So I’m stuck.
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And it is at moments like this that you realise that
COMPULSORY RESERVATION TRAINS ARE SHIT
I will happily stand the whole way from Paris to Liège, because better that than not getting there at all
But as the Eurostar is compulsory reservation I am likely not allowed on it
My need to get to my destination is higher than the mild inconvenience to some other passenger if I am standing beside them in an aisle
@jon At some point it does become miserable - when people can't even get to their assigned seats or to the toilets/catering. But that's the British railway experience where any disruption gives you the "it's 1975 and this is the last helicopter out of Saigon" experience
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And it is at moments like this that you realise that
COMPULSORY RESERVATION TRAINS ARE SHIT
I will happily stand the whole way from Paris to Liège, because better that than not getting there at all
But as the Eurostar is compulsory reservation I am likely not allowed on it
My need to get to my destination is higher than the mild inconvenience to some other passenger if I am standing beside them in an aisle
@jon but still there‘s heaps of people in countries Like Germany asking for compulsory reservations…
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@jon At some point it does become miserable - when people can't even get to their assigned seats or to the toilets/catering. But that's the British railway experience where any disruption gives you the "it's 1975 and this is the last helicopter out of Saigon" experience
@flangey Sure. But how many passengers from Laroche Migennes need a Eurostar to Liege? I agree there’s a limit, but a few can work!
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Finally close to Paris.
2 hours 30 mins late, for no fault of my own.
And I’ve got no idea if or when I can continue my journey towards Maastricht. 11:51 from Nord, ideally, but contingent on a friendly train manager…
The train manager was friendly. So I’m on my #CrossBorderRail to Liège. In the bar for now…
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The train manager was friendly. So I’m on my #CrossBorderRail to Liège. In the bar for now…
@jon But you're right, having to rely on the courtesy of train staff is a terrible position to be in. That's what makes people take their car instead.
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The train manager was friendly. So I’m on my #CrossBorderRail to Liège. In the bar for now…
Also I increased the chances of this working by knowing what type of Eurostar - Thalys runs the Köln service, and waiting right beside it before the platform was announced. That meant I was the first to see the train manager. That ought not be necessary! #CrossBorderRail
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Also I increased the chances of this working by knowing what type of Eurostar - Thalys runs the Köln service, and waiting right beside it before the platform was announced. That meant I was the first to see the train manager. That ought not be necessary! #CrossBorderRail
@jon this is why I say we should never book a train ticket, but buy a train ticket.
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Also I increased the chances of this working by knowing what type of Eurostar - Thalys runs the Köln service, and waiting right beside it before the platform was announced. That meant I was the first to see the train manager. That ought not be necessary! #CrossBorderRail
I tried the ticket office for Eurostar first. But there were 3 desks open and a crazy queue. That would not have worked. #CrossBorderRail
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I tried the ticket office for Eurostar first. But there were 3 desks open and a crazy queue. That would not have worked. #CrossBorderRail
@jon I was told at the ticket desk in Paris that I would need to talk to the train manager, after waiting for 15 minutes
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@jon I was told at the ticket desk in Paris that I would need to talk to the train manager, after waiting for 15 minutes
@webhat the problem is you can’t always get to the train manager! But yes, if you can it’s the best - for Eurostar. They have more power than SNCF ones.
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@webhat the problem is you can’t always get to the train manager! But yes, if you can it’s the best - for Eurostar. They have more power than SNCF ones.
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@jon So you wait before the closed barriers, waiting for attendants to show up, and then you ask them to get the train manager for you? I don't suppose you had a valid ticket to actually get next to the train before that
@bentorfs Correct. I showed my ticket for the 09:46 at the barrier, and asked to go see the train manager. And am on the 11:51.
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Also I increased the chances of this working by knowing what type of Eurostar - Thalys runs the Köln service, and waiting right beside it before the platform was announced. That meant I was the first to see the train manager. That ought not be necessary! #CrossBorderRail
@jon I'm taking this Sunday evening.
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@jon I'm taking this Sunday evening.
@hub hopefully under better circumstances than my trip today!
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@jon People in Germany like to rant about Deutsche Bahn, they don't know SNCF/Eurostar ...
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@hub hopefully under better circumstances than my trip today!
@jon it can be late 2:30 hours and I'll be winning. (long connection for the ICE in Cologne)
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@bentorfs I had a decent amount of time to transfer. But I was 2 hours 30 mins late into Paris! I didn’t give myself that much
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@jon So you wait before the closed barriers, waiting for attendants to show up, and then you ask them to get the train manager for you? I don't suppose you had a valid ticket to actually get next to the train before that
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And it is at moments like this that you realise that
COMPULSORY RESERVATION TRAINS ARE SHIT
I will happily stand the whole way from Paris to Liège, because better that than not getting there at all
But as the Eurostar is compulsory reservation I am likely not allowed on it
My need to get to my destination is higher than the mild inconvenience to some other passenger if I am standing beside them in an aisle
@jon i always assumed this was a liability / safety issue but yes, it is annoying.
