Jon Worth

Welcome to today's thread - #CrossChannelRail Day 19 - 4 April - Paris - Charles de Gaulle - Marne la Vallée-Chessy - Lyon - Ravières

On the agenda today:
Stations
Charles de Gaulle
Marne-la-Vallée Chessy

Trains
Hitachi ETR 1000

Today's routes on the routes map: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crosschannelrail-2025_1148540#7/47.277/4.543

#CrossChannelRail 2025

Draft route for Jon Worth's #CrossChannelRail project in spring 2025. Dates for each leg of the trip are shown on each layer. Route colours alternate each day - yellows one day, purples the next, each train with a slightly different shade. Pins in the map show the locations to be visited.

uMap
Apr 4, 2025 at 5:31amWeb
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
This morning‘s #CrossChannelRail news: HS1 is to offer financial incentives to new operator (also to Eurostar for new routes) in an effort to boost traffic https://www.ft.com/content/b0cb1698-d017-48dc-808d-c2d5ebf4bc8f
Cross-Channel rail owner to offer incentives for new operators

London St Pancras Highspeed, the former HS1, aims to attract more train companies and encourage extra Eurostar services

Financial Times
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
And if you want a less clear but not paywalled version of the HS1 charges news, here’s The Guardian #CrossChannelRail https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/04/cross-channel-train-services-to-be-cheaper-to-run-as-operator-cuts-charges
Cross-Channel train services to be cheaper to run as operator cuts charges

LSPH chief executive announces ‘groundbreaking proposal’ intended to grow international rail travel from the UK

The Guardian
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

Had to do some non- #CrossChannelRail calls but now I’m on my way to ✈️ Charles de Gaulle Airport

Ticket is €13

I support airport surcharges but I’m not flying anywhere! 😀

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Here’s this morning‘s #CrossChannelRail intro video. Forgot to post it in the thread! https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/jRB7w7NhpMcps9YkWa9or6
#CrossChannelRail live stream - 4/4/2025, 5:54:08 AM

PeerTube
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Why has the RER abandoned putting maps on its platforms? They’re useful! #CrossChannelRail
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Paris Nord RER #CrossChannelRail
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Handy visuals here #CrossChannelRail
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
What a mess. SNCF isn’t content with ticket barriers at CDG exiting the RER, so station a bunch of staff for a *further control* which makes exiting the escalators dangerous. Well done! FFS. 😡 #CrossChannelRail
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Whether you could run #CrossChannelRail from here I don’t know. What I do know is you shouldn’t try. This station - to board two TGVs - is already hell.
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Extra credit to this SNCF employee. She’s scanning tickets only for some other TGV, so happily sends passengers to the back of the long OUIGO queue instead. She could instead you know *help* and just scan them? It’s all SNCF Voyageurs!
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
Oh and we had some passenger profiling from Sureté Ferroviaire, happy to single out a young black guy for a bag check
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
This person covering their head, I presume asleep, has the right idea. Shield yourself from this mess - I get you!
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

And off OUIGO to Marne La Vallée Chessy

Thank goodness I’m not going all the way to Toulon on this!

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

High speed train

Slow speed boarding

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
If I’ve counted it right they have 17 staff to check inOui and OUIGO tickets before passengers get to the platforms here at Marne La Vallée Chessy. Strikes me as… rather a lot!
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

You can see how Marne La Vallée Chessy worked for #CrossChannelRail

Pic 1: the terminal
Pic 2: escalators secured with kind of fences, as in Lille
Pic 3: glass divider on the platform

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

And here’s SNCF inviting harassment of passengers by telling them to display sensitive information

No, legally you DO NOT need to put a mobile number on your luggage!

How dare SNCF exceed what’s legally necessary in this publicity?

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

So my little tour of the eastern edges of Paris is done

RER back into the city now!

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

Arriving at Paris Gare de Lyon - the station for high speed trains to France‘s second and third cities Marseille and Lyon… and there are 4 trains in the next hour.

FOUR

That’s it.

The chronically under utilised capacity on French rail, off peak, makes me annoyed.

Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025

And 2 of the 4 trains this hour at Paris Gare de Lyon are regional ones

So just 2 high speed departures

Compare that to Milano Centrale with 8 departures, or Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with a dozen

(Oh and DB doesn’t show Italo. So the Milano total will be higher still)

Show threadThiago Ferrer MoriniApr 4, 2025
@jon [Cries in Spanish]
Show threadOliver BlanthornApr 4, 2025
@jon I'm beginning to think that the Jon Worth #CrossChannelRail report will have "return the Pale of Calais to British rule" as its key recommendation
Show threadCycling on RailsApr 4, 2025

@jon But the real question is: have they fixed their systems and are they gonna show the Frecciarossa on the departure board this time? 🤭 Their* app didn't last time when the screens didn't work! https://mastodon.social/@cycling_on_rails/113736627917837342

*And by they, I do mean SNCF Gares & Connections.

