EuroTrains News/Info/Scheduling

• Fryderyk HPH

  15 Feb 10, 22:50

   

   

   

  There has been a head-on collision between two trains in Belgium. Details still coming in.

   

  Preliminary reports indicate a very wild and hard collision, two compartments were flung up in the air and also the overhead power lines were "snapped".

   

  Many fatalities, and more wounded. As the collision occured in the municipality of Halle, just 14km out of Brussels-South Station, train services to most parts of France, and the United Kingdom have been suspended. It happened along a stretch on one of the main access lines to Brussels-Sud.

   

  Thalys has confirmed that 4 of its trains have been diverted to alternative stations and all other services have been halted.

   

  Reports have also suggested a third train may have been involved. The trains collided in snowy conditions during the morning rush hour. One of the trains involved was travelling from Quiévrain to Liège, whilst the other was travelling from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte. The collision saw the first two carriages of one train being forced upwards into the air over the first carriage of the second train.

   

  Initial reports suggest that the Leuven–Braine-le-Comte train was on the wrong line, for unknown reasons.

• Fryderyk HPH

  16 Feb 10, 00:38

   

   

  Latest info from online friend based in Netherlands.

   

  "

  2 passenger trains, according to the pictures they're intercity trains, 18 deads and 55 wounded.

  "

• Fryderyk HPH

  16 Feb 10, 00:59

  
  

  
  

  Head-on train crash in Belgium kills at least 18

  By SLOBODAN LEKIC
  Associated Press Writer

   

  BRUSSELS (AP) -- A commuter train ran a stop light during morning rush hour and collided head-on with another train in a Brussels suburb Monday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 55 in Belgium's deadliest train wreck in decades, officials said.

  The impact peeled away the front of one train car and threw at least one other off the tracks, causing amputations and other severe injuries, witnesses and officials said. Train service across Western Europe was disrupted.

  The Flanders provincial crisis center said in a statement carried by the Belgian media that at least 18 people were killed. Thirty survivors remained hospitalized, several of them in a "very serious" condition, the statement said.

  Lodewijk De Witte, the governor of the province of Flemish Brabant, told reporters that one train "apparently did not heed a stop light."

  The trains collided in light snow just outside of the station at Buizingen around 8:30 a.m. (0730GMT).

  The force of the collision smashed one train deep into the front of the other, tearing back the metal sides. The trains tipped high into the air and broke overhead power lines.

  One of the front cars appeared to have careened across the tracks, demolishing a small maintenance shed next to the rail line. A high concrete wall around the train yard seemed to have kept debris from hitting nearby houses.

  It appeared to be the country's worst train wreck since 1954, when a crash near Leuven killed 20 German soccer fans and seriously injured 40 others. In March 28, 2001, eight people died when a crowded train plowed into an empty train driving on the wrong tracks.

  Belgian National Railways spokesman Jochen Goovaerts said his agency was awaiting the outcome of the investigation before discussing the cause of Monday's accident.

  "It was a nightmare," Christian Wampach, 47, told The Associated Press after medical workers bandaged his head at a sports complex where the less seriously injured were treated. Those hurt more badly were taken to several hospitals in and near Brussels. The Red Cross appealed for blood donations.

  "We were thrown about for about 15 seconds. There were a number of people injured in my car but I think all the dead were in the first car," said Wampach, who was in the third car of a Brussels-bound train.

  Photos from the scene showed rescuers pulling the wounded from a car that appeared to have tipped onto its side. Other emergency officials rushed victims on stretchers along the tracks.

  "When we came out we saw dead bodies lying next to the tracks, some mutilated," said Patricia Lallemand, 40, who was in the same car as Wampach, and was unhurt.

  Wira Leire, 20, said he was woken by a loud crashing sound and leapt to his bedroom window to see two cars jackknifed directly in front of his home.

  "There were people lying on the ground next to the train, so I grabbed some blankets and ran into the back garden," he said. "But I but couldn't climb over the concrete wall, so I just threw the blankets to the rescuers who were already gathering."

  Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme canceled a trip to Kosovo, turning around his plane minutes after landing at Pristina's main airport, the Kosovo prime minister's office said.

  Eurostar reported on its Web site that its high-speed trains had suspended service in and out of Brussels and could remain shut down all day.

  The international high-speed network Thalys, which links major cities in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands, temporarily halted all traffic because its trains use the same rails as commuter lines near Hal, said Patricia Baars, a company spokeswoman.

  At least four Thalys trains were stopped en route, and the railway operator deployed staffers to stations where they were rerouted to provide assistance to travelers on board, she said.

