Jon WorthOct 2, 2023

Welcome to #CrossBorderRail Autumn 2023 Day 17, 2 Oct, Hranice na Morave - Horni Lidec - Trenčín - Bratislava - Wolfsthal – Wien

Today I’m crossing these borders
Strelná 🇨🇿 - Strelenka 🇸🇰
Vlárský prusmyk 🇨🇿 - Horné Srnie 🇸🇰
Berg NÖ 🇦🇹 - Bratislava-Petržalka 🇸🇰

Map of today’s route
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-political-tour-autumn-2023_933893#8/48.920/17.562

Today’s Live Blog
https://crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/live-blog-autumn-2023-day-17/

#CrossBorderRail Political Tour Autumn 2023 - uMap

uMap lets you create maps with OpenStreetMap layers in a minute and embed them in your site.

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
Here’s today’s intro video from a sunny Hranice https://urbanists.video/w/tDxYajhghxocZRReieeiT9
#CrossBorderRail Autumn 2023 Day 17 Intro

PeerTube
danielrembrandt.bsky.socialOct 2, 2023
Show threadJon Worth
Hranice has this funky looking bike parking tower at the station. But you have to pay to park there, and the rules how to use it are complicated. And Hranice has few cyclists… So unsurprisingly it’s rather empty!
Oct 2, 2023 at 6:21amWeb
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

#CrossBorderRail Autumn 2023 Train 61
EC 121
08:26 Hranice na Morave - Horni Lidec 09:27
Ceske Drahy / ZSSK

Distance: 64km
Average speed: 63km/h

Train type: Škoda class 361 and Eurocity carriages
⚡️
🚲: ✅ (but high steps)
🦽: ✅ (possible with staff help, a lift, and ordered in advance - thanks @pony for explaining!)
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🤔 (high steps, but ok once inside)
🧽: 🙂

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

The timetable Strelenka - Púchov 🇸🇰🤦‍♂️

What the hell happened here? Did ZSSK employ SNCF timetable consultants? #CrossBorderRail

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
My EuroCity is delayed due to building works - both electrification upgrades and Vsetín station being rebuilt. I can forgive delays for reasons like this 😊
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

Strelná

Border station, Czech side

The problem? No trains to Slovakia 🤦‍♂️

All the trains from Czechia to here… go back to Czechia. The trains to Slovakia are EuroCity trains that don’t stop

#CrossBorderRail fail

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
Brumov. Not to be confused with Broumov where I was a few days ago.
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
There’s no passenger train for me. But there is freight.
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

Svatý Štěpán

Daily trains: zero as far as I’m aware. Once in a while a weekend special to the border

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
Thanks EU. Funds the rebuilding of the #CrossBorderRail line Vlárský prusmyk 🇨🇿 - Horné Srnie 🇸🇰 and there are no daily passenger trains
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

#CrossBorderRail Autumn 2023 Train 62
EX 604
13:24 Trencin - Bratislava hl.st. 14:33
ZSSK

Distance: 123km
Average speed: 107km/h

Train type: Škoda 361 and coaches
⚡️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (needs lift on platform)
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🤔 (narrow vestibules and corridors)
🧽: 🙂

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

I must admit the prospect of cycling 55km at the Czech-Slovak border had worried me a little. But more than half was on immaculate EU funded bike lanes, I needn’t have worried

Only the road Horní Lidec - Strelna at the border was nasty due to 🚛 🚛 🚛

Valašské Klobouky - Bylnice and Vlárský prusmyk - Trenčin were impeccable

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

The guy opposite me in this train has a Horkýže Slíže t-shirt on

So have a bit of Vlak - punk about railways in Slovak

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IPDXybx2eTE

Horkýže Slíže - Vlak [oficiálny videoklip]

YouTube
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
My next destination - Wolfsthal 🇦🇹- is on this little map in the Slovak train I’m on to Bratislava hl.st.
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

Sweat 🥵

Despite the delay earlier I made it to Wolfsthal in time for my train - thanks in large part to speedy navigation through Bratislava by @andrew_shadura

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

Wolfsthal 🇦🇹 - Bratislava 🇸🇰 was one of the original Michael Cramer missing links

