Welcome to today's thread - #CrossBorderRail 2026 Tour Day 31 - 4 May - Rimini - Bologna - Milano - Lugano - Basel - Strasbourg

[cdb_77@mastodon.online]

@jon hey! You pass by Giubiasco between Lugano and Bellinzona, just before the Alptransit tunnel. It is were I grew up and were I am in this moment for couple of days before I spend some time in Italy before going home in France.

[jon@gruene.social]

Also some panel in the interior of this ex-FYRA ETR700 is vibrating and rattling. Makes for a rather loud journey.

[jon@gruene.social]

@cdb_77 damn had I known I could have planned in time for a coffee at the station! But it’s too late to change my Frecciarossa earlier in the morning now!

[jon@gruene.social]

According to @hopla it looks like Régiolis is actually running France - Germany today, as planned https://zug.network/@hopla/116514407465211628

[jon@gruene.social]

About this Régiolis finally running, I’m not sure quite what to expect. I think today was determined most by operational logic, so I’m not sure there’ll be a big press thing about it.

But VP of Grand Est Philipps always makes a big song and dance about everything…

[cdb_77@mastodon.online]

@jon Next time, for a coffee or if you need a bed in Grenoble, you're very welcome!

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon Yes, and as usual the Polizei in Kehl made it 7 minutes late

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon As for the first train, nothing unusual, no press, only the regular passengers being confused/surprised to see a TFA doing the service, and a bunch of railway workers and a few well informed spotters taking pictures and chatting nerdy things
A quiet revolution

[knud@mastodon.social]

@hopla @jon

2 weeks ago I crossed the French-German border 4 times in a day (event near border). 1x check on Autobahn, 3x no check on other roads. It's just performative politics.

[jon@gruene.social]

@knud @hopla right. Exactly. But on trains through Kehl it’s damned annoying.

[jon@gruene.social]

@hopla it says a lot about the media too. When Philipps opens his mouth, it’s all over the media. When the train actually runs there’s no one there!

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon @knud so. Damn. Annoying. They don't care that drivers barely have the time to grab a Kaffee und Brötchen for breakfast in Offenburg between two trains, but with the caused delay it's usually impossible...

[jon@gruene.social]

Every time VP of Grand Est Philipps has uttered anything about these trains, the regional press has been all too happy to transcribe it

Today *when the train actually runs*: nothing (at least not yet)

Almost as if you need a press release to make news…

[sobex@social.sciences.re]

@hopla @jon @knud Speaking of which, a Law Professor of the UdS has recently won the first trial on suing Germany over those controls.

(Though appeal is pending).

[jon@gruene.social]

@Sobex @hopla @knud two indeed. There’s one in Bayern and one in Rheinland Pfalz.

[notsoloud@expressional.social]

@jon
You should send out one. Seriously, get the journos used to you being a news source.

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon @Sobex @knud aaaaand second control for me she didn't notice she controlled me on the previous one...

[sobex@social.sciences.re]

@hopla @jon @knud They are controlling the drivers themselves ?

[jon@gruene.social]

@hopla @Sobex @knud they’re not the sharpest police!

[hopla@zug.network]

@Sobex @jon @knud no but I'm a passenger.. I jokingly laid on the table my id card, my driver license, my certificates by the three train operators, my car driver license, my carte Vitale and my carte Badgeo on the first check..

.. but now it's just a nuisance, no more fun moves, cops aren't friends