  "No (Thalys) train is moving for the moment ... it's very hard to know today when services will resume," she said. "It appears this was a very severe accident."

  Thalys has at least 25 round-trip trains operating between Paris and Brussels each day, plus seven linking Brussels and Amsterdam and six from Belgium to Cologne, Germany.

  ----

  Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Paris, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen and Nebi Qena in Pristina, Kosovo contributed to this report.

  © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

   

   

   

   

• Fryderyk HPH

  16 Feb 10, 01:08

  Photos coming in...
  Pretty gruesome...

   

  Still getting conflicting details about the number of fatalities...

   

  
  
  
  

   

• ama-teur

  16 Feb 10, 10:38

  oh my word....i feel sorry for all the victims of the train crash...RIP

• Fryderyk HPH

  16 Feb 10, 10:40

  My condolences to the deceased.
  Pity my next trip to Europe does not go through the BeNeLux countries, otherwise I would prolly go to that town near the crash and lay a wreath should there be a comemorative plaque at the site.

• Fryderyk HPH

  16 Feb 10, 13:38

   

   

   

  -------------------------------

  

  EU officials express 'shock' over Belgian train crash

  EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – EU officials on Monday (15 February) expressed their shock and offered condolences to the families affected by a train crash near Brussels, which killed at least 18 and severely injured dozens of passengers.

  "It is with profound shock that I've learned of the terrible train crash in Halle this morning. My thoughts and those of the European Commission are with the families of those affected by this tragedy," EU commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a statement, while also offering EU assistance to the Belgian local and federal authorities.

  His remarks were echoed by the head of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, who also expressed his "sincere sympathies and condolences" to the families of the victims.

  Former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, now the permanent president of the EU council, said he received the news with "great shock and sorrow."

  All three institutions are headquartered in the Belgian capital, some 15 kilometres north of the site of the crash.

  Belgian authorities said at least 18 died and 55 were injured when two commuter trains collided in Buizingen, a suburb of the Flemish town Halle. Some 250-300 passengers are estimated to have been onboard the two trains. A third train heading to Brussels was also caught in the wreckage, as it was unable to stop in time to avoid the crash.

  Several carriages were flipped over and electric cables hit the ground, making it even more difficult for emergency staff to reach the injured passengers. Some had to have limbs amputated on the spot.

  "All the emergency services are there. The most seriously injured are being treated at the scene before being taken to hospital," Halle mayor Dirk Pieters told VRT television.

  The crash occurred at 8.45am local time on Monday morning, when one of the trains apparently ignored the red light and collided frontally with the other.

  An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched.

  "There were two tracks crossing and one of the trains apparently did not quite follow the instructions … and probably ran a red light," Lodewijk De Witte, governor of the Brabant Flamand province, said at a news conference after the accident.

  Many of the victims were found in a first-class carriage. Survivors spoke of "carnage" and mass panic following the collision.

  The Red Cross appealed to donors of blood groups 0 and A to help out, as there is specific need for these two types of blood.

  It is the worst train crash Belgium has witnessed in 50 years.

  Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme urgently returned from Kosovo, where he had just began an official visit. He expressed his deepest sympathies with the victims of the accident. "No matter what the cause of the accident we are left feeling defeated, first Liege and now this," he said. A gas explosion in the town of Liege destroyed an apartment building at the end of January, killing 14 people.

  Meanwhile, Eurostar and Thalys, whose high-speed trains link Brussels to London and Paris, respectively, have announced that traffic has been suspended. It is unclear if passengers will be able to travel on Tuesday, but they can get their tickets reimbursed, the two companies announced.

• ama-teur

  20 Feb 10, 16:20

  sigh...very what leh....

• Interception_7

  20 Feb 10, 16:21

  Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:

  Photos coming in...
  Pretty gruesome...

   

  Still getting conflicting details about the number of fatalities...

   

  
  
  
  

   

  
  Nice pics.

  Anyway, deepest condolences to the families who have lost their siblings, cousins, children or whoever.

• Fryderyk HPH

  21 Feb 10, 00:19

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Slovakia: First CityElefant for ZSSK named “Janosik”

  The first CityElefant unit for Slovakian Railways ZSSK (671-971), produced by the company Škoda Transportation, was named “Janosik”. The Czech manufacturer won the tender for supply of 10 CityElefant trains in 2009.

• Fryderyk HPH

  21 Feb 10, 00:51

  
  

  

  Super ticket PKP Intercity

   

  PKP Intercity is good news for those using the train category EIC - Monday, 15 February, launched the sale of tickets at promotional prices. EIC now travel by train or ex may cost only 50 zł.