And now finally I’ve visited it

It makes a lot of sense to re-open this one - for traffic TO Bratislava. People are now living in Wolfsthal and driving to work in Bratislava. The roads are busy and noisy

There’s one place where there’s a factory on the old track bed, but that’s easily avoided

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

#CrossBorderRail Autumn 2023 Train 63
REX 7 (23690)
16:17 Wolfsthal - Wien Rennweg 17:28
ÖBB

Distance: 56km
Average speed: 47km/h

Train type: Siemens Desiro ML EMU, 2 x 3 carriages

⚡️
🚲: ✅ (lots of space)
🦽: ✅ (step free at most stations)
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023

Heute Abend 18:00 gibt es ein #CrossBorderRail Veranstaltung - TU Wien Hörsaal AE U1-1, Teilnahme noch möglich

Für Leute die nicht vor Ort sein können gibt es auch ein Stream https://live.video.tuwien.ac.at/room/aeu141/player.html

Live Stream - Hörsaal AE U1 - 11

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
It’s so nice being back on ÖBB. These Siemens Desiro trains are the same as SNCB’s, but a better interior makes a hell of a difference!
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon is there anyone onboard
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony yes. This was the front carriage so most empty. It’s picked up throughout!
Show threadMaartjeOct 2, 2023
@jon leg room is better at SNCB, the rest you notice they asked for the cheapest version Siemens could make 😢
Show threadbenOct 2, 2023
@maartje @jon How are the first class compartments at the very front of the train? In the ÖBB ones, this section ironically feels like the most cramped part of the train.
Show threadMaartjeOct 2, 2023
@sqrt2 @jon ÖBB Desiro is 2nd class only
Show threadbenOct 2, 2023
@maartje @jon Yes, that's why I'm asking (I'm using them a lot).
Show threadWrzlbrnftOct 2, 2023
@jon As often with new Siemens Desiro trains seats don't fit to the windows, so in my opinion a huge step backwards compared to older ÖBB regional trains.
Show threadPhil Dennis-JordanOct 3, 2023
@wrzlbrnft @jon The ÖBB 4023/4024/4124 Bombardier Talent EMUs are definitely more comfortable, and the seats and windows line up properly. But I suppose the Desiro layout has more seats total per carriage. And wifi, though I’ve never bothered to use it, so no idea if it’s any good. (Mobile signal tends to be good enough for my purposes.)
Show threadJon WorthOct 3, 2023
@pmdj @wrzlbrnft Talent is bumpy. And the cabin less airy.
Show threadPhil Dennis-JordanOct 3, 2023
@jon @wrzlbrnft Bumpiness depends on track quality as well I suppose - we have pretty modern tracks around here so I hadn’t noticed!
Show threadJTWOct 2, 2023
@jon d.h. 18:00 CEST = 16:00 UTC, richtig?
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@jtwcornell91 Yes. In 30 mins
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon this is actually class 362, that's different from the slovak 361 (classes registered before 1993 share the same number in czechia and slovakia, 361 is unique to slovakia now), which is a later (as in 2010's) upgrade of class 163 in ZOS Vrutky and differs from the old 362 (which is the original 80's skoda dual-system one) in multiple ways

(I mean, not enough for a passenger to care, except some of them having 160 max speed unlike 140 of class 362)

sorry for the nitpicking
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony you always nitpick. And it’s ok. 😊
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon i mean the main reason class 361 exists is the slovak railways plan to convert into 25 kV AC completely which could also be a contributing reason for no crossborder trains from Horni Lidec to Puchov (they converted Puchov in ~2010 and the old CD fake-emu's are not multisystem)
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony use a RegioPanter then?
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon new trains are costly and obviously you see regions prioritizing their use where there is more demand and people...
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony then why bother rebuilding parts of a line?
Show threadAndrej ShaduraOct 2, 2023
@jon, apparently DOZ means signalling (literally: remotely controlled track management), so probably they didn't actually rebuild the line, or didn't finance it all from the EU money.
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@andrew_shadura the new platforms are probably EU money
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon @andrew_shadura you put your face over much of the more detailed description :), but it seems to be explaining it was more or less heavy maintenance, including some track work
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony @andrew_shadura
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon @andrew_shadura no mention of platforms, those were probably a separate thing at some point (it's not expensive), but indeed a lot of track work included
Show threadDavid JašaOct 2, 2023

@jon Looks like usual Czech "maintenance condensed enough to be able to milk EU funds at 85 %". Given the name, I wouldn't be suprised if there were no obligation to run some specified level of service over the following 5 years.

