Made #train no 2, yes, not quite as full as expected, but with 200 ppl changing platform 5 min before departure.

Arriving in #Mannheim. 15min to catch my #ICE to #Strasbourg.

#railacrosseurope

2/

Wtf #DeutscheBahn, #Mannheim is literally the 2nd stop on that #ICE. My transfer in #Strasbourg (and the rest of the trip) seriously endangered.

#railacrosseurope

3/

What is going to collapse first for #DeutscheBahn:

#railacrosseurope

4/

Now in the #ICE, 20 min delay due to problems with a track switch.

Full speed towards #Karlsruhe and #Strasbourg.

#railacrosseurope

5/

#Karlsruhe has passed, a friendly voice is announcing #Strasbourg and 20min delay in three languages - no word about connecting trains.

Got to search for a Zugbegleiter now.

#railacrosseurope

6/

Not going to make the #Strasbourg connection. #TGV waiting for us? No way!

So I'll go to #Paris, take 2 Metros, and catch a TGV to Lyon from Gare de Lyon.

"Do I need a new ticket" "No, should be fine." "Seat reservation?" "Maybe talk to the conductor there."

We _definitely_ need a much better integrated #rail system in #Europe. And #Germany.

#railacrosseurope

7/

Funny that you should mention "announcements in the train" (none about connections) bc announcements on the platform would obviously be too late if I'm supposed to stay on this train.

Anyone not deeply train-literate would stand no real chance I guess :-/

#failacrosseurope?
#railacrosseurope

8/

Ah, now comes the announcement, I can already see #Strasbourg station...

Anyway, if this alternative works then it will only cut short my planned lunch break in Lyon

9/

#Paris drawing closer, with ~35min delay. But we cracked the 300km/h (I've seen 308), which of course I will do several times again (hopefully) today.

Soon Metros 4+14 and then we'll see.

#railacrosseurope

10/

Navigated #Paris Metro in no time, stood at the gate to the #TGV that would get me to Lyon Part Dieu in time and ... "go to customer service, you need a reservation".

Of course the train was gone after that. Fuckers?

Now I'm on a TGV that only runs to Lyon Airport (30min train/taxi to Lyon Part Dieu) and also stops at Valence, like my onward train to #Barcelona. But: one train stops at Valence Ville, the other at Valence TGV, 20min distance.

#railacrosseurope

11/

But only about 20min changeover time in Valence. Great! ☹️

So based on delayed #ICE and bad info from the conductor plus unwillingness to let me on the only feasible train without standing in line at a "customers" center for 15min I'm probably going to not arrive in #Madrid today.

Of course there's a direct train #Paris-#Barcelona, which arrives the very same minute the last train to #Madrid leaves.

No-one in this whole chain cares, at all.

#railacrosseurope
#failacrosseurope

12/

Taxi drivers ftw! Valence Ville to Valence TGV is normally min 12 km and 17 min. Taxis can use bus routes and so my train doors opened at 14:46 and I was on the platform at Valence TGV at 15:05...

And that is the story of how I did eventually catch my booked train.

#railacrosseurope

13/

@knud

Wow!

A less train experienced person would not get to Madrid today...

@FrauNaja

Exactly my point: no way. And DB doesn't care, and SNCF doesn't care, and renfe doesn't care. Also, you can't buy a through ticket, so no-one is responsible if you incur extra cost. No-one!

@knud @FrauNaja

Funny that @chillicampari actually is on the same track, but a different TGV today. :-)

@chillicampari @knud @FrauNaja

I mean, this might be a very German question: Is there decent Wifi on the TGV? Or G5?