On the rails again… #Interrail #CrossBorderRail
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On the rails again… #Interrail #CrossBorderRail
Today I am crossing Switzerland, on an itinerary that is still in flux. I’m considering dinner in an Italian restaurant, but I’m also considering the possibility of a small trip on a rack railway, a Racklette if you will.
The itinerary for today is at: https://moof.space/trip/2026-02-12 - it’ll keep updating as I change my mind or not throughout the day.
Feel free to chime in with opinions on my proposed route over on this thread: https://cupoftea.social/@moof/116053499567479694
We start the day off with an ÖBB Cityjet-branded FLIRT doing service as the S-bahn to St. Margrethen
@moof yikes for that window alignment
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And so begins one of the pretty parts of the journey, on the Voralpen Express, from St. Galen to Luzern, though in my case, it’s as far as Arth-Goldau.
I’m aboard a RABe 526 - a modified Stadler FLIRT3 known as a Traverso.
@moof I don't understand why Stadler split from their naming convention of KISS and FLIRT by going with Giruno for their high speed set. QUICKIE was right there...
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It’s very difficult to take pictures that do any of this justice.
The scenery keeps changing sides, and the train goes fast enough that by the time you try to line up a pretty picture, it’s gone past. Also, I am just sitting here and taking it in. Nevertheless, I shall attempt to do some photography.
Switzerland is pretty, very pretty, and the train lines are amazing. You should definitely add a train tour of the country to your bucket list.
At Rapperswil SG we cross the Zürichsee on a track that has been placed on a causeway that has divided the lake, the Rapperswill Seedamm.
It’s fun to look out the window and basically see the lake and barely anything else, as if you were floating above it.
On the side I left my camera though, the view was less intense…
(This is an attempt to show how difficult it is to take these pictures)
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@moof I don't understand why Stadler split from their naming convention of KISS and FLIRT by going with Giruno for their high speed set. QUICKIE was right there...
@bovine3dom @moof Giruno is the SBB name, Stadler calls the platform "SMILE"
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At Rapperswil SG we cross the Zürichsee on a track that has been placed on a causeway that has divided the lake, the Rapperswill Seedamm.
It’s fun to look out the window and basically see the lake and barely anything else, as if you were floating above it.
On the side I left my camera though, the view was less intense…
(This is an attempt to show how difficult it is to take these pictures)
…and that’s if you can get the camera to focus and see through the rain and reflections. I assure you this is a pretty view…
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Die Andre die sitze im Bank wisawi
Dassi lang no chöi gseh, wo dr Zug scho isch gsi
Und dr Rügge zue cheere dr Richtig wo hi
Dr Zug fahrtItz schtellet nech vor, jede bhouptet eifach
So win ärs gseht, sigs richtig und scho heisi Krach
Si gäbe enander mit Schirme ufds Dach
Dr Zug fahrtUnd ou wenn dr Kondüktör itze no chunnt
So geit dr däm Sachverhalt nid ufe Grund
Är seit nume was für ne Ortschaft itz chunnt –
Sisch Rorschach! -
…and that’s if you can get the camera to focus and see through the rain and reflections. I assure you this is a pretty view…
And I’ve made onto my second SOB RABe 526 of the day, the Treno Gottardo, departing from Arth-Goldau, and where I will spend the next 2 and a half hours.
I’ve given up on photos, but I am still enjoying the views, even through the rain. Surprisingly little in the way of snow so far, though…
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And I’ve made onto my second SOB RABe 526 of the day, the Treno Gottardo, departing from Arth-Goldau, and where I will spend the next 2 and a half hours.
I’ve given up on photos, but I am still enjoying the views, even through the rain. Surprisingly little in the way of snow so far, though…
There are adverts on the train for “Treno Mistero”, billed as the first escape room on a train, which is played in the hour and a half between Arth-Goldau and Bellinzona.
You can purchase the game online, and play it on any train doing the route. The train staff will hand you a box with physical items, and you need a phone or tablet to play it, view videos, and take pictures.
It’s only available in German though, and costs 30CHF for a single player game or 60CHF for a “duell” version. It’s a different way of doing this route, and maybe a wet weather alternative.
More info here: https://unterwegs.sob.ch/en/stories/trenomistero
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There are adverts on the train for “Treno Mistero”, billed as the first escape room on a train, which is played in the hour and a half between Arth-Goldau and Bellinzona.
You can purchase the game online, and play it on any train doing the route. The train staff will hand you a box with physical items, and you need a phone or tablet to play it, view videos, and take pictures.
It’s only available in German though, and costs 30CHF for a single player game or 60CHF for a “duell” version. It’s a different way of doing this route, and maybe a wet weather alternative.
