Het artikel sluit af met: “En onthoud: hoe krapperje zit, hoe minder slecht voor het klimaat”. In de trein zit je groen én ruim, en warempel, in dit geval nog goedkoper ook. #zugstattflug

Also strange that it has to be a later train — a train earlier could be more helpful to some when disruptions arise

I will be taking the EuroCity Direct service this Sunday and I just received an e-mail from NS telling me that ECD tickets are also valid on a later EuroCity if my journey is disrupted. I wonder if this works for EC-tickets wanting to take ECD in case of disruption too

Some views from the train of a locomotive I do miss a bit on the Dutch tracks back home, the sea in the distance and some a river crawling towards that sea. Rabat was reached 20 minutes late due to our train having some kind of “panne” right after Casablanca.

First class is in 2+1 with a nice purple upholstery, everything is definitely a bit old and has seen better days. No power outlets or WiFi. And the windows could sure use a cleaning!

Arrival three minutes late at Casablanca Voyageur, a modern station that provides connections to the local tram network. The train is well used by locals!

These trains will be very familiar to anyone who has ever taken a T.G.V. duplex in France (like the one from Paris to Barcelona I took earlier this week, where I was even assigned the same seat!)

Swapping the wheels for the water and crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, leaving Europe behind and entering the African continent.

Slow but scenic ride into Algeciras 🍊

Antequera - Santa Ana is one of those high-speed stations in the middle of nowhere with no facilities, even the cafe is closed. Luckily my connecting Media-Distancia train (comparable to an Interregio) is already waiting at the platform.

Loving the views over the hills as I am crossing Spain. The route map looks fun too, like a DVD menu. Renfe has a box of free earphones in the café, a win for passenger comfort I guess but a loss for the environment.

Arrival in Barcelona three minutes ahead of schedule with the Iryo ETR400 patiently waiting on another platform.

Stunning views on this route from the comfort of a ridiculously big chair, but the toilets on the TGV Duplex are not sized for the average Dutch person.

Ending travels here today as I will be indulging in the many museums Paris has to offer for the coming two days. Fantastic views from my hotel room on the tracks from which I will continue my journey on Tuesday!

No need to stand in a long queue at Gare du Nord as t+ tickets for Paris metro are sold at the Eurostar café on board or the SNCF app which loads them right into Apple Wallet. Convenient!

Running the occasional e320 on the Amsterdam-Brussels line also takes some getting used to for the train manager who joined me in my search for a power outlet. Another passenger came to the rescue and taught us both that they are found under the armrest.

I am travelling to Paris as my first stop towards Marrakech by rail (and water). And a sign of good luck from the railway gods: I have automatically been assigned Seat 61. Without @seatsixtyone.bsky.social I would not have been able to plan out an intercontinental journey like this 🙏

I was hoping for a Ruby-refurbished ex-Thalys but Eurostar now runs their E320 sets between Amsterdam and Paris, which offer more capacity and conveniently connect to the London-bound Eurostar services in Brussels.

I wanted the first Eurostar out to Paris but didn’t check connections to Rotterdam. No Intercity is running at this hour, so Sprinter services with change at Woerden it is. This is the only Dutch train where you can travel in first class comfort with a second class ticket if you know where to look.