OTOH without such an investment (centralized traffic control, subgrade & track renewal, turnout points heating), the line wouldn't allow any sort of economic operation. @pony @andrew_shadura

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@djasa @pony @andrew_shadura this sort of thing is common. Easy to get EU to fund infrastructure, knowing the Commission won’t then care about absent service.
Show threadDavid JašaOct 2, 2023

@jon @pony @andrew_shadura the problem here is also that the line doesn't cover pretty much any meaningful regional demand.

Arriva used to run long-distance service through this crossing (Praha-Nitra) but they axed it "temporarily" in late 2019 citing lack of rolling stock when they started getting contracts, then something airborne arrived and they didn't reopen it since.

Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@djasa @jon @andrew_shadura there's very low chance they were doing it for any other reason than trying to look as a credible train operator (look, we run some trains) in order to bid for those contracts
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon the bus situation is decent-ish though? hourly to bi-hourly, not amazing but for what it is...
Show threadOle-Morten 🚀👨‍🚀🌻📚Oct 2, 2023
@jon passengers are just special freight?
Show threadMoritz KräheOct 2, 2023
@jon Lovely lettering on the station building!
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon there's a weird amount of very miserable remote places in czechia that start with br, broumov, bruntal... brno...
Show threadChristian SchwägerlOct 2, 2023
@jon Erinnert mich an den netten Japaner, dem ich mal kurz vor Wittenberge im Regionalexpress schonend beibringen musste, dass er nicht auf dem Weg in die Lutherstadt ist...
Show threadLars FischerOct 2, 2023
@christianschwaegerl @jon Weia. 🙈 Ich hatte mal im ICE zwei Norweger, die zum Wacken wollten und nach Frankfurt geflogen sind.
Show threadChristian SchwägerlOct 2, 2023
@Fischblog @jon La Palma / Las Palmas auch schon erlebt...
Show threadLars FischerOct 3, 2023
@christianschwaegerl @jon 🙈
Show threadMartin MarheineckeOct 2, 2023
@Fischblog @christianschwaegerl @jon Ich habe es erlebt, dass jemand per Bahn nach Garching zu einem Kongress fahren wollte, verzweifelt anrief, dass er den Veranstaltungsort nicht fünde, worauf es sich herausgestellte, dass er im falschen Garching war. Er kam übrigens aus Oldenburg - Oldenburg in Oldenburg, nicht Oldenburg in Holstein. (Keine Ahnung, ob er im richtigen Oldenburg angekommen ist )
Show threadLars FischerOct 3, 2023
@MartinM @christianschwaegerl @jon N Freund von mir ist mal mit ner großen Gruppe St.-Pauli-Fans in nem gemieteten Bus zum Auswärtsspiel nach Aalen gefahren. Dummerweise war das Spiel gegen Ahlen.
Show threadChristian SchwägerlOct 3, 2023
@Fischblog @MartinM @jon Hier nimmt ein Buch Gestalt an!
Show threadJan MenkenOct 2, 2023

@jon

Or Italian?

Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@TreinJan Italian timetables are generally better than this now. Spanish ones are likewise terrible.
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon yes they have a little lift like thingie on the platform they can use, the accessibility is mostly about wide enough door and internal space to manipulate with a wheelchair (it doesn’t fit in most normal carriages)
Show threadJon WorthOct 2, 2023
@pony how do you even get across the tracks? An employee pushes a wheelchair across the tracks?
Show thread🌺 Cat PöñíçkøvāOct 2, 2023
@jon you need to ask for an employee yes (so you need to ask annoyingly in advance), they can then move the platform and wheelchair over level service crossings