The Man in Seat 61
@seatsixtyone.bsky.social
Mark Smith, the Man in Seat 61, the chap who runs that train travel site http://seat61.com. YouTube: http://youtube.com/c/seat61.
For the record, this is also now fixed! 🥳
Any Czech/CD experts out there? Why, when I book Prague-Bratislava do I only see couchettes, but if I book Prague-Budapest on same train, couchettes & sleepers appear?
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
January 6, 2026 at 4:06 PM
For the record, this is also now fixed! 🥳
For the record, this problem has now been fixed - you can now book sleepers with an Interrail or Eurail pass on the Dacia, Vienna-Bucharest. Good to see!
Hope everyone had a good Christmas! So it seems CFR in Romania haven't given ÖBB any sleeper inventory for the Dacia, so ÖBB can't sell it, only CFR can. And CFR's website doesn't do reservation-only bookings for passholders. Anyone know who to give a gentle nudge to at CFR?
January 5, 2026 at 12:05 PM
For the record, this problem has now been fixed - you can now book sleepers with an Interrail or Eurail pass on the Dacia, Vienna-Bucharest. Good to see!
Any Czech/CD experts out there? Why, when I book Prague-Bratislava do I only see couchettes, but if I book Prague-Budapest on same train, couchettes & sleepers appear?
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
January 3, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Any Czech/CD experts out there? Why, when I book Prague-Bratislava do I only see couchettes, but if I book Prague-Budapest on same train, couchettes & sleepers appear?
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
I've already added a tip to book to Budapest and get off in Bratislava, but that won't work northbound.
So the new comfortjets deployed on Prague-Budapest turn out to be railjets redeployed from Prague-Vienna, whilst 3 Prague—Viennas remain railjets, 1 Prague-Budapest *is* a comfortjet and several are still EuroCity, which turn out to be Slovakian not Czech. Phew! Cue major text 'n photo update. 😳
January 2, 2026 at 1:05 PM
So the new comfortjets deployed on Prague-Budapest turn out to be railjets redeployed from Prague-Vienna, whilst 3 Prague—Viennas remain railjets, 1 Prague-Budapest *is* a comfortjet and several are still EuroCity, which turn out to be Slovakian not Czech. Phew! Cue major text 'n photo update. 😳
The best thing Lego ever created? I’ve coveted this since it came out in 2021. Master 61 thinks it’s his present. But Mrs 61 asked me what I wanted for Xmas and I said I just wanted this, so we got it for him. Seeing him so enjoy building it has been the bestest present! 🥰
December 31, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The best thing Lego ever created? I’ve coveted this since it came out in 2021. Master 61 thinks it’s his present. But Mrs 61 asked me what I wanted for Xmas and I said I just wanted this, so we got it for him. Seeing him so enjoy building it has been the bestest present! 🥰
It’s been there a while. But Sofia-Istanbul sleepers may yet become bookable online, we live in hope…
Until a few weeks ago, stations west of Istanbul to Sofia weren't listed in the International Tickets tab on the TCDD site. Now they are. No schedules/fares loaded yet. But hopefully there soon. Its one of very few trains that still can't be booked online.
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
It’s been there a while. But Sofia-Istanbul sleepers may yet become bookable online, we live in hope…
A spin-off of Austria's new Koralm Railway opened just days ago is a direct railjet from Vienna to Salzburg via the scenic Semmering, Koralm & Tauern railways at 11:24, 13:24 & 15:24, see www.seat61.com/trains-and-r....
A scenic tour for as little as €5 more than the direct route!
A scenic tour for as little as €5 more than the direct route!
December 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
A spin-off of Austria's new Koralm Railway opened just days ago is a direct railjet from Vienna to Salzburg via the scenic Semmering, Koralm & Tauern railways at 11:24, 13:24 & 15:24, see www.seat61.com/trains-and-r....
A scenic tour for as little as €5 more than the direct route!
A scenic tour for as little as €5 more than the direct route!
Hope everyone had a good Christmas! So it seems CFR in Romania haven't given ÖBB any sleeper inventory for the Dacia, so ÖBB can't sell it, only CFR can. And CFR's website doesn't do reservation-only bookings for passholders. Anyone know who to give a gentle nudge to at CFR?
December 28, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Hope everyone had a good Christmas! So it seems CFR in Romania haven't given ÖBB any sleeper inventory for the Dacia, so ÖBB can't sell it, only CFR can. And CFR's website doesn't do reservation-only bookings for passholders. Anyone know who to give a gentle nudge to at CFR?
