Yearly Archives: 2016

Underground platforms at Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof

My first experience of the railways of Europe was at Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, which happens to the busiest railway station in Germany – and the scale of the station was amazing, with a total of 32 platforms across three levels.

Main hall at Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof Continue reading

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Electric trains, trams and trolleybuses on movable bridges

The Russian city of Saint Petersburg is a located across a collection of islands, divided by the Neva River, and reconnected by a series of lift bridges that allow boats to head upriver. So how do electric trains, trams and trolleybuses make their way across?

Disused tram tracks across Trinity Bridge (Тро́ицкий мост) over the River Neva Continue reading

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Moscow trams in the Garden Ring

Moscow is a city with a sizable tram network, but if you only wander around the inner city, you’d never know it. So why are tram routes so sparse in the inner city?

Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower on Red Square Continue reading

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Taking a ride on the Moscow Monorail

When I visited Moscow I was on the hunt for different modes of public transport, and the Московская Монорельсовая Транспортная Система (Moscow Metro) was one of them. So what did I think? In a word – underwhelming.

Westbound train approaches Выставочный центр (Vystavochny Tsentr) station Continue reading

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Paris Metro and the ‘bis’ lines

On my trip to Europe I didn’t ride on the Paris Metro, but none the less there was one aspect of it that intrigued me – the ‘3bis’ and ‘7bis’ lines.

Photo via Clicsouris on Wikimedia Commons Continue reading

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Inspection crews on the Russian Railways

On my way across Russia by train I spent hours staring out the window at the passing scenery, and in that time I found plenty of railway staff looking just as intently at the tracks.

Walking the tracks with a measuring gauge Continue reading

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All aboard for ‘Railway Lottery’

When travelling by train across Russia, a common sight was advertising posters for «Лотерея железных дорог». So what was it advertising?

Flyer for the Russian Railway's «Лотерея железных дорог» ('rail lotto') competition Continue reading

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Travelling first class on the Russian Railways

On our visit to Russia we spent most of the time travelling in second class, but for Christmas Eve we decided to spend the extra money and book out a Spalny Vagon (1st class) compartment for just us.

Boarding the train, our first class compartment ready for our night crossing Russia Continue reading

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Track workers of the Russian Railways

As I travelled by train across Russia, one of the things that stood out was how often I’d find workers lineside, busy repairing the tracks.

Stereotypical workers: leaning on their shovels, as they wait for our train to pass Continue reading

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Steam power and trains in modern Russia

Russia has a history of railway electrification dating back to the 1930s, leading to the retirement of their last steam locomotives by the 1970s. However the distinctive smell of burning coal has not disappeared from the Russian Railways – just take a walk down the platform at any railway station.

ЧС2Т class electric locomotive ЧС2Т 954 ready to lead our train out of Saint Petersburg Continue reading

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