Quick takes Archives - Page 3 of 3

A rail postcard from Hendaye

Dear Siim*, Although we have never met, you seem familiar to me. I follow all your upbeat reports on Twitter about the bright future of European rail, and your great liberalisation plans, and investments in trans-European networks. Well Siim, for me as a traveller, I’m not feeling it. I am[Read More…]

30.11.2013 0 comments

Paris, 114 km

The early spring sunshine is setting behind a straggle of clouds strewn across the agricultural plains of that non-descript part of France somewhere between Bourgogne and Paris. In the blink of an eye we’ll be looping around Paris and heading north to Brussels. But before that, a pause, for this[Read More…]

03.04.2010 0 comments

DB Schenker takes to the rails in the UK

It was a small flash of white on maroon, but it meant so much – the DB Schenker logo on the side of a Class 60 UK railway engine somewhere between Chesterfield and Derby on 3rd October, out of the window from my Sheffield-London train. If anyone can help improve[Read More…]

06.10.2008 0 comments

The 0805 to St Pancras International

I was on it – the first ever 0805 Eurostar train from Brussels Midi to London St Pancras International on 15th November, the 2nd day of operation of the new high speed line. The line itself is relatively unexciting – a quick dip in a tunnel under the Thames at[Read More…]

16.11.2007 3 comments

OK, being community spirited is not such a good idea

On my wave of being socially responsible in London (see this post), I decided to do the same again and try to prevent my fellow passengers on the Stansted Express last night getting stuck at Tottenham Hale. But this time I encountered opposition and inaction. Maybe that will teach me[Read More…]

10.10.2005 0 comments