From future night train operator Nox (what could that big surprise for 2026 be? 🤔)
What a year! 🚆
Since June, we’ve done far more than share nice renderings 🎨➡️🚄
We grew the team 🤝, built a strong Early Bird community 🐣, and turned an idea into something real with one goal:
Getting a train onto the tracks as soon as possible 🚆
2026, here we come 🚀🌙
Since June, we’ve done far more than share nice renderings 🎨➡️🚄
We grew the team 🤝, built a strong Early Bird community 🐣, and turned an idea into something real with one goal:
Getting a train onto the tracks as soon as possible 🚆
2026, here we come 🚀🌙
December 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
From future night train operator Nox (what could that big surprise for 2026 be? 🤔)
Reposted by The Man in Seat 61
High-speed rail passengers in Spain shoot up 77% and prices drop 40% thanks to competition.
High-speed rail passengers in Spain shoot up 77% and prices drop 40% thanks to competition | Sur in English
The national market and competition regulator (CNMC) reveals that the arrival of Iryo and Ouigo drove passenger numbers to record highs, while rail outstrips air travel o
www.surinenglish.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM
High-speed rail passengers in Spain shoot up 77% and prices drop 40% thanks to competition.
Paris-Berlin sleeper on sale now! www.seat61.com/trains-and-r...
December 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Paris-Berlin sleeper on sale now! www.seat61.com/trains-and-r...
Less than 48h left to buy an Interrail pass with 25% discount (I already have!). Buy now, activate any date in next 11 months.
About Interrail and how to buy: www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a...
About Interrail and how to buy: www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a...
December 15, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Less than 48h left to buy an Interrail pass with 25% discount (I already have!). Buy now, activate any date in next 11 months.
About Interrail and how to buy: www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a...
About Interrail and how to buy: www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a...
Tomorrow, Austria’s new Koralm Railway opens. Graz>Klagenfurt cut from over 2h to as little as 41 minutes. Vienna-Klagenfurt cut from 3h55 to 3h10. Also cuts 45 minutes off Vienna-Venice. www.travelmole.com/news/koralmb...
Koralmbahn revolutionizes rail travel in Austria’s South
Austria opens the Koralmbahn, cutting travel times and boosting regional growth with a new 130-km high-speed rail line.
www.travelmole.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Tomorrow, Austria’s new Koralm Railway opens. Graz>Klagenfurt cut from over 2h to as little as 41 minutes. Vienna-Klagenfurt cut from 3h55 to 3h10. Also cuts 45 minutes off Vienna-Venice. www.travelmole.com/news/koralmb...
Singapore-Bangkok just got easier!
Johor Bahru-Gemas electrification completed. From today, 2 daily ETS electric trains will run from JB (north of Singapore) direct to Kuala Lumpur. No need to change, no need to buy two tickets! See www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm.
Photo courtesy of @travelexx.
Johor Bahru-Gemas electrification completed. From today, 2 daily ETS electric trains will run from JB (north of Singapore) direct to Kuala Lumpur. No need to change, no need to buy two tickets! See www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm.
Photo courtesy of @travelexx.
December 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Singapore-Bangkok just got easier!
Johor Bahru-Gemas electrification completed. From today, 2 daily ETS electric trains will run from JB (north of Singapore) direct to Kuala Lumpur. No need to change, no need to buy two tickets! See www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm.
Photo courtesy of @travelexx.
Johor Bahru-Gemas electrification completed. From today, 2 daily ETS electric trains will run from JB (north of Singapore) direct to Kuala Lumpur. No need to change, no need to buy two tickets! See www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm.
Photo courtesy of @travelexx.
BREAKING: European Sleeper to launch Brussels/Amsterdam-Bern-Brig-Milan sleeper train from June 2026 (after launching Paris-Berlin in March).
Press release: mcusercontent.com/5ffbd133c9ab...
Press release: mcusercontent.com/5ffbd133c9ab...
December 10, 2025 at 5:28 AM
BREAKING: European Sleeper to launch Brussels/Amsterdam-Bern-Brig-Milan sleeper train from June 2026 (after launching Paris-Berlin in March).
Press release: mcusercontent.com/5ffbd133c9ab...
Press release: mcusercontent.com/5ffbd133c9ab...
Electro-diesel Stadler Flirts selected to replace Dublin – Belfast Enterprise trains www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and....
Electro-diesel Stadler Flirt trains selected to renew Dublin – Belfast Enterprise fleet
EUROPE: Ireland's national railway Iarnród Éireann and North Ireland's Translink have jointly selected Stadler Flirt trainsets to replace locomotive-hauled rolling stock on the cross-border Dublin - B...
www.railwaygazette.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Electro-diesel Stadler Flirts selected to replace Dublin – Belfast Enterprise trains www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and....