More info here: https://unterwegs.sob.ch/en/stories/trenomistero
And we make it through the Gotthard tunnel, and all of a sudden: Snow!
Not massive amounts, but snow nonetheless…
Also, the train announcements are all in Italian now…
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There are adverts on the train for “Treno Mistero”, billed as the first escape room on a train, which is played in the hour and a half between Arth-Goldau and Bellinzona.
You can purchase the game online, and play it on any train doing the route. The train staff will hand you a box with physical items, and you need a phone or tablet to play it, view videos, and take pictures.
It’s only available in German though, and costs 30CHF for a single player game or 60CHF for a “duell” version. It’s a different way of doing this route, and maybe a wet weather alternative.
More info here: https://unterwegs.sob.ch/en/stories/trenomistero
@moof Cool! Thanks for the link!
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And I’ve made onto my second SOB RABe 526 of the day, the Treno Gottardo, departing from Arth-Goldau, and where I will spend the next 2 and a half hours.
I’ve given up on photos, but I am still enjoying the views, even through the rain. Surprisingly little in the way of snow so far, though…
@moof I’m way too late, but at least one, preferably three pictures of the church of Wassen are considered mandatory.
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And we make it through the Gotthard tunnel, and all of a sudden: Snow!
Not massive amounts, but snow nonetheless…
Also, the train announcements are all in Italian now…
On the rails again…
Check out my next seat!
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On the rails again…
Check out my next seat!
@moof jammy fart
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On the rails again…
Check out my next seat!
In all seriousness, my next seat is literally at the front of the train, next to the cabin, so I can pretend to drive it.
And the childish glee does not end there! This train line is operated by the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, or FART. The is potential for a lot of obnoxious and poor taste jokes, much like my…
Or rather, there could have been, but this ABe 4/6 unit is actually operated by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie, SSIF.
That being said, I did leave from Locarno FART station, which took a long and slow journey to the exit of the tunnel before I could let my presence be known online, and will be arriving at Domodossola SSIF station.
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@moof I’m way too late, but at least one, preferably three pictures of the church of Wassen are considered mandatory.
@partim Way too late, but frankly the weather was not with me back at Wassen. Have a picture of the church at St. Galen instead
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In all seriousness, my next seat is literally at the front of the train, next to the cabin, so I can pretend to drive it.
And the childish glee does not end there! This train line is operated by the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, or FART. The is potential for a lot of obnoxious and poor taste jokes, much like my…
Or rather, there could have been, but this ABe 4/6 unit is actually operated by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie, SSIF.
That being said, I did leave from Locarno FART station, which took a long and slow journey to the exit of the tunnel before I could let my presence be known online, and will be arriving at Domodossola SSIF station.
@moof to be fair, "SSIF" does look like the sound a silent one would make.
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In all seriousness, my next seat is literally at the front of the train, next to the cabin, so I can pretend to drive it.
And the childish glee does not end there! This train line is operated by the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, or FART. The is potential for a lot of obnoxious and poor taste jokes, much like my…
Or rather, there could have been, but this ABe 4/6 unit is actually operated by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie, SSIF.
That being said, I did leave from Locarno FART station, which took a long and slow journey to the exit of the tunnel before I could let my presence be known online, and will be arriving at Domodossola SSIF station.
Italia, sono in te!
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In all seriousness, my next seat is literally at the front of the train, next to the cabin, so I can pretend to drive it.
And the childish glee does not end there! This train line is operated by the Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi, or FART. The is potential for a lot of obnoxious and poor taste jokes, much like my…
Or rather, there could have been, but this ABe 4/6 unit is actually operated by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie, SSIF.
That being said, I did leave from Locarno FART station, which took a long and slow journey to the exit of the tunnel before I could let my presence be known online, and will be arriving at Domodossola SSIF station.
@moof have you been on the #DocklandsLightRailway in London? The trains are robots that drive themselves, and you can sit at the front. The "driver's" seat is in great demand and it's not unheard of to see grey-haired suited commuters pretending to drive. A few years ago the operators even gave away inflatable toy steering wheels: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8273/8921671706_7cabf8e7a2_b.jpg
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@moof have you been on the #DocklandsLightRailway in London? The trains are robots that drive themselves, and you can sit at the front. The "driver's" seat is in great demand and it's not unheard of to see grey-haired suited commuters pretending to drive. A few years ago the operators even gave away inflatable toy steering wheels: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8273/8921671706_7cabf8e7a2_b.jpg
@DrHyde I have had plenty of journeys on the DLR, and managed to grab the front seat on many of them… I remember them fondly
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Italia, sono in te!
@moof buon viaggio!
