Fantasy Ferroviaire

Trains as they should be…

ADIÓS FLIGHT SHAME

Pre-pandemic, half of Europe’s air passengers were flying on routes of less than 3000km already connected by rail- what needs to improve is the provision of direct night trains, especially over longer distances.

Inspired by the best science fiction, my timetables use real-life constraints (existing infrastructure capacity, rolling stock and locomotives). They are limited to 200kph even on high-speed lines.

The fantasy element is to assume political will to ensure technical interoperability, cooperation, and investment in rolling stock for long-term sustainability rather than the environmentally destructive model of low-cost aviation.

Eurokraut Gravy Train Express, and more

Fixed it.

Reality: Super new thrice-daily non-stop Berlin-Cologne service in December 2021 spectacularly fails to connect with Brussels trains in both directions, leading to a 2-hour wait.

Fantasy ferroviaire: the two routes are combined into one longer one, with a daily direct Berlin-Paris and London, plus a Eurokraut Gravy Train Express direct to Bruxelles-Luxembourg station in the EU quarter via the Bordet curve.