Ahhhh 😊

[tml@mementomori.social]

@tal The train doesn't go to Ireland.

I mean that many, or at least we Nordics, often wrongly think that English is more important than it is. Sure, it is important, but I think it is just fine that on a train that runs between Germany and Belgium, some marketing text on it is just in the languages of those countries

[wrzlbrnft@troet.cafe]

@tml Channel services to London will still need to take a while. @jon

[tal@mastodon.social]

@tml yeah I get that*, and often feel the same way. But I also have to admit it's a good accessibility thing for a significant number of travelers. I just hope it's data driven and not sentiment.

*and thanks for taking my question in good faith

[tml@mementomori.social]

@tal The actual announcements in the train are gloriously in four languages (by the same person): German, Dutch, French, and English. At least when I have taken such a train, which admittedly is much less often than @jon and others. Don't remember if they switch the order depending on the official language of the municipality the train is in at the moment, like I think for instance SBB does in domestic Swiss trains.

(In domestic Belgian trains, outside Brussels (which is bilingual), announcements are, AFAICR, *either* in French or Dutch, *only*. Even if the member of staff would know both languages perfectly. And if they get it wrong, it can have consequences for the poor member of staff.)

[jon@gruene.social]

@ednl these units operate DE-BE and DE-NL. So yes.

[jon@gruene.social]

@tml @tal they do switch. But not quite as systematically as the Swiss do.

[jon@gruene.social]

It’s so joyous

No stupid gates to get onto the platform

No silly announcements telling me to label my luggage or not try to open the doors at the wrong time, and just a beeping to tell me the doors are closing

Signs telling me what seats are reserved, so I can go find a nice window seat. And no compulsory reservation

Comfy seats

And it works properly with Interrail

[jon@gruene.social]

And yes, this being DB and as I’m going to Köln the chances of disruption are high

But the SYSTEM - in theory at least - is right

[semireg@nrw.social]

@jon I've been catching up on "Jet Lag: The Game" in the last days and I'm impressed by the very different nature of the main challenge posed to the players in France vs in Germany:
Germany: Missing a crucial connection because of a 30 minute delay of the hourly train.
France: "No trains from here in the next 3 hours, and then the TGV onwards is fully booked. No apologies"

[phrawzty@hachyderm.io]

@tal
Malta also still speaks English :)
@tml

[tal@mastodon.social]

@tml

The only part of train traveling that I like is the announcements! The vocal delivery just sparks joy for some reason. (I work in railways, so train-brain gets no rest)

Only done a little work traveling in Germany with a dozen excursions to Netherlands, and it was a long time ago. At first I didn't like having English "baby fed" to me. But I ended up appreciating it when I was late for the last train home one night, it was a gift to be really sure I had the right train.

[pkyo@kind.social]

@jon

Silly announcements 😖☹️🫩

The endlessly patronising announcements on the UK are so irritating to me.

For a while, the warning about scarfs and hats getting blown off by passing trains made me wonder: "DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO?!?"

[jon@gruene.social]

@PKYo uk is also terrible at that.

[jon@gruene.social]

@semireg yes. That sums it up.

[lionelb@expressional.social]

@jon

No incessant adverts for the British Transport Police.

[jon@gruene.social]

@lionelb Right.

[paavi@mastodontti.fi]

@jon I've got only one thing that I unconditionally dislike about this class of trainsets: the seats.

[jon@gruene.social]

@paavi eh? The seats are great! Among the most comfy.

[paavi@mastodontti.fi]

@jon If you have the right mindset it often is pleasant enough and you'll eventually get where you need to get to.

[paavi@mastodontti.fi]

@jon Compared to RENFE, which is "sorry you missed your connection, next train tomorrow"