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/

Today's detour via Paris actually increased my rail travel distance by almost exactly 400km. And 42,10€ in Metro and Taxi costs. Now it's going to be 2310 km by rail today - which I think is the longest I've done so far.

#railacrosseurope

14/

Dinner was had, people are sitting outside, it's still above 20°C, now off to the final 2.5 hours to #Madrid.

With an #Iryo high speed train, for 24.17€ first class...

#railacrosseurope

15/

Guess which days I am _not_ travelling back? Correct 😁

(Looking at burned-out personnel and not really competitive salaries, German train people definitely need proper raises!)

👉https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/gdl-bahn-warnstreik-102.html

#railacrosseurope

16/

And I made it. Punctually 23:25 I arrived where all the high-speed trains go to sleep, #Madrid-#Atocha. And I myself not too far away.

#railacrosseurope (a small part that is)

17/

That was ~1400km as the crow flies, but 2300km by train. Not more than 3.5% around the globe, but on the other hand only 29 days at this speed would wrap around Earth once.

It's a small, fragile world!

#railacrosseurope

18/

Aaaand two days later, after a very worthy meeting on #ESAEuclid at #ESAC I'm now starting my way back home.

Zeroth leg: chartered bus to #Madrid (30min), then a few stations #Metro. I did bring a Metro travel card from 2019 and found 6 more trips on it...

Walk to #Atocha and now boarded a quite packed #Ouigo to #Barcelona.

#railacrosseurope

19/

Meet Cookie (who left at Zaragossa):

#railacrosseurope #dogs

20/

Btw, #Madrid has the most colourful selection of high-speed trains: #renfe, #Ouigo, #Iryo, #Avlo

They are leavin towards #Barcelona every about 15min

#railacrosseurope #rail #trains #ZugBubble

21/

Queues at security check in #Barcelona Sants, makes people nervous, because it's not clear if this will take 5 or 25 minutes. Took 5 in the end.

Then queueing to get to the platform - not without ticket check!

Also note: huge ads for heat pumps. Probably not the worst audience for this.

#railacrosseurope

22/

Up to now the return leg has been so much more relaxing than my outbound leg ("ida y vuelta" so much more concise and elegant in Spanish).

It's pretty clear advice (which I knew before): if you have #international #rail connections that are crucial, plan 45+min for transfer. I think planning for 1h delays and more isn't really useful, but 10-20min can always happen.

Oh: and have some breakfast before boarding, onboard #coffee usually isn't that good...

#railacrosseurope

23/