Hbf 17:11
DB Regio AG Bayern

Distance: 8 km
Average speed: 76 km/h

Train type: Alstom Coradia, older version, 2x4 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (but badly designed narrow entry, although step free if platform allows)
🛜: ⛔️
🧳: 🤔 (I really dislike the design of these trains - everything is cramped)
🧽: 🤔 (a bit grimy)

#Deutschlandticket: ✅

#CrossBorderRail Train 47

RE 42 (4994)
17:46 Fürth (Bay) Hbf - Bamberg 18:20
DB Regio AG Bayern

Distance: 55 km
Average speed: 96 km/h

Train type: Bombardier Talent 2 EMU, 2x4 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free if platform allows)
🛜: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (decent multi use spaces, overhead racks)
🧽: 🤔 (bit grimy)

#Deutschlandticket: ✅

#CrossBorderRail Train 48

RE 42 (4916)
21:36 Bamberg - Lichtenfels 22:00
DB Regio AG Bayern

Distance: 32 km
Average speed: 80 km/h

Train type: Bombardier Talent 2 EMU, 4 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free if platform allows - but Lichtenfels station has a major problem with the main platform lift!)
🛜: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂 (cleaner than the earlier one)

#Deutschlandticket: ✅

#CrossBorderRail Train 49

RE39 (59303)
08:01 Lichtenfels - Hof Hbf 09:21
DB Regio AG Bayern

Distance: 95 km
Average speed: 71 km/h

Train type: 🐳 Class 641 railbus, 1 carriage
⛽️
🚲: ✅ (lots of space)
🦽: ✅ (but some stations not accessible!)
🛜: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (surprisingly good)
🧽: 🙂

These railbuses also have smooth acceleration and a smooth ride - good

#Deutschlandticket: ✅

#CrossBorderRail Train 50

RE3 (74013)
09:28 Hof Hbf - Dresden Hbf 12:06
Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn

Distance: 224 km
Average speed: 85 km/h

Train type: Alstom Coradia, more modern version, 5 carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free if platform allows)
🛜: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (decent overhead racks, and some extra space for large luggage at carriage ends)
🧽: 🙂

(Good seats fitted in this train - welcome given it’s a long journey! But Coradia trains have small and badly aligned windows)

#Deutschlandticket: ✅

And look what I stumbled across this morning!

Trans-Europ-Express
DB-Baureihe VT 11.5, parked up at Lichtenfels
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB-Baureihe_VT_11.5

It doesn't look in the best condition though, so this can't be the DB Museum's one

Wondering how to best cover the DE-PL #CrossBorderLines that I'd planned to partially examine tomorrow, but re-planned due to the strike...

I could do 2 day trips from Berlin - to Guben, 🚲 to Zary, back via Forst (Lausitz)

And then Berlin - Weißwasser, bike along the Polish side and round to Horka, and back to Berlin from there

The Hof-Dresden part of the Sachsen-Franken Magistrale is a really interesting route

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachsen-Franken-Magistrale?wprov=sfti1

It’s electrified, and if you get a seat in a high floor section of the Alstom Coradia train you have both a good view and comfortable seat