Jon WorthMar 10

Welcome to today's thread - #CrossBorderRail 2026 Tour Day 11 - 10 Mar - Drávakeresztúr - Barcs - Zalaszentivan - Ljubljana

New borders:
Virovitica 🇭🇷 - Barcs 🇭🇺

Borders already crossed:
Hodoš 🇸🇮 - Bajansenye 🇭🇺

Onwards towards Ljubljana, with one more Hungary-Croatia border to check before I get there, and hopefully some scenic routes as well, and maybe even a #FensterAuf international train.

Today's routes on the routes map:
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#9/46.359250/16.127930

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Bike 8 of 14
Drávakeresztúr - Barcs

Distance: 43.1km
Est. duration: 2:45

This bike route, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#13/45.891741/17.596321

(that's @mejs 's Brompton - I have been travelling with him as far as Barcs)

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

That's what remains of #CrossBorderRail

Virovitica 🇭🇷 - Barcs 🇭🇺

The sort of lump in the river is where one of the bridge foundations used to be (pic 1). Pic 2 is looking from Croatia to Hungary - you can see where the line used to go, just about

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 34 of 86
IR 8997
09:30 Barcs - Zalaszentiván 11:57
MÁV

Train type: Siemens Desiro DMU, 2 short carriages
⛽️
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (lift on board for the many stations that are not step free)
🛜: ❓ (there is a sticker saying it is installed, but no network found)
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂 (these Desiro DMUs have a clever and roomy design)️
🧽: 😐 (all a bit grimy)
Interrail: 🙂 (accepted)

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

IR 8997
09:30 Barcs - Zalaszentiván 11:57

Distance: 138.2km
Average speed: 56km/h

15 stops:
Peterhida-Komlosd
Babocsa
Vizvar
Belavar
Somogyudvarhely
Berzence
Gyekenyes
Örtilos
Murakeresztur
Nagykanizsa
Gelse
Pötrete
Zalaszentmihaly-Pac.
Bucsuszentlaszlo
Zalaszentivan

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#10/46.420503/17.169370

#CrossBorderRail

#CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour

Tours in Spring 2026. Each day of the project is a Layer in the map - these should be displayed by default, or if not click the three layered diamonds icon "Open browser" to the left side of the map. The icons are all for borders, roughly coloured to differentiate the borders. A cross through a track means NO TRAINS CAN RUN. A cross through trains but not track means TRAINS CAN RUN BUT NO PASSENGER TRAINS. And TRAIN AND TRACK (no crosses) means there is a passenger service.

uMap
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
Aaaannnd this isn’t looking good. Single track line, waiting for some passing train. Vizvar. And I’ve got tight connections ahead! #CrossBorderRail
Show threadJon WorthMar 10

Because I’m likely to miss my connection in Zalaszentiván (due to this delay) I need a backup

That will be Zalaszentiván - Öriszentpeter by train, bike across the border to Hodoš, then take further trains

I don’t strictly have tickets to allow it. I’m going to have to blag my way!

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

I can just imagine this on the Slovenian side at Hodoš

“But there’s no train from Hungary that connects to this one. And your ticket was valid on the previous one.”

“I know. But the train from Barcs was delayed so I cycled across the border, will you let me on?”

🤔

Show threadJon WorthMar 10

One alternative *ought* to be a train Gyekenyes 🇭🇺 - Koprivnica 🇭🇷

But there’s only 1 train a day 🤦‍♂️

Show threadJon WorthMar 10
There are lots of men with high viz jackets staring at something at Gyekenyes, delaying my train further…
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
Somehow I’m in Hungary and am not taking a Bzmot today. I’m not sure how this happened. Anyway here’s a pic of one in Barcs earlier for @wrzlbrnft
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
And there would be my second alternative. Murakeresztur - Kotoriba. That one has no passenger trains at all, and no road bridge either 🤷‍♂️
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
Using translation apps with the train manager, she thinks the Ljubljana train will wait in Zalaszentiván. I’ll believe it when I see it 🙂
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
In the end I’m about as cool about all of this as anyone could be. I’ve got a bike to save me if I need it. I can re-route if I have to, and be confident enough to explain things to get my way. And it’s all useful learning for my #CrossBorderRail project.
Show threadKurswagenMar 10
or a (Very, very) fast bike ride from Búcsúszentlászló to Zalaegerszeg, where train 247 has a longer stop? 🫠
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
@kurswagen.bsky.social it’s 50 mins cycle, with a nasty height profile
Show threadKurswagen
Uff!
Mar 10 at 11:00amWeb
Show threadJon WorthMar 10
@kurswagen.bsky.social I’m staying on the train