Why I love trains

[Dunners]

I have to admit to an admiration of Peter Hitchen's writing, irrespective of any political views. And I think he nails it in this article.

www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2020 ... ove-trains

I miss proper train journeys. I was fortunate to often get 1st class tickets through my work but, regardless of where I sat, travelling up and down and across the county by train is just one of the best things. It was just so... right.

[Mikero]

I once did a 'train' holiday from Ilford to Stockholm, very interesting to compare the various systems. Needless to say the 'Boat Train' to Harwich was not State-of-the-art more State-of-the Ark. Suburban trains in Copenhagen, Malmo and Stockholm were all very good, if a little odd to look at times. The Danish articulated trains with only two wheels on each coach are very strange.

Mikero

[Clive Evans]

I done:London to Almhult in Sweden ( train going on the ferry between Germany & Denmark is something else ) ; Venice and Orlando to New York. Got a large layout in my spare room:-
Favourite film is Risky Business!!!!

[Dunners]

I've done Milan to Palermo where they load the train onto the ferry.

Also, Paris to Avignon is great.

[BiggsyMalone]

Try driving one for a living. The novelty soon wears off.

Went from Venice to Munich once, lovely scenary going through the mountains in Austria.

[NuneatonO's]

Now that I've retired (well actually, put out to grass, three years before I intended!), our next long trip will be through Russia - via the Moscow to Vladivostok on the TransSib Express; hopefully returning with Aeroflot; an airline we've never been on.

It's something we've wanted to do for the past couple of years; having myself sold a number of holidays to Japan; whereby people wanted something a little different for part of their journey (as if Japan isn't different enough)!

We're not train addicts - we both prefer to explore Countries by campervan. However, this train journey has been buzzing around as a 'gotta do it' for some time now.

My Russian is somewhat limited - so that will be fun.

Who knows, we may just get the train bug as well.

It's got to be a better mode of transport than cruising - I truly can't think of anything more mind-numbingly boring. Harwich to the Hoek of Holland is bad enough!

[Thor]

I wonder if all the trains were cleaned properly which people.travel on to work? I wonder if the seats were sanitised cos they are proper filth and I'm fairly certain that they were not cleaned at all. I remember reading about a seat that was taken off the train and tube and the stuff that was on them was absolutely disgusting. Coming out of this pandemic and they are probably still full of wee, poo, seman and so on.

[Pandy]

Now that I've retired (well actually, put out to grass, three years before I intended!), our next long trip will be through Russia - via the Moscow to Vladivostok on the TransSib Express; hopefully returning with Aeroflot; an airline we've never been on.

It's something we've wanted to do for the past couple of years; having myself sold a number of holidays to Japan; whereby people wanted something a little different for part of their journey (as if Japan isn't different enough)!

We're not train addicts - we both prefer to explore Countries by campervan. However, this train journey has been buzzing around as a 'gotta do it' for some time now.

My Russian is somewhat limited - so that will be fun.

Who knows, we may just get the train bug as well.

It's got to be a better mode of transport than cruising - I truly can't think of anything more mind-numbingly boring. Harwich to the Hoek of Holland is bad enough!

Aeroflot!!!! Don't do it man, their planes are held together with glue.

[A Pedant]

I've always loved inter-city train travel. Our honeymoon took in the Orient Express, we went inter-railing in 2008 (taking in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Holland as I recall). My 50th birthday later this year was going to include a fortnight of trains around Switzerland and Italy (the Bernina Express and places we didn't have enough time for in '08) - alas Coronavirus has put paid to that for the time being.

[NuneatonO's]

Aeroflot!!!! Don't do it man, their planes are held together with glue.

I appreciate your warning; however, Aeroflot have a superb safety record these days - amongst the best in the World.

One of the few Russian examples of an actual improvement in something, since the sad demise of the Soviet Union.