New startup operator GoVolta has opened ticket sales from March 2026 for its 3-times-a-week services Amsterdam-Hamburg & Amsterdam-Berlin. govolta.nl
December 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
New startup operator GoVolta has opened ticket sales from March 2026 for its 3-times-a-week services Amsterdam-Hamburg & Amsterdam-Berlin. govolta.nl
Heading home from Utrecht via Amsterdam. After the sad closure of Amsterdam Centraal’s Grand Cafe 1e Klas, I find myself of necessity in the 2nd class waiting room…. All very Xmassy here…
December 5, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Heading home from Utrecht via Amsterdam. After the sad closure of Amsterdam Centraal’s Grand Cafe 1e Klas, I find myself of necessity in the 2nd class waiting room…. All very Xmassy here…
Headed south to one of Europe’s most beautiful stations, Antwerp Central. They basically wrote the text book on how to convert a historic terminus into a multi level through station.
December 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Headed south to one of Europe’s most beautiful stations, Antwerp Central. They basically wrote the text book on how to convert a historic terminus into a multi level through station.
Setting off today for the #RailTourismAwards at Utrecht in the Netherlands. But being me, I’m starting with a 250 mile train ride in entirely the wrong direction… (any guesses?)
December 2, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Setting off today for the #RailTourismAwards at Utrecht in the Netherlands. But being me, I’m starting with a 250 mile train ride in entirely the wrong direction… (any guesses?)
The only trouble with the Tring-Euston route is passing the Ovaltine factory & having to sing the Ovaltinies song*
I have a similar problem driving through Marsh Gibbon (if you know which song, you must be as old as me)
* For the wellbeing of other passengers, only in my head
I have a similar problem driving through Marsh Gibbon (if you know which song, you must be as old as me)
* For the wellbeing of other passengers, only in my head
December 2, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The only trouble with the Tring-Euston route is passing the Ovaltine factory & having to sing the Ovaltinies song*
I have a similar problem driving through Marsh Gibbon (if you know which song, you must be as old as me)
* For the wellbeing of other passengers, only in my head
I have a similar problem driving through Marsh Gibbon (if you know which song, you must be as old as me)
* For the wellbeing of other passengers, only in my head
Yay! Finally found how to eliminate annoying Westbahn trains on Bahn.de, as they prevent the sale of a through ticket. Click 'Mode of transport' and toggle off 'Interregio- and Fast trains' and it'll find an all ICE/IC/RE/RB connection which it can sell. Result!
DB Fahrplan, Auskunft, Tickets, informieren und buchen - Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn: bahn.de - Ihr Mobilitätsportal für Reisen mit der Bahn. Deutschlands beliebtestes Reise- und Mobilitätsportal: Auskunft, Bahnfahrkarten, Online-Tickets, Länder-Tickets, günstige Angebo...
Bahn.de
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Yay! Finally found how to eliminate annoying Westbahn trains on Bahn.de, as they prevent the sale of a through ticket. Click 'Mode of transport' and toggle off 'Interregio- and Fast trains' and it'll find an all ICE/IC/RE/RB connection which it can sell. Result!
This morning was a classic railway 'real time' case study:
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This morning was a classic railway 'real time' case study:
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
Well I never.
Not RPI+1%, not RPI, not even CPI, just 0%...
Not RPI+1%, not RPI, not even CPI, just 0%...
The Chancellor has announced that regulated rail fares will be frozen next year. A huge win for passengers and the economy, and one of our Budget asks!
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Well I never.
Not RPI+1%, not RPI, not even CPI, just 0%...
Not RPI+1%, not RPI, not even CPI, just 0%...
Reposted by The Man in Seat 61
Become a co-owner of #EuropeanSleeper and get a free ticket for our first night train from Paris to Berlin!
Buy 7 or more shares (min. €980) and receive an invitation for a free return ticket on the very first festive departure.
More info 👉️ www.europeansleeper.eu/invest
Buy 7 or more shares (min. €980) and receive an invitation for a free return ticket on the very first festive departure.
More info 👉️ www.europeansleeper.eu/invest
November 18, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Become a co-owner of #EuropeanSleeper and get a free ticket for our first night train from Paris to Berlin!
Buy 7 or more shares (min. €980) and receive an invitation for a free return ticket on the very first festive departure.
More info 👉️ www.europeansleeper.eu/invest
Buy 7 or more shares (min. €980) and receive an invitation for a free return ticket on the very first festive departure.
More info 👉️ www.europeansleeper.eu/invest