Today’s live text updates
Last call for tomorrow’s #CrossChannelRail event in Paris - 1800-1930 - a few places left! https://calendar.boell.de/fr/event/tunnel-sous-la-manche-quelles-perspectives-pour-les-trains-grande-vitesse-europeens fyi @vincevlo @tristramg @corentin
Here’s today’s #CrossChannelRail summary, covering what it’s like taking a bike on Le Shuttle and Calais Fréthun https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/bshb812yVNGe4P37gM8GMv
Quick stop at former #CrossChannelRail station Calais Fréthun. Tiny terminal, odd station. Surely the least likely to return? Then into Calais Ville and now my last train of the day, a fast TER to Boulogne
Ah. High tech. An employee comes knocking on car windows to tell us it’ll be 30 mins more before we go. #CrossChannelRail
Good job I’m not pressed for time - everything is delayed but there’s sod all reliable information. The van has been put on the Shuttle train, but we’ve got no idea when we’ll move. #CrossChannelRail
Builder plate in Le Shuttle. And yes, these trains are showing their age! #CrossChannelRail
Channel Tunnel
Le Shuttle reliability is poor just now the driver tells me. In recent years she’s twice had roof panels from the inside ceilings of the trains fall off, and numerous ramp and door failures were exiting the trains. The trains are 30 years old. #CrossChannelRail
The Le Shuttle bike service is an Iveco van. It has capacity for 7 bikes/passengers. Currently we’re an hour delayed though due to tunnel technical problems. #CrossChannelRail
Here’s today’s #CrossChannelRail intro. Not feeling great this morning but thankfully today isn’t too hard. https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/ty9PENXePqssJWQdjis48x
Welcome to today's thread - #CrossChannelRail Day 17 - 2 April - Ashford - Channel Tunnel – Calais - Boulogne
On the agenda today:
Stations
Calais Fréthun
Today's routes on the routes map: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crosschannelrail-2025_1148540#10/50.9303/1.3616
Here’s today’s #CrossChannelRail summary https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/pvzEJsH16niN8dMhRiNRLj Lots learned today, so a detailed and long summary.
This is wildly exaggerating
Sure, clearing up the Temple Mills issue is useful
But the biggest hurdle of all remains: FINANCE
Who’s going to buy these new trains?
Oh and the piece mentions Lyon and Marseille. Both next to impossible #CrossChannelRail
Ashford is amazing as a terminal. So much nicer than a bunch of other terminals! #CrossChannelRail
Now on South East Javelin number three towards Ashford. No idea about the data as I’ve changed these plans too many times! #CrossChannelRail
Now at Stratford International #CrossChannelRail
It’s not going to be super easy to use this station
This was this morning’s #CrossChannelRail intro, posted rather late! https://peertube.netzbegruenung.de/w/shwLRAndJ7gvrujHjSuZTG
Text updates are auto-generated from Mastodon – follow me on Mastodon @jon@gruene.social
Some updates will also be occasionally be posted on Bluesky – follow me @jonworth.eu
Today’s introduction and summary videos
All the #CrossBorderRail daily videos are on my Peertube channel
Today’s photos
Today’s background
A day of transition from north east Europe to central Europe! The daily InterCity train to Warszawa arrives too late to connect with the night train from there to Budapest, so it’s instead a coach for the cross border section, and then after a few hours in Warszawa onto the night train across 4 countries to Budapest.
Borders examined on this day:
Zebrzydowice 🇵🇱 – Bohumín 🇨🇿
Distance covered:
1407.9km
Transport modes:
🚆 1
🚌 1
Today’s route
The full zoomable and scrollable map, including today’s route, is on uMap here.