[StockholmO]

Aeroflot are now one of the better airlines and their service is a lot better than British Airways. Nothing wrong with them these days.

I prefer travel by train. It’s a shame you don’t have restaurant cars on trains now with a few exceptions and the seats are packed in and don’t line up with the windows.

The trip to Fort William on the new sleeper is on my bucket list when we go back to proper normal. They’ve got showers in some of the cabins now (when they work).

Train travel has never been the same since they scrapped the Class 47 ‘Deltics’ though.

[RedDwarf 1881]

I done:London to Almhult in Sweden ( train going on the ferry between Germany & Denmark is something else ) ; Venice and Orlando to New York. Got a large layout in my spare room:-
Favourite film is Risky Business!!!!

You have a great train set mate .

[slacker]

Dunnem: if you love trains so much why don't you marry one, eh?

Me, I get more excited about an old school branch line dmu than some fancy-dan service, or those filthy old steam kettles. No doubt there's a spotters club for them too.

[Currywurst and Chips]

The Island line on the Isle of Wight is quite good for the train nerds

They use the old BR483's still which were the old London Underground trains dating back to 1938 and stopped being used in London in the 80s

[Thor]

I can fully endorse the Orient Express, my wife and I went on it years ago and I must say it was rather excellent. A proper train experience just like it used to be.

[Clive Evans]

DCC:- I am old enough to remember 0-4-4T steam locomotives hauling the trains. They were quite impressive , especially when there were a few on Ryde Pier..

[KC & sunshine band]

I done:London to Almhult in Sweden ( train going on the ferry between Germany & Denmark is something else ) ; Venice and Orlando to New York. Got a large layout in my spare room:-
Favourite film is Risky Business!!!!

brilliant set mate
Not sure if you are aware but the 15.10 to Liverpool street is running 20 minutes late

[Clive Evans]

Plastic leaves on the line!

[Constanza]

The smell of body odour.
Watching people stuff their face full of Crisps, sausage rolls and egg sandwiches before the train has left the station.
Late trains.
Discarded free newspapers.
Listening in on phone calls.
The view of rubbish left behind people's back garden fence.
The ridiculous ticket pricing system
That time I fell onto the track at the Severn Steam Railway - I was Chuffed to bits

[slacker]

If you could make that list rhyme I think Pam Ayers might be interested.

[Dunners]

I can fully endorse the Orient Express, my wife and I went on it years ago and I must say it was rather excellent. A proper train experience just like it used to be.

Check out The Ghan or the Indian Pacific. Both on my bucket list.

[Dunners]

The trip to Fort William on the new sleeper is on my bucket list when we go back to proper normal. They’ve got showers in some of the cabins now (when they work).

I've seen some very disappointing reviews for the new service, often due to the showers not working. Hope they get it sorted out soon as I definitely want to do that one.

[Dunners]

This one looks interesting - a train ride up into TIbet that includes crossing plateaus of over 13,000 feet elevation:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/esca ... Tibet.html

Apologies for linking to the Mail, but it does have some dramatic photos and footage.

[StockholmO]

The trip to Fort William on the new sleeper is on my bucket list when we go back to proper normal. They’ve got showers in some of the cabins now (when they work).

I've seen some very disappointing reviews for the new service, often due to the showers not working. Hope they get it sorted out soon as I definitely want to do that one.

It seems it’s a good product when everything works. This is an honest review. They also have double beds at a very high price. I’ll do it one day, probably next year.

[Dunners]

The trip to Fort William on the new sleeper is on my bucket list when we go back to proper normal. They’ve got showers in some of the cabins now (when they work).

I've seen some very disappointing reviews for the new service, often due to the showers not working. Hope they get it sorted out soon as I definitely want to do that one.

It seems it’s a good product when everything works. This is an honest review. They also have double beds at a very high price. I’ll do it one day, probably next year.

Yep, I've seen that one. Paul does good trip reports. Have you seen his review of the Indian Pacific train yet?