Replies posted by Steve Hall

31 Replies

Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
Steve HallKeeps calm and carries on
posted in Routes & destinations

Germany Experts- Can anybody suggest a logical route here?

Many thanks for that. Exactly the type of insider info l need. Let's see what Bahn. De offers. 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
1 year ago
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
Steve HallKeeps calm and carries on
posted in Routes & destinations

Germany Experts- Can anybody suggest a logical route here?

Can l be really cheeky and ask any Germany experts to comment on: Paderborn Bielefeld Hannover Bremen Hamburg Kiel Rostock Berlin Braunschweig Wolfsburg Magdeburg Leipzig Dresden Weimar Nuremberg Regensburg Munich Augsburg Heidenheim Stuttgart Karlsruhe Freiburg Hoffenheim Heidelberg Darmstadt Frankfurt MainzAll suggestions are welcome on this route.  Suggestions also welcome of where on this route to do a side trip to Prague from. I think it was Sebastian who mentioned 5 Euro Flixbus from....??? Liechtenstein looks easiest from Freiburg. Agreed? 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
1 year ago
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
Steve HallKeeps calm and carries on
posted in Routes & destinations

Germany Experts- Can anybody suggest a logical route here?

Thanks. That is excellent. I will indeed be using the 9 euro offer but wanted a local expert on the most time-effective way to whip through this area. As you say there are lines in all directions so if you say it is logic to go ACBDEF rather than ACBDEF I bow to your local knowledge.  Isn't the 9 euros' offer fantastic!?!? 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
1 year ago
A
AndrewsRight on track
posted in Eurail & Interrail Passes

A personal experience of using Interrail Passes

And l have 20 years of living in Spain and l guarantee RENFE are the worst rail operator l have EVER dealt with. This is nothing to do with IR/ER. Every passenger suffers. My method of dealing with RENFE is usually total confrontation /defiance and if that doesn't work l just capitulate. There is rarely room for discussion or negotiation.  Tragic as the actual journeys point to point are normally excellent. It is every other part of their customer face that stinks. Sadly, if you had asked in advance we could have found you much less expensive routes. Longer journeys but great journeys nevertheless. 

5
T
Full steam ahead
1 year ago
B
bmorgan93Rail rookie
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Can I buy individual train fares or do I have to buy the Eurail pass?

I would add that VR's chatbot is absolutely magnificent. Almost real-time with bullet precise answers. 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
1 year ago
K
Full steam ahead
KonradFull steam ahead
asked in Train connections & reservations

Reservation sleeping compartment Stockholm - Boden

I will be doing this route  I am confused - why would you NOT expect to pay the full price for a single compartment? I fully expect to pay the normal (Non IR) rate for sleeping accommodation /food etc. Have l misunderstood something? 

7
A
Railly clever
1 year ago
C
ClaraRail rookie
asked in Train connections & reservations

Travelling from Stavanger to Bergen

Have you considered a ferry? Beautiful views but NOT on Interrail. Possibly saves a precious day 

6
C
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

Interrail is turning 50!50th anniversary

... and this is Italy http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/C9aW9K4KPq

268334
R
Railmaster
1 year ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

Interrail is turning 50!50th anniversary

Yes, l will be taking buses in those areas. Appreciate your thoughts 

268334
R
Railmaster
1 year ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

Interrail is turning 50!50th anniversary

I first boarded a train in 1975 London-Sweden-Finland-Sweden-The Netherlands - London I am off in September 47 years later! https://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/1stDraft/xl7uWMTxSaThe orange route is a Plan B if there are ongoing problems in the Eastern Europe. Hopefully I will not have to push it further west!! It is for a 90 day continuous tour. If necessary, I  will do additional x day in one countries at the end of the tour.  In Italy where I shall spend 2 months+ I intend to visit every Serie A and Serie B football stadium. (Travel and passion are my two passions. Time permitting I will do the top league in Romania also)  Any and all thoughts are welcome.PS Starting in Gothenburg Sweden, finishing “somewhere in Italy.”

268334
R
Railmaster
1 year ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

[expired] You are all invited to test our NEW reservation timetable [beta version] now!New release

Two screenshot above^^ A tricky one Narvik in Norway to Palermo in Italy. Some of the options and information is excellent. Others... Less so. What it does is give you a number of choices which is excellent but if you are not careful you have an unnecessary 7 hour wait overnight at Frederica or an "impossible" dash across Milan between stations.  As someone who has worked on databases for 20 years, l was reasonably impressed and again the Interrail caveat that if they don't get given the complete and up to date timetables, they can only work with the information that they have.  Also fair to say not many would want to do that journey non-stop!  Work through and see what's best for you! 