   

  In EkspresIC trains, despite the aura of the winter, spring is already evident. Since mid-February launched a new promotional offer - Super Ticket. In each category, the EIC of the train can take advantage of the pool of cheap tickets - always paying only 50 zł, a passenger's ticket for distance does not matter.

  
  In accordance with the principle of "first come, first served" basis, the pool of participants is limited and ticket sales from the offer ends at 3 days prior to travel. Offer also available on board Tea category (Ex).

  
  

  Trains EkspresIC a novelty on the Polish track. Formed in December 2009 with the merger of two already existing brands - InterCity and express trains. Gradually, as the exchange, buying and upgrading of rolling stock, the category will be included in the InterCity Express stores another Express, creating one distinct category of premium-class trains. The trains are honored brands EIC all statutory relief - could benefit from students, pensioners, not having that facility earlier in the InterCity trains.
  

  EIC trains connect major cities in Poland with its capital. Their warehouses are air-conditioned wagons class 1 and 2, both jednoprzestrzenne and compartments (up to 6 seats in the interval), as well as wagons restaurant or bar. The trains run selected cars adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and for bicycles.

   

  On board the free meal is served, the choice of coffee, tea or drink. Customers opting for travel in Class 1 can order a meal in the restaurant service, which will be given "to the compartment.

   

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  -------------------

  Sorry article was translated from Polish. Errors are evident. My apologies.

  -------------------

   

  Original article...

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

  Super bilet PKP Intercity

  PKP Intercity ma dobrÄ… wiadomość dla korzystajÄ…cych z pociÄ…gów kategorii EIC – od poniedziaÅ‚ku, 15 lutego, rusza sprzedaż biletów w promocyjnych cenach. Teraz podróż pociÄ…giem EIC lub Ex może kosztować tylko 50 zÅ‚.

  W pociÄ…gach EkspresIC, pomimo zimowej aury,  widać już wiosnÄ™. Od poÅ‚owy lutego rusza nowa oferta promocyjna – Super Bilet. W każdym pociÄ…gu kategorii EIC można skorzystać z puli tanich biletów – pÅ‚acÄ…c zawsze, jedynie 50 zÅ‚,  pasażer otrzymuje bilet wraz z miejscówkÄ… na przejazd w klasie 2. DÅ‚ugość trasy nie ma znaczenia. 
  
  Zgodnie z zasadÄ… „kto pierwszy, ten lepszy”, pula miejsc jest ograniczona a sprzedaż biletów z oferty koÅ„czy siÄ™ na 3 dni przed podróżą. Oferta dostÄ™pna również w pociÄ…gach kategorii Ekspres (Ex).

  
  

  PociÄ…gi EkspresIC to nowość na polskich torach. PowstaÅ‚y w grudniu 2009 roku z poÅ‚Ä…czenia dwóch dotychczas istniejÄ…cych marek – InterCity i Ekspresów. Stopniowo, w miarÄ™ wymiany, zakupów i modernizacji taboru, do kategorii Express InterCity wÅ‚Ä…czane bÄ™dÄ… kolejne skÅ‚ady ekspresowe, tworzÄ…c jednÄ…, wyrazistÄ… kategoriÄ™ pociÄ…gów klasy premium. W pociÄ…gach marki EIC honorowane sÄ… wszystkie ulgi ustawowe – mogÄ… z nich skorzystać studenci, emeryci i renciÅ›ci, nie posiadajÄ…cy wczeÅ›niej tego udogodnienia w pociÄ…gach InterCity.
  

  PociÄ…gi EIC Å‚Ä…czÄ… najwiÄ™ksze miasta w Polsce ze stolicÄ…. W ich skÅ‚adach znajdujÄ… siÄ™ klimatyzowane wagony klasy 1 i 2, zarówno  jednoprzestrzenne, jak i przedziaÅ‚owe (maksymalnie 6 miejsc w przedziale), a także wagony restauracyjne lub barowe. W wybranych pociÄ…gach kursujÄ… wagony przystosowane do potrzeb osób niepeÅ‚nosprawnych oraz przewozu rowerów.
  
  Na pokÅ‚adzie serwowany jest bezpÅ‚atny poczÄ™stunek; do wyboru kawa, herbata lub napój. Osoby wybierajÄ…ce podróż w klasie 1 mogÄ… zamówić u obsÅ‚ugi gastronomicznej posiÅ‚ek, który zostanie podany „do przedziaÅ‚u”.

