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Agh

Greenpeace has a new report about missing *direct* connections between European capital cities

PDF:
greenpeace.de/publikationen/Gr…

This is somehow right and wrong simultaneously. Sure, some routes we need are missing. *But* for example I’d prefer a Frankfurt-Paris every hour than a Paris-Berlin once a day…

Martin Vermeer FCD reshared this.

in reply to Jon Worth

Tor Lillqvist
Tor Lillqvist
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Perpetuating the misconception that a direct connection is necessary for train travel to be usable is such an own goal. Will just result in people feeling that they are entitled to continue flying then, when even Greenpeace implies using trains won’t work.
in reply to Jon Worth

Jon Worth
Jon Worth
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It’s sort of like this

1️⃣ Where do I want to go?
2️⃣ Is the trip time reasonable?
3️⃣ Is there an option when I want to go?
4️⃣ Is there a direct train I can take?

I’m aware that *for some types of travellers* direct connections matter more than others. But it’s just one of many important factors.

in reply to Jon Worth

Jon Worth
Jon Worth
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An example

The trip I took yesterday - Lausanne to Dijon. There are 3 direct trains a day, but if they don’t go when you want then you’re stuck - alternatives are a huge detour with 2 changes and double the trip time

Contrast that with Basel SBB - Stuttgart. There are NO direct trains, but there’s an option every hour, all day, with 1 change in Karlsruhe or Mannheim. That’s *better* in my view

in reply to Jon Worth

Adam Jacobs 🇺🇦
Adam Jacobs 🇺🇦
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Yes, agreed. Very often you want to travel at a time that fits in with your plans. A route with 1 or 2 trains a day is unlikely to be convenient. And changing trains is a heck of a lot easier than changing planes.
in reply to Jon Worth

Martha
Martha
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Also, why am I taking this trip? THat impacts on how much time I have for the journey, also the amount of luggage I have to wrangle
in reply to Jon Worth

Mark Burton
Mark Burton
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Beautiful route though. Likewise the one from Milano to Lausanne.
in reply to Jon Worth

Speculation Fictive
Speculation Fictive
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This is basis of Jarrett Walker's "frequency is freedom", right?
in reply to Jon Worth

Michael Ummels (Trassenfinder)
Michael Ummels (Trassenfinder)
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Actually, there is one direct train per day: leaving Basel at 5.50 and returning at 21.56. 😉
in reply to Jon Worth

Andy Allan
Andy Allan
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I'd stick cost in there at position 3.5, and then alternative service frequency (in case of disruption) at 3.8.
in reply to Jon Worth

Oskar
Oskar
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”new” train travelers want direct connections. My guess is that they think it’s like flying where the total trip takes twice as long and your luggage is lost if there is a change. The default times for changes also scare people who think up that 15 minutes is impossible. There also a fear of missing a connection. It’s possible that search sites for flights have made people think that the presented alternatives are the only ones you can take
in reply to Oskar

Jon Worth
Jon Worth
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@oskard Still don’t care. If it goes at the wrong time people still won’t take it.
@Oskar
in reply to Jon Worth

KarlE
KarlE
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inj the end, you never want to go exactly from central station to central station, so you have a chain of transports anyway. Of course, for night-time trains, being able to sleep/rest instead of changing at 3am and sitting on a windy platform for an hour is a big plus. Otherwise, it's a matter of good connections and reliability. Same-platform transfers are ideal.
in reply to Jon Worth

prosiac
prosiac
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I think the Paris-Berlin train is only a political, a symbolic project that has only little vision about to incite more people to use trains betweeen Paris-Berlin. German and French govts doest care about the modal share of train so people can still fly or drive. (Like how DB CEO came to Paris with his official car.)
This entry was edited (4 months ago)
in reply to Jon Worth

gregor herrmann
gregor herrmann
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also (directed at greenpeace, not you) this permanent focus on capitals misses out on many people, and also on important railway connection points.
Unknown parent

Jon Worth
Jon Worth
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@bluGill You are aware I know a thing or two about this, right? And that such a generalisation is not very handy?
@bluGill
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