If We Would Just BUILD the Damn Thing, People Would Come!
Having been to Europe three times in the past several years, I’ve had the chance to travel by rail in a number of countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. Every one of...
View Article“Amtrak Connection” Doesn’t Translate Into French.
My stay in Azay-le-Rideau is over and I must say it was more relaxed than I had anticipated, mostly because we had several days of rain. I did make three separate visits to the lovely chateau, however....
View ArticlePlanning A Trip Is Half the Fun.
For me, planning a trip is almost as much fun as the actual travel itself. I enjoy putting together itineraries, coming up with interesting routings for the train portions, looking over hotel options,...
View ArticleWhat Do They Know That We Don’t?
It’s hard to believe, but the first shinkansen, Japan’s famous bullet train, went into service between Tokyo and Osaka more than 50 years ago. Before then, conventional trains made the run in six hours...
View ArticleFast Trains? Americans Don’t Get It.
Talk to people about high-speed rail and you quickly discover that most Americans have a very fuzzy picture of how it works and what it can do. Many people visualize trains rocketing along at 200...
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How It Could Be/Should Be.
UPDATE: My computer problems seem to be dissipating all by themselves, so I am cautiously optimistic that I’ll be able to continue with these posts. At any rate, we shall see. Your patience is...
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French Trains Don’t Bat 1.000.
I’ve gotten a pretty good look at the vaunted French rail system over the past week, taking a total of five trains getting from Paris to Chalon-sur-Saône and, yesterday, from Chalon-sur-Saône to...
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Locking Horns With a French Waiter.
My last night in Montsoreau was a delight. I invited Françoise to dinner at a restaurant just down the street from the three guestroom B&B she owns and runs. She is an intelligent, charming and...
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High-Speed Rail Opponents’ Argument Is a Bust.
Those of us advocating high-speed rail for this country often begin our arguments by pointing out that high-speed rail has become the preferred transportation choice for many millions of people around...
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Passenger Rail? The French Have It Figured Out.
Compared to many of my previous journeys, there has been very little in the way of train travel so far. But I have been reminded once again how extensive and how convenient the French SNCF system...
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If We Would Just BUILD the Damn Thing, People Would Come!
Having been to Europe three times in the past several years, I’ve had the chance to travel by rail in a number of countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. Every one of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Amtrak Connection” Doesn’t Translate Into French.
My stay in Azay-le-Rideau is over and I must say it was more relaxed than I had anticipated, mostly because we had several days of rain. I did make three separate visits to the lovely chateau, however....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Planning A Trip Is Half the Fun.
For me, planning a trip is almost as much fun as the actual travel itself. I enjoy putting together itineraries, coming up with interesting routings for the train portions, looking over hotel options,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Do They Know That We Don’t?
It’s hard to believe, but the first shinkansen, Japan’s famous bullet train, went into service between Tokyo and Osaka more than 50 years ago. Before then, conventional trains made the run in six hours...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fast Trains? Americans Don’t Get It.
Talk to people about high-speed rail and you quickly discover that most Americans have a very fuzzy picture of how it works and what it can do. Many people visualize trains rocketing along at 200...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How It Could Be/Should Be.
UPDATE: My computer problems seem to be dissipating all by themselves, so I am cautiously optimistic that I’ll be able to continue with these posts. At any rate, we shall see. Your patience is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
French Trains Don’t Bat 1.000.
I’ve gotten a pretty good look at the vaunted French rail system over the past week, taking a total of five trains getting from Paris to Chalon-sur-Saône and, yesterday, from Chalon-sur-Saône to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Locking Horns With a French Waiter.
My last night in Montsoreau was a delight. I invited Françoise to dinner at a restaurant just down the street from the three guestroom B&B she owns and runs. She is an intelligent, charming and...
View ArticleThere Go the Damn French Again!
Assuming you’re a passenger rail enthusiast, you can click here for a story about two new high-speed lines that just went into service in France. One is a 187-mile run from Paris to Bordeaux built at a...
View ArticleTraveling In and Out of Paris.
Paris, like many other cities, has a program providing the occasional use of a bicycle at no charge. As you can see from the photo I took yesterday, there don’t seem to be any takers. Would I...
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