   

   

• Fryderyk HPH

  27 Feb 10, 22:03

   

   

  

   

   

  ÖBB Intercitybus

   

  

  Direct - Fast - Comfortable

  • Graz - Klagenfurt
  • Klagenfurt - Villach - Udine - Venezia

  Graz - Klagenfurt - Graz
  You want to reach Klagenfurt from Graz or Graz from Klagenfurt in two hours? Then get on a ÖBB bus linking the two cities just like a railway connection - 14x daily, every two hours and with a journey time of only 2 hours. The new Intercitybus for this route offers you the same top service and quality you find in all our trains.

  Klagenfurt - Villach - Udine - Venezia
  The new Intercitybus route offers take you now to Italy and back! 2x daily a comfortable bus connects the cities Klagenfurt and Villach with Udine and Venezia. SparSchiene tickets to Udine are available from 7,- Euro and to the Canal Grande from 14,- Euro. Venezia is always worth a travel - book now so you can ride on a bus and feel, as if you were on a train: a new service of ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG.

  Comfortable

  • Air-conditioned double-decker buses
  • Low floor access
  • Barrier-free
  • Toilet in Intercitybus
  • 1st and 2nd class available

  Special comfort in first class

  • Leather seats
  • Power plug and worktop
  • Free-of-charge beverages
  • Free-of-charge daily newspapers
• ama-teur

  27 Feb 10, 22:19

  ok this is like wow.

  not enuf business on the rail,turn to buses?

  sounds like SMRT.muhahah....xD

• Fryderyk HPH

  1 Mar 10, 18:59

  I realised...

   

  Despite what the Czech National Railway Company says about its trains being "high-speed", they are no where near that...

   

   

  ÄŒeské Dráhy, the national railroad operator, says that its trains from Praha(Prague) to ÄŒeský BudÄ›jovice are those tilting Pendolinos which run at 200kmph, but why does it take up 4 to 5 damn hours for a 230km routing?

   

  No sense rite? Travelling by car on a direct routing will take at most 2hours and 45min... And the bus should take around 3hours.

   

  And the trains are more a$$pen$ive...
  Screw them seriously...

• ama-teur

  14 Mar 10, 17:24

  The night trains in Eastern Europe interest me...

   

  Maybe it is because we never hear about them before!

  Fry you are going to take the night train sleeper from Budapest to Warsaw rite?

   

  Do make a trip report hor!

• Fryderyk HPH

  14 Mar 10, 17:29

  Ooops! I am so sorry!

   

  The Pendolinos do not run between Praha(Prague) to ÄŒeský BudÄ›jovice sorry!

   

  They run between Prague and Brno, and proceeding to Bratislava/Wien Neustadt via Wien.

   

  Also run between Prague <-> Olomouc <-> Ostrava.

   

   

  Normal trains run between Praha(Prague) to ÄŒeský BudÄ›jovice. InterCity trains carry on once a day to Linz Hbf in Austria.

• Fryderyk HPH

  14 Mar 10, 17:34

  Originally posted by ama-teur:

  The night trains in Eastern Europe interest me...

   

  Maybe it is because we never hear about them before!

  Fry you are going to take the night train sleeper from Budapest to Warsaw rite?

   

  Do make a trip report hor!

  Ok will do so lah.

   

  Currently what I booked was, a 1st class sleeper(single suite, one bed) for me alone on the carriage from Budapest Keleti-pu to Warszawa Centralna. The train actually goes from Budapest Keleti-pu to Praha hl.n, but the carriage I am supposed to be in, will go with that train to Ostrava, where the carriages will be decoupled, and recoupled onto another train from Wien that goes to Warszawa Centralna.

   

  Those I'm not sure which rail company is administering the compartment that I am in. This is because the routing goes from Hungary(Budapest), through Slovakia(Bratislava and others), then into part of Austrian territory, then into Czech Republic where the carriages are decoupled and recoupled to other trains, and then Poland. So all in all my carriage goes through five countries in total. Suspect either is the Hungarians or the Poles operating as it is the terminus stops.

   

  Still quite confusing for me... But luckily for me I managed to get my suite(single sleeper), otherwise it would be the couchettes where I would have to share accommodation with other travellers and that poses a higher security risk!

• ama-teur

  14 Mar 10, 17:36

  For me, I suspect is the Hungarians operating leh... After all it starts from Budapest... Who knows, perhaps the crew is jointly operated by the Hungarians and the Poles, you never know till you travel ah!