Show threadWrzlbrnftApr 4, 2025
@jon Having a look at my #LGVkursbuch I see a traffic gap from approximately ~13:00 to 14:00 for trains leaving Paris Gare de Lyon and from ~14:00 to ~15:00 for arriving trains. Don't know if it's some engineering cluster as you can see these on many French lines.
Show threadJos DingjanApr 4, 2025
@jon
Show threadprosiacApr 4, 2025

@jon And this is terminus of the the France’s most important TGV corridor… Also this the line that has suffered the most from the service cuts by SNCF last years…

There is even rumors about that planes started to gain market share back while the TGV’s share started dropping in the last 1-2 year on the Paris-Marseille/Nice

Show threadCycling on RailsApr 4, 2025

@jon Live* from Dijon who just saw 4 trains passing in the last 5 minutes, on this side of the window alone. Bourgogne new hub of French railways? 😜

*Once mobile network works again 🙃

Show threadQuixoticgeekApr 4, 2025
@jon SNCF really doesn't seem to understand how to run trains does it ?
Show threadLukApr 5, 2025
@jon that’s what drives me crazy once you see how Japan is acing that part
Show threadLach Anonym's PTApr 5, 2025
@jon it's truely amazing that SNCF keeps crying about their Paris stations being *saturated* yet their offer is that poor...
Show threadJames JefferiesApr 4, 2025
@jon might see you there, just left Dijon and heading in for the RER dash for the Eurostar - plus we need to pick up a Navigo card for the kid 😬 - not looking forward to that!
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
@jamesjefferies damn missed this. Sorry! I hope it all worked out - Navigo queues were OK earlier at least!
Show threadGuillaume RischardApr 4, 2025
@jamesjefferies @jon you can store two navigo on one phone these days
Show threadLautreG, souvent dans la LuneApr 4, 2025
@jon
You don't need to display these personal informations.
You can cover this, but let's them to see there is tag in case needed.
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
@lautreg No. Only name is obligatory. I know the law. That’s why I’m pissed off they say telephone is necessary too
Show threadRoland SivonenApr 4, 2025
@jon And of course they don't tell the details in English so they can fleece tourists with fines 🤦‍♂️
Show threadNotBlackMagicApr 4, 2025
@jon In the several times I've taken the TGV, it has never been enforced. It seems to be a rule on paper only.
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
@CASSCFenjoyer I’ve known people get fined for non compliance. There are spot checks but they’re quite rare.
Show threadKrist van BesienApr 5, 2025
@jon Marne La Vallée Chessy is actually a pretty good layout. Having the platforms in the middle you can actually easily terminat/reverse trains there. That is good practice to follow for now stations on HSL.
Show threadJon WorthApr 5, 2025
@krist Yes. But it’s all a bit cramped. But I agree the layout is sensible!
Show threadKrist van BesienApr 5, 2025
@jon Montpelier Sud de France is another example (in my opinion) of a layout with great operational flexibility.
Show threadJon WorthApr 5, 2025
@krist Yes. For TGVs, absolutely. Annoyingly hopeless for London services though as secureable platforms are the outer ones, from which you can’t reverse.
Show threadAntonia  Apr 4, 2025
@jon western European railways aren't beating the useless government job program allegations
Show threadOliver BlanthornApr 4, 2025

@jon i wonder if they get more people trying to get on trains other than the ones they have reserved seats for at airports.

it strikes me as the kind of situation that naturally calls for flexible tickets, and a very SNCF solution to send out staff to hold back the tide rather than admit that the moon is real

Show threadOliver BlanthornApr 4, 2025
@jon just spotted that the "have you forgotten your luggage" adverts are all in french. brilliant.
Show threadJon WorthApr 4, 2025
@bovine3dom fine the tourists. Perfect!
Show threadAndré Sintzoff ✅Apr 4, 2025
@jon this reminds me last time I was at Lille-Europe. There was an SNCF guy who prevented people from taking the lift to the platform on the lower floor but allowed them to take it to the upper floor. Passengers have to walk dozens of metres northwards to use the only authorised staircases and, once on the platform, walk those dozens of metres southwards again.
Show threadKaren E. Lund 💙💛Apr 9, 2025
@jon 17 staff... Yes, a lot, but the photos look like an Escher print, so some people (me?) might need help finding their way to the right train.
Show threadJon WorthApr 10, 2025
@Karen5Lund the place has just 3 platforms! You don’t need 17 people for that.
Show threadKaren E. Lund 💙💛Apr 10, 2025
@jon I'm sure it's just the camera angle, but those platforms look awfully confusing... As I wrote, like an Escher print.
Show threadJon WorthApr 10, 2025
@Karen5Lund Yes. It looks hellish. But the reality isn’t as bad. They have a system to keep departing passengers separate from arriving ones and it works ok!
Show threadNikkileah 🎮🚄🏳️‍⚧️🇬🇧Apr 4, 2025
@jon I don't understand the one door each side philosophy in TGV design
Show threadAndré Sintzoff ✅Apr 4, 2025
@jon about 90 seats for only one door
Show threadPekka MäkinenApr 4, 2025
@jon The company or train name has the feel of somebody screaming in pain
Show threadSiège avec vueApr 4, 2025
@jon MY EYES! MY EYES!
Show threadJakub Klawiter Apr 4, 2025
@jon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQvtep54E8
maybe (s)he is not sleeping, maybe working or just… scrolling SM. ;-)
Compubody Sock Origin Story // Becky Stern

YouTube
Show threadAnneHApr 4, 2025
@jon Nowhere near as bad as Euston😱
Show threadRoland SivonenApr 4, 2025
@jon "A nous de vous faire préférer l'avion" has been taken to a whole new level in recent years 😅
Show threadBenedikt NeuzweigApr 4, 2025
@jon Hamburg Hochbahn does the same at the main station.
Show threadpatrislav ♾️ #RIPNatenomApr 4, 2025
@benedikt_lauenburg also does it in Altona. But tbf we don't have ticket barriers @jon