And yes, Spain has the most high speed lines in Europe. It has some very scenic routes as well. But damn I hate the travel experience there. Bag scans. ID requirements. Compulsory reservation for *regional trains* (like, WHY?) Dreadful websites. Incomprehensible timetables. - ThreadSky

jonworth.eu • 28 days ago

And yes, Spain has the most high speed lines in Europe. It has some very scenic routes as well.

But damn I hate the travel experience there.

Bag scans. ID requirements. Compulsory reservation for *regional trains* (like, WHY?) Dreadful websites. Incomprehensible timetables.

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jonworth.eu•28 days ago

And this is why - despite it all - I cannot dislike Deutsche Bahn

Yes, reliability and implementation might be lousy sometimes, but *at least the theory is right*

Timetables are thoughtful, online planning and booking solid, and no unnecessary crap

jmolofsson.bsky.social•28 days ago

Germany, on average, is quite behind in www/Internet ambitions.

But Deutsche Bahn is a wonderful exception.

(That the trains are often delayed, just like in certain other countries, is another matter. Entirely!)

stefanpaetow.bsky.social•28 days ago

Deutsche and SBB are pretty good in the customer experience... SNCF Voyages can be, but isn't always. ÖBB is also pretty good. Never done Spanish rail, soo... can't comment. Trenitalia/Italo are not too shabby either.

jonworth.eu•28 days ago

Yep. Agree with all of that.

ox1digital.co.uk•28 days ago

DB is always our website of choice when booking international train travel (whenever we can use it)

webguy.bsky.social•28 days ago

Their trains also dont have weird Jan 1st bugs!

iharsten.bsky.social•28 days ago

Indeed.

From that previous mentioned Cadiz/Seville experience, I came home via Münich.

22nd November: 5 direct trains to Hamburg Hbf during 3 morning hours, and I guess they all ran on time.

Certainly mine did.

klaashofstra.bsky.social•28 days ago

… mumbles something about core business

scandinoir.bsky.social•28 days ago

It's just a great example of two things we Spaniards excel at: building roads and high speed railways fast and cheap, and soul-destroying bureaucracy

vanbesien.social•27 days ago

I wonder one thing: Can a private operator tell ADIF that they want to pass on all the silly theatre? A bit like how Trenitalia in France asked to just leave the gates open?

jonworth.eu•27 days ago

In some stations perhaps. In larger ones like Atocha probably not.

vanbesien.social•27 days ago

And idiotic ticketing. For example, one can buy a ticket Figueres - Valencia, but not a ticket Lyon Valencia, even when both trips involve exactly the same trains.

alherix.bsky.social•28 days ago

Do the destinations make up for it?

jonworth.eu•28 days ago

The big cities, yes, largely. Getting to places off the beaten track, no - because you de facto cannot get to those (and that annoys me).

alherix.bsky.social•28 days ago

Is it like in U.K. where they closed smaller lines? Of they never built those connections?

Enjoy your trip

jonworth.eu•28 days ago

Bit of both - the network was always thinner than it was in some other countries. But now the high speed network built in the past two decades has led to a further thinning of regional lines. Not clever IMHO.

(and all this is a project about... railways! It's not tourism, sadly!)

alherix.bsky.social•28 days ago

How are bus services?

jonworth.eu•28 days ago

I hear they are good, but given my projects are about railways that has never been my concern really!

alherix.bsky.social•28 days ago

I realise they would not be electric

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