Frank Engelhard15h ago
Peter Kuipers Munneke

So frustrating..... I am willing to fly less 🌱 🌍 to the extent that I have been looking to travel by train 🚅 and ferry ⛴️ from Amsterdam to Palma de Mallorca for a hiking holiday in May.

Total cost:
70 euros for the train to Bruxelles
592 euros for the train to Barcelona
90 euros for a ferry return.

Makes 752 euros, compared to 178 for a return flight on the same dates.... which means I will be looking into another destination instead 😥

Mar 25 at 6:37pmWeb
Show threadPeter Kuipers Munneke1d ago
I considered an interrail pass with seat reservations but all viable trains are sold out for interrail passengers
Show threadHermannus Stegeman1d ago
@pkuipersmunneke is it the cost of infrastructure that makes the difference in price?
Show threadPeter Kuipers Munneke1d ago
@hermannus I'm not sure but part of the problem is the large demand compared to the supply. Trains at impossible times are cheaper but not feasible because it would mean hotel overnight stays on the way which makes it expensive and more time-consuming
Show threadPeter Kuipers Munneke1d ago
@hermannus Plus, the 178 euros for the flight is ridiculously cheap compared to how polluting it is
Show threadHermannus Stegeman1d ago
@pkuipersmunneke does that mean it is also a mindset? Because we do accept long flights at impossible hours
Show threadHerbert - Antifa - Tiemens ✅🌻1d ago
@hermannus a flight at an impossible hour is accepted, because it is a short flight time or a long distance you cover. Train changes at impossible hours are not accepted, because they don't offer one of them. So for train travels you have to find different destinations than you were used to. @pkuipersmunneke
Show threadGeert Aarts1d ago
@hermannus @pkuipersmunneke It is mostly due to the high cost of personnel — driven by relatively high income tax compared to, say, fuel tax. I understand it doesn't feel good to spend that money, but personally I believe every euro spent on a person doing actual work is a far better choice than spending it on e.g. fuel. Ultimately we could be that person on the receiving end.
Show threadHermannus Stegeman1d ago
@GeertAarts @pkuipersmunneke that would make a flight much more expensive #crew #pilots
Show threadGeert Aarts1d ago
@hermannus @pkuipersmunneke Not sure, because the travel takes so long, it also requires more working hours. But you are right, I don't know the facts and figures. But ultimately the money has to go somewhere, and my guess it is mostly spend on all human resources (and income tax) involved in the train travel.
Show threadPaul - Antifa. LGBTQ+ safe.1d ago
@pkuipersmunneke Plus the time you spend travelling instead of enjoying your vacation (unless you add that as the vacation). I feel your pain.
Show threadLinda Rose Smit1d ago
@pkuipersmunneke i tried to book the nightjet to vienna on my way to bratislava. Not possible. No clear reason why. Daytrain leaves too early and arrives too late.
I will try to find a different route by train. But this should all be so much better.
Show threadBirgit M.23h ago
@pkuipersmunneke and on that flight your seat will not remain empty. That's the worst part of it: you pay a lot more and the result is almost zero
Show threadBirgit M.23h ago
@pkuipersmunneke besides it should be common knowledge that travelling by train is expensive. When you compare it to a car and there's two or more people involved the train is unaffordable
Show thread∫∀⊂∅23h ago
@pkuipersmunneke
Had a fablab bootcamp near Tromsø in January. Travel by train took me 4 days up and 3 days down. Others tok the direct plane from Schiphol in 3 hours for 20% of the cost. :-/
But the train ride (and 1 by ferry) was wonderful. :-)
Show threadMarco W22h ago
@pkuipersmunneke Luxemburg is ook mooi om te wandelen. Aangrenzende gebieden in Duitsland ook. Zwitserland en Oostenrijk in iedergeval ook. En nog veel meer plekken dichtbij.
Show threadNumber6 22h ago

@pkuipersmunneke

When I search for trains from Brussels to Barcelona, my search results are filled with results from 25 to 75 euros. Are they all lying to me, or is there something special about your train?

Show threadEoin21h ago

@pkuipersmunneke
Can you do an interrail at a slow pace? Maybe via somewhere else in order to find a viable route?

I interailed to Croatia last year. Going on a well used route with lots of capacity was easy. I recognise getting to Mallorca with be more challenging.

Show threadOotje14h ago
@pkuipersmunneke bekend probleem. Dat je opzoek gaat naar een andere bestemming siert je wel!
Show threadBerschut13h ago
@pkuipersmunneke ik begin bij op ouigo, Franse budgettrein en bouw mijn reis daaromheen. Voor Brussel: vorig jaar een half zo duur ticket (andere trein) door Brussel centraal te kiezen ipv Brussel zuid/midi.
Show threadHelga van Leur ☀️3h ago
@pkuipersmunneke Per person. If you are traveling with someone else or with family, this difference explodes! Really, really frustrating!