   

  And good thing that you have a single room. Have heard about other travellers going in couchette, and waking up in the morning finding out that they have been mugged during the night!

• Fryderyk HPH

  14 Mar 10, 17:48

  Just realised too, that my 1st class Eurail Europe East Pass, allows me free access to enter the ÖBB lounges in Wien Sudbahnhof, Wien Westbahnhof, Graz Hauptbahnhof, Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Salzburg Hauptbahnhof!

   

  Eh wait a moment, isn't Wien Sudbahnhof closed now for renovation works?! Thought only Wien Sudbahnhof Ostbahn is working...

   

  Think for me, as my itinerary goes along, would only use the ÖBB lounges in Wien Westbahnhof, Graz Hauptbahnhof, Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Salzburg Hauptbahnhof! Woots! Wonder whether drinks and food is provided? Or is it just lounge chairs zomg~...

• ama-teur

  14 Mar 10, 17:50

  You ass! 

   

  Lucky bas3rd! 

   

   

   

  Wien Sudbahnhof is closed according to the ÖBB website, so dun really know about the status of the ÖBB lounge there.

   

  Think only coffee and tea is offered bah. Why not you go check the ÖBB website? Might mention more.

   

  Your pass has no other special privileges?

• Fryderyk HPH

  14 Mar 10, 17:55

  Ya, will check the ÖBB website later, now no time.

   

  Anyways I realised most of the pass benefits are offered by the Austrian rail operator ÖBB. The other participating countries heckcare!

   

  I quote this hor...

   

   

  "
  The European East Pass is valid on the national railroads of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and also valid on the routes of the following private Austrian Railway Companies: Raab-Oedenburg Ebenfurter Eisenbahn: Ebenfurt - Sopron. Special Passholder fare is available on Berlin-Warsawa Express night train. For an overnight trip on a direct overnight train leaving after 7p.m the next day's date must be entered and must fall within the validity of the pass. The pass entitles the holder to discounts(to be arranged locally) on Danube river trips with "DDSG Blue Danube" and "Wurm and Kock" companies. First-class pass holders have free access to ÖBB lounges in Wien Sued, Wien West, Graz Hbf, Klagenfurt Hbf, Innsbruck Hbf and Salzburg Hbf stations.
  "

   

  You see, most of the benefits are in Austria! The Czechs, Hungarians, Slovaks, and even the Poles do NOTHING! LOL~!

   

  Am currently comtemplating whether or not to take the Danube cruise... Apparently it is very relaxing and calming~!

• ama-teur

  14 Mar 10, 18:36

  Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:

  Ya, will check the ÖBB website later, now no time.

   

  Anyways I realised most of the pass benefits are offered by the Austrian rail operator ÖBB. The other participating countries heckcare!

   

  I quote this hor...

   

   

  "
  The European East Pass is valid on the national railroads of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and also valid on the routes of the following private Austrian Railway Companies: Raab-Oedenburg Ebenfurter Eisenbahn: Ebenfurt - Sopron. Special Passholder fare is available on Berlin-Warsawa Express night train. For an overnight trip on a direct overnight train leaving after 7p.m the next day's date must be entered and must fall within the validity of the pass. The pass entitles the holder to discounts(to be arranged locally) on Danube river trips with "DDSG Blue Danube" and "Wurm and Kock" companies. First-class pass holders have free access to ÖBB lounges in Wien Sued, Wien West, Graz Hbf, Klagenfurt Hbf, Innsbruck Hbf and Salzburg Hbf stations.
  "

   

  You see, most of the benefits are in Austria! The Czechs, Hungarians, Slovaks, and even the Poles do NOTHING! LOL~!

   

  Am currently comtemplating whether or not to take the Danube cruise... Apparently it is very relaxing and calming~!

  Whoa that sux man seriously!

   

  No pass benefits in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland! Goodness. And I do suggest that you try the Danube cruise! Then you can put in your trip report that you took a plane, took the train and took the cruise!

• 9V-XXX

  14 Mar 10, 18:47

  End this thread.

   

  Stop asking people to reply..if there is no one interested..==

• Fryderyk HPH

  15 Mar 10, 22:42

  This thread will carry on whether or not you reply to it.

   

  I can't believe no one is interested in Eurorail in SGF~!

• ama-teur

  15 Mar 10, 23:40

  Fry, why is it so that for the Praha to Ceske Budejovice leg, no high speed trains are put into service whilst there is apparently a daily InterCity train IC101 running thru and continuing to Linz Hbf?

   

  Usually when there is IC trains, domestic high speed trains will come into effect right?