https://blerfblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/useful-trains-and-where-to-find-them.html
The large themes are:
1.) Don't be afraid of old equipment. Keep it modernized.
2.) Don't expect new equipment to be perfect right out of the box.
3.) Stadler FLIRTS must be good. They are everywhere.
4.) Privatization done right can be helpful and grow ridership. It's hard to get right, though.
5.) Having good urban/suburban transport in place with intercity transport is a must.
6.) Through ticketing is an easy improvement.
Many of these apply to the US and Amtrak in particular.
I'm sure I missed some....
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Being helpful, polite, and non-confrontational to the extent possible is part of rail passenger employees' jobs. And it is management's job to insure they understand and act on that.
daveklepper Being helpful, polite, and non-confrontational to the extent possible is part of rail passenger employees' jobs. And it is management's job to insure they understand and act on that.
An execellent point.
The crew, cafe staff and station staff we interacted with on the trains we rode in Norway, Sweden and Britian were very good.
oltmannd daveklepper Being helpful, polite, and non-confrontational to the extent possible is part of rail passenger employees' jobs. And it is management's job to insure they understand and act on that. An execellent point. The crew, cafe staff and station staff we interacted with on the trains we rode in Norway, Sweden and Britian were very good.
My experience on UK trains was similar. Also Germany, Austria and Italy rail. Knowledgeable, courteous and friendly staffs.
charlie hebdoKnowledgeable, courteous and friendly staffs.
How were the passengers?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
You might find this relevant.
The Brits keep a stiff upper lip when delays occur. Sometimes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GF_QmAODGQ
Electroliner 1935 You might find this relevant. The Brits keep a stiff upper lip when delays occur. Sometimes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GF_QmAODGQ
activated
Over there, my British friends get quite bent out of shape when a train is late. Even at the Severn Valley, my pal went ballistic about a train being 4 minutes late. I get the impression that Brits don't like being kept waiting. My one friend said that when you arrange to meet your friends at a pub, you'd better show up on timeand if it becomes a habit, you won't have any friends. Funny, that. Here in Canada when you say meet at 5 at the bar, you're on time if you show up at 6. No one here gets mad about something like that but the Brits do.
54light15Over there, my British friends get quite bent out of shape when a train is late. Even at the Severn Valley, my pal went ballistic about a train being 4 minutes late. I get the impression that Brits don't like being kept waiting. My one friend said that when you arrange to meet your friends at a pub, you'd better show up on timeand if it becomes a habit, you won't have any friends. Funny, that. Here in Canada when you say meet at 5 at the bar, you're on time if you show up at 6. No one here gets mad about something like that but the Brits do.
One thing I noted from the portion of my career that was spent as a Train Order Operator at various station.
The people that lived the closest to the tower, gave the worst relief. Those that lived further away would allow time in their commute to account for some level of trouble so as to still arrive On Time or before. Those that lived closest were almost always 'Minute Men' - If the job went to work at 0700 they would show at 0659.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
zugmann charlie hebdo Knowledgeable, courteous and friendly staffs. How were the passengers?
charlie hebdo Knowledgeable, courteous and friendly staffs.
Most passengers that I spoke with were courteous, friendly and fairly knowledgeable, the latter because they ride trains frequently as a way of getting from point A to point B, not as "an experience."
Numerous. Also, the CBD of the cities large and small were busier than many similar in the US. Lots more pedestrican traffic.
PJS1Did you take them with a camera or a smart phone?
Most with a Canon superzoom that fits in my pocket. Some with cell phone -Samsumg Galaxy 8.
PJS1Was this trip on a cruise ship with numerous shore excursions? If so what cruise line were you on.
Yes. Viking "homelands" cruise. Helsinki, St. Pete, Tallinn, Berlin (Warnemunde), Copenhagen, Aalborg, Stavanger, Einfjord, Bergen.
PJS1Privatization of operations and open access could lead to robust competition. And it is competition that gets people off their duff. Without it people have little incentive to do things better, faster, cheaper. Been there; done that. By open access I presume you mean that the state or an independent third-party infrastructure company owns the track, etc., and any train operator that meets the requirements can buy a slot to run a train on it. Is this correct?
It seems to work differently in different places. Letting out concessions by region like UK has done, seems to work pretty well. Apparently, the contract for the Arlanda Express in Stockholm has been a mixed bag. They had environmental goals for the line, but operator's fare structure has caused the line to miss those goals - should have been in contract as payment, I guess.
Open access is also mixed bag. Sometimes they let out freight concessions are just sharp-shooting leaving the "privatized" national carrier with the dregs. I think Green Cargo fits this description.
The bad thing about open access is sometimes you wind up splitting a just-adequate lane into two non-sustainable parts. Traffic aggregation is what RRs do...
PJS1My understanding is the U.S. freight railroads are bitterly opposed to open access; it probably will never happen in this country. Is that correct?
Oh, yeah! Not happening without a lot of noise. Not even reciprocal switching.
PJS1Integrated ticketing and information would be a big plus here.
You can plan most trips on Google, but ticketing is not so simple.... It's ridiculous.
PJS1Privatization of operations and open access could lead to robust competition. And it is competition that gets people off their duff.
Both Stockholm and Oslo have new airports built way oustide the city. Both have decent highway access, but both built high speed rail lines to the city. The train take half what driving would. The Arlanda expresscost about $30 and they have 25% market share. The Flytoget costs about $20 and they have a 35% of the market. In Oslo, you can also take a regional train for $12 that takes about 5 minutes longer.
oltmannd PJS1 Privatization of operations and open access could lead to robust competition. And it is competition that gets people off their duff. Both Stockholm and Oslo have new airports built way oustide the city. Both have decent highway access, but both built high speed rail lines to the city. The train take half what driving would. The Arlanda expresscost about $30 and they have 25% market share. The Flytoget costs about $20 and they have a 35% of the market. In Oslo, you can also take a regional train for $12 that takes about 5 minutes longer.
Thanks for your thorough answers to my questions. I appreciate it.
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