“I’m making a whole city! There are roads and tracks and roads crossing over the tracks! And buildings!” There are also many bus stops and a museum. (Grateful for washable markers) #urbanism#transit#PublicTransport#trains#bike#BikeTooter
New at my Patreon... In Switzerland, I take the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux - seeing beautiful mountain scenery and changing gauge on the way:
Good morning from Switzerland. A bit damp and moody in interlaken today, though picturesque.
Later today I'll be boarding the GoldenPass Express to Montreux, then joining an international media tour that's exploring the country's lesser-known scenic rail routes.
I'll be writing about the highlights for my patrons at my Patreon, so feel free to join the gang and enjoy: https://www.patreon.com/timrichards
Mainichi: "Texas shinkansen may not operate until early 2030s, Amtrak says... Most recently slated for completion in 2026, the project is receiving technical support from Japanese shinkansen operator Central Japan Railway Co. If it goes ahead, the railway will connect Dallas and Houston, two major Texas cities approximately 380 kilometers apart, in about 90 minutes, but planning has been repeatedly delayed due to financing concerns, among other reasons. " https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240530/p2g/00m/0bu/049000c#transportation#trains#texas
Bizarre:
"On 10 May 1931, the Schienenzeppelin exceeded a speed of 200 km/h (120 mph) for the first time. Afterwards, it was exhibited to the general public throughout Germany. On 21 June 1931, it set a new world railway speed record of 230.2 km/h on the Berlin–Hamburg line between Karstädt and Dergenthin, which was not surpassed by any other rail vehicle until 1954. The railcar still holds the land speed record for a petrol powered rail vehicle." #trains https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schienenzeppelin
GOP: still fighting against the 21st century. It’s an embarrassment that the US has less #hsr than Morocco or Turkey. Yes, you read that right — we’re behind even Morocco and Turkey in moving people efficiently and the #GOP wants to keep it that way
Another V/Line train trip today. I'm heading to Bendigo to have lunch with my brother. As you do. A bit easier now that the country train fares in Victoria Victoria have been capped at $10.60 per day.
New at my Patreon... Planning a Europe trip, I wondered how many nations I'd never visited via plane & a trip to/from an airport? Turns out there are several:
Snacks aboard a TGV Lyria train from Zürich to Paris, photographed by me on this date in 2019. You can't escape those paprika-flavoured chips anywhere in Central Europe!
So, the Bellville ferry terminal in #VictoriaBC is being upgraded to have US CBP preclearance for the Coho (to Port Angeles) and the Clipper (to Seattle) but what would be awesome would be a passenger ferry to #BellinghamWa's Fairhaven terminal, which is right next to the #AmtrakCascades train station. Especially if it had code share and checked baggage going straight between the ferry and the train.
Today in print in The Sunday Age and Sun-Herald - I write a section about new and upcoming rail experiences in the 'Next Great Journeys' special supplement. Includes trains in Italy, Australia, Norway, Japan and Laos.
Buy a copy in print today; I'll share the online version if/when it appears later.
Crazy morning. Had to take a car to amtrak this morning; there was an accident just before we got to the bridge which added ~45 minutes and I almost missed my 🚂 !
I was wearing my SF City FC scarf and my driver was very excited by it. We started chatting ⚽️, luckily he was from Oakland and knew all the shortcuts, so I got to the station about three minutes after the train and boarded it with a couple of minutes to spare!