77044
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

[expired] You are all invited to test our NEW reservation timetable [beta version] now!New release

 

77044
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

[expired] You are all invited to test our NEW reservation timetable [beta version] now!New release

 

77044
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

[expired] You are all invited to test our NEW reservation timetable [beta version] now!New release

Narvik, NO - Helsinki SF 

77044
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

[expired] You are all invited to test our NEW reservation timetable [beta version] now!New release

Thanks for the invitation to comment I checked one route and gave up in despair. Copenhagen, DK- Narvik, NO... It said that there are no more trains today whereas there are at least 5 trains to Stockholm which is the start of the direct trains to Narvik.It did give me one drop of inspiration, a route via Lund in Sweden that l would never have considered. What it does do well is show all the different reservation fees for each segment. Impressive. Now, l will try a couple of longer routes that l know well and are "troublesome" to see how it copes. I will report back. Thanks again 

77044
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
published in News and announcements

Meet Kris: exploring Europe with a wheelchair (1/2)Blog

Please wish her well on her trip. To paraphrase "Wheelers do what losers won't"  #respect 

3514
R
Railmaster
2 years ago
Vanessa Martinez
Vanessa MartinezNew aboard
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Can I upgrade to 1st class with my already purchased 2nd class Pass?

Many thanks for the confirmation 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
Vanessa Martinez
Vanessa MartinezNew aboard
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Can I upgrade to 1st class with my already purchased 2nd class Pass?

Can I ask a supplementary question, please?  If l have a FIRST CLASS global pass, is it possible to take a second class seat and pay only a second class reservation fee? 

5
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
J
JimalNew aboard
posted in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Can you confirm that all 4 Journeys will be covered by a 1 month flexi pass for 4 separate journeys?

If it is all about cost.. Fly to Barcelona direct from Doncaster, E Midlands or wherever. Stay as long as you want. Get a single ticket Barcelona to Alicante. You can probably do the entire trip for £100. Notes:Yes, you miss Paris.Not good for carbon footprint but if your wallet is a concern it may help. Also in Spain you could visit Valencia en route to Alicante. Valencia is my favourite out of all three! (You could even do Barcelona - Zaragoza - Valencia - Alicante... A dream route) 

3
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
L
Lucy24Rail rookie
asked in Train connections & reservations

Tickets from London to Liverpool

There are dozens of options every day. Obviously a direct train is preferable but in the hugely unlikely event that you cannot make a reservation you could change at Birmingham, Crewe or even Manchester.  Safe trip... You'll have no problem

6
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
M
MilliRail rookie
asked in Eurail & Interrail Passes

Trip from Germany to England with global pass

I am looking at this but in reverse. A cheaper option seems to be to Fly to the destination and get a local x days pass.  Not great for carbon footprint etc but better for my wallet.  Maybe a suggestion?  Safe travel 

3
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
Michal2002
Michal2002Rail rookie
asked in Train connections & reservations

Interrail doesn't find connection (Madrid to Ourense)

Also to add that on the Madrid to Barcelona route whilst you cannot use your Interrail pass, the cost of Avlo Ouigo etc MIGHT not be much more than the RENFE RESERVATION fees and you could then save a day on your pass potentially. 

5
M
Full steam ahead
2 years ago
Remora Gommed
Remora GommedNew aboard
asked in Train connections & reservations

How do I book the train from Catania to Rome?

Excellent advice. Thanks 

3
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
N
Railmaster
NanjaRetired Community Manager
posted in News and announcements

Meet the community | Introduce yourself!

HiI am Steve, a Brit who has lived for 20 years in Spain. I am privileged to have travelled extensively throughout the world. As soon as Covid restrictions abate, l am looking to do a 4 month Interrail (3+1). It is something of a bucket list trip and one l am looking forward to enormously. I am a "groundhopper" (l visit football stadiums) and will visit every top division ground in the Netherlands, Romania, Italy and Spain. I will also visit many others along the way. This trip will be the backbone of two books and l will also update comprehensively my own website www.thisisspain.infoI know Spain well and am pretty knowledgeable about European and English football. If l can help in any way, please don't hesitate to shout.Feliz viaje - Safe travels - Trevlig resa. 

144
Moloantoa Tebogo Rachel
1 day ago
David Vosper
David VosperRight on track
posted in Travelling by train

Covid testing at borders

Good additional information. Thanks 

12
Steve Hall
Keeps calm and carries on
2 years ago
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