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

[sobex@social.sciences.re]

@jon @hopla @knud I feel at some point someone should engineer something so that they get stuck in a train with no stops for 2 hours, and perhaps even get controlled by the train manager asking them for their tickets and issuing a fine for travelling to without one.
(I’m sure your administration will pay it up or get it sorted out, but I don’t have a choice)

Or drop them in Meuse TGV or something like that.

[hypha@cafe.mycelium.locahlo.st]

@jon this is an oxymoron

@hopla @Sobex @knud

[jon@gruene.social]

@mkoek @notsoloud SWR ought to manage a bit better!

[sobex@social.sciences.re]

@hopla @jon @knud Ah so you were "driving" the train in the German meaning

(German speakers tend to say "drive" instead of "ride" for both bicycles and trains, it's not too much of a problem of the former, but a bit concerning for the latter ^^').

[stefanlindbohm@mastodon.social]

@jon Random thought, could some writing on what makes good cross border rail crossings work well be an addition to the map/database/articles/etc? Examples to be inspired by. There are different ways to make it work and maybe that could be an angle to add.

(Assuming this would have to happen as part of something that provides funding of course.)

[rrr@deds.social]

@jon panels coming off was one of the reasons for NS to return the Fyra to its maker I recall.

[notsoloud@expressional.social]

@jon
Send them one! Quote yourself. A great opportunity to draw attention to whichever part of the cause that's relevant here. This is the one chance of having a quote by you instead of some ass covering manager.
@mkoek

[jon@gruene.social]

@stefanlindbohm Yes. When I have time

[jsl@hachyderm.io]

@jon This is not an attractive train. It looks like it was designed by committee decisions.

[cycling_on_rails@mastodon.social]

@jon Curious what you meant with the yes/no logo for bicycles? I don't remember any official bicycle spots on the ETR 700 but maybe I didn't check well or they changed the layout since then?

As usual, luggage space is rather cramped on Italian high-speed trains... It's ok when the service isn't busy: https://cycling-on-rails.com/train-bicycle-guide/italy/#etr-700-frecciarossa

[jon@gruene.social]

@cycling_on_rails it’s an error. It’s a no. I forgot to delete.

[q@glauca.space]

@jon @hopla at last! I wonder when they'll run to SB

[jon@gruene.social]

@q @hopla not for a long time. At the start it’s all from the Mulhouse depot. Not Metz.

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon @q which trains?

[jon@gruene.social]

@hopla @q the cross border Régiolis. The reason Grand Est gave sometime last year for starting with Strasbourg - Offenburg and Mulhouse - Müllheim was that these would be from the Mulhouse depot. Is that not correct?

[simonschre@zug.network]

@q @jon @hopla I mean I guess now that they use Régiolis to Offenburg and maybe soon Müllheim, they'll have some X73900 over for a more stable Saarbrücken service? Or even more than two cars per train?

[jon@gruene.social]

@simonschre @q @hopla using Régiolis on electrified lines is obvious. But then why not Saarbrücken - Forbach too?

[smveerman@zug.network]

@jon @simonschre @q @hopla I am under the impression that the depot in Metz does not have any experience with the Régiolis as of now.

[jon@gruene.social]

@smveerman @simonschre @q @hopla it has some Régiolis there, but not the ones foreseen for cross border operations (I think). But Hopla can likely confirm.

[hopla@zug.network]

@jon @q the Strasbourg Offenburg are all dependent from Strasbourg workshops and agents.

The Mulhouse-Müllheim-Freiburg are engines "lended" to Mulhouse workshop, and currently operated by Strasbourg agents. I deem it unlikely that Mulhouse agents get to drive them in the near future, too few Germany-able agents in Alsace-Moselle.
What's also not helping is that the security certificate for these trains is held by DB Regio BW, who don't employ France -able drivers. Unlike, say, DB Regio Mitte...