And here is my Mini Cabin for the night.

[tml@mementomori.social]

And here is my Mini Cabin for the night. I have already used one of these once so I roughly knew how to configure it and where to stow all my stuff.

[tml@mementomori.social]

We are already 25 minutes late, haven’t departed yet. But I don’t mind, I am staying tomorrow and a night in Hamburg anyway.

[tml@mementomori.social]

A German speaking man in a nearby cabin was very upset that he could hear me eating crisps while the train was standing still at the station. I wonder whether he expects the journey during the night to be very quiet? Sigh. Maybe he should stick to day trains, or use earplugs. Luckily I am not kind of person who lets people like that spoil my trip.

(Actually it was a woman. But I didn’t want to say that at first so that you don’t think I am being misogynistic.)

She asked the staff for another cabin and now she is complaining loudly a few cabins away about the noises there. And no, I have not eaten any crisps in the meantime. Let’s hope she doesn’t carry any weapons.

I would say she is German, not Swiss.

[tml@mementomori.social]

And we arrived in Hamburg four minutes before schedule. This was quite a good connection, I think. In 24 h 25 min from the French-Spanish border to Hamburg. Seven trains. Sure, the average speed is not that impressive, and there could be longer direct trains, but still. Changing trains is nothing to be afraid of. #Interrail

[tml@mementomori.social]

Even using high-speed trains as much as possible, it couldn’t necessarily have been done in just daytime, I think. (It can, now, see my reply.) Then I would have had to go through Paris, which is a bit of a pain. You have to change between stations using the Métro. But then I would have arrived in Hamburg in the wee hours of the night.

[tml@mementomori.social]

But in the new timetable that has started today (Happy New Year everyone!), it is possible to do it and arrive before midnight. At least on weekdays. But as mentioned, it includes changing between stations in Paris.

[tml@mementomori.social]

And note that I took it as a challenge to manage without going through Paris and without mandatory reservations. Well, except for the night train, of course.

I did also not attach any name tags to my luggage in France. (I would if I had remembered to take suitable tags with me.) I cannot recommend following this example though. You might be fined. At least on TGVs.

[sashabilton@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@tml having just returned from Japan & South Korea, I have seen what is possible and it makes me sad we don't invest in very high speed train networks in Europe. I love train travel compared to flying, but as a regular traveller from London to Copenhagen, being unable to do it without overnight travel makes it very impractical.