TGV in London

[CharlieB]

Wouldn't the larger loading gauge on TGVs preclude it being on UK railways?

 

[Globalti]

I thought some TGVs came right across to St Pancras but then what do I know?

Last summer we took the TGV from Geneva to Paris after watching the Tour in Megeve, just for the experience. Never again; it was dirty, crowded and the toilets disgusting.

 

[BrumJim]

[QUOTE 4691907, member: 45"]DB was planning to run ICE trains into St Pancras but I don't think they've managed it yet.[/QUOTE]
Given up, I believe. Problems with the authorisation process in Germany led to long delays in preceeding contracts, IIRC.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.ph...ndon-–-frankfurt-high-speed-plans-on-ice.html

 

[martint235]

Given up, I believe. Problems with the authorisation process in Germany led to long delays in preceeding contracts, IIRC.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/db-puts-london-–-frankfurt-high-speed-plans-on-ice.html

Shame.

I'm sure one of the key business drivers for HS1 and the Channel Tunnel was the principle of getting on a train in Glasgow or Edinburgh and getting off somewhere in mainland Europe such as Milan or Berlin.

 

[BrumJim]

Shame.

I'm sure one of the key business drivers for HS1 and the Channel Tunnel was the principle of getting on a train in Glasgow or Edinburgh and getting off somewhere in mainland Europe such as Milan or Berlin.

More political than anything else. Trains beat planes in the 1-4 hour journey time (accounting for check-in, travelling to and from airport, baggage reclaim, etc), but beyond that, don't make much sense.

 

[HF2300]

More political than anything else. Trains beat planes in the 1-4 hour journey time (accounting for check-in, travelling to and from airport, baggage reclaim, etc), but beyond that, don't make much sense.

That depends on your perspective, surely? If you're looking strictly at journey times, perhaps, but also a trade off with comfort, ease of working, amount of time able to spend working on the journey, etc?

 

[classic33]

I thought some TGVs came right across to St Pancras but then what do I know?

Last summer we took the TGV from Geneva to Paris after watching the Tour in Megeve, just for the experience. Never again; it was dirty, crowded and the toilets disgusting.

They did, just not under their own power.

 

[PeteXXX]

Was it, perchance, the direct line from China train?

 

[winjim]

I must confess I do like trains - I enjoy rail travel, I admire the big machinery, and I'm a fan of their environmental credentials compared to cars.

Downside is I know little about them

Good retirement project for you, become the biggest train nerd you can. You're in good company, my toddler is absolutely obsessed with them, although she also actually knows very little about the subject.

 

[martint235]

They did, just not under their own power.

Now that's an idea. I confess to not seeing the front of the train only the rear so it may have been being pulled by something else.

 

[classic33]

Good retirement project for you, become the biggest train nerd you can. You're in good company, my toddler is absolutely obsessed with them, although she also actually knows very little about the subject.

Does he start with "Puffing Billy" and her makers?

 

[jonny jeez]

Wow...


An actual train spotting thread!

Awesome.

 

[ianrauk]

Wow...


An actual train spotting thread!

Awesome.

Don't pretend you haven't seen the other trainspotting thread.

 

[martint235]

More political than anything else. Trains beat planes in the 1-4 hour journey time (accounting for check-in, travelling to and from airport, baggage reclaim, etc), but beyond that, don't make much sense.

That depends on your perspective, surely? If you're looking strictly at journey times, perhaps, but also a trade off with comfort, ease of working, amount of time able to spend working on the journey, etc?

Unless I have to be somewhere early in the day for a meeting, I think I'd prefer to get a train from St P to almost anywhere in mainland Europe. I'm still weighing up the viability of going to Crete by train to Athens then ferry but there are a fair few changes involved.

It's not that I don't like flying, I do, it's that I find airports soulless, stressful places (with the possible exception of London City).

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4692136, member: 259"]Has she considered joining an internet forum?[/QUOTE]
He could buy her a train set. Then have to check it all worked.