Phil Richards
@philrichards.bsky.social
35 years in the railway industry, now retired. Interests are Rail travel (UK/EU & N America), Prog Rock, Craft Beer.
Heading from Sivas to Kars. Early start (04:56) although we departed 50 mins late. I've done Turkish night trains before. I was more interested in the catering as that has seen some changes in recent years. Full restaurant car. One person serving and cooking the food.
November 8, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Heading from Sivas to Kars. Early start (04:56) although we departed 50 mins late. I've done Turkish night trains before. I was more interested in the catering as that has seen some changes in recent years. Full restaurant car. One person serving and cooking the food.
After a night in Sivas I took the train to Samsun. 8 hours or thereabouts. 4 car diesel set which was less than half full. And this only runs three times a week each way. Buses are several times a day, take 5 hours but a quick check revealed the price was around 800 TL each way.
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
After a night in Sivas I took the train to Samsun. 8 hours or thereabouts. 4 car diesel set which was less than half full. And this only runs three times a week each way. Buses are several times a day, take 5 hours but a quick check revealed the price was around 800 TL each way.
YHT High Speed Train from Ankara to Sivas where I stay the night. Fantastic food market.
November 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
YHT High Speed Train from Ankara to Sivas where I stay the night. Fantastic food market.
Did Istanbul (Bakirköy) to Ankara today on the YHT with a detour at Arifiye to cover the short line to Adapazari. Very slow in the Istanbul area and several waits to cross over with another YHT. Only room for three tracks most of the way through the suburbs.
November 4, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Did Istanbul (Bakirköy) to Ankara today on the YHT with a detour at Arifiye to cover the short line to Adapazari. Very slow in the Istanbul area and several waits to cross over with another YHT. Only room for three tracks most of the way through the suburbs.
Once #EES is up and running for Bulgaria's only rail crossing out of Schengen, suspect process at Svilengrad non-EUs at least will need to detrain. I doubt there's portable EES equipment. Ironically the US does have that. Had biometrics done in the comfort of my seat on Amtrak's train in May
November 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Once #EES is up and running for Bulgaria's only rail crossing out of Schengen, suspect process at Svilengrad non-EUs at least will need to detrain. I doubt there's portable EES equipment. Ironically the US does have that. Had biometrics done in the comfort of my seat on Amtrak's train in May
Finally got to cover the Sofia to Turkey sleeper train last night. Bulgarian border control was the easy one. Though I checked my passport when it was given back and no stamp. Fortunately officers hung around on the platform, so one went off and got it stamped.
November 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Finally got to cover the Sofia to Turkey sleeper train last night. Bulgarian border control was the easy one. Though I checked my passport when it was given back and no stamp. Fortunately officers hung around on the platform, so one went off and got it stamped.
Heading to Cornwall having just crossed the Royal Albert Bridge.
October 15, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Heading to Cornwall having just crossed the Royal Albert Bridge.
Thought I would pay a visit to St Pancras today to see what I could of the #EES I'm not travelling. Spotted that all 7 terminals near the Premier check-in weren't in use and the glass doors. E* have announced non-Premier pax won't be "invited" to do EES until next year.
October 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Thought I would pay a visit to St Pancras today to see what I could of the #EES I'm not travelling. Spotted that all 7 terminals near the Premier check-in weren't in use and the glass doors. E* have announced non-Premier pax won't be "invited" to do EES until next year.
Just booked my first of several journeys in Turkey on the TCDD website. Not exactly the most robust site. Payment success is best described as "wonky". Two "check payment details" to start off with. Then for no. 3 attempt (with same card) it wanted my banking app to verify.
September 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Just booked my first of several journeys in Turkey on the TCDD website. Not exactly the most robust site. Payment success is best described as "wonky". Two "check payment details" to start off with. Then for no. 3 attempt (with same card) it wanted my banking app to verify.
Technically not #CrossBordeRail but this was on my travels today. Nowy Świętów to Głuchołazy Miasto. Been on my to do list for ages and worked out well as a route from Poland to Olomouc. Last night stayed in Nysa. Two round trips per day, Saturday and Sunday only but all year round.
August 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Technically not #CrossBordeRail but this was on my travels today. Nowy Świętów to Głuchołazy Miasto. Been on my to do list for ages and worked out well as a route from Poland to Olomouc. Last night stayed in Nysa. Two round trips per day, Saturday and Sunday only but all year round.
Perhaps I'm a bit of a Google-holic, but Google Maps really ought to be the number one start point for planning city public transport. I'm 99%sure MPK Wroclaw was integrated with GM. Now they are not. Bit of a dismissive reply I thought.
August 29, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Perhaps I'm a bit of a Google-holic, but Google Maps really ought to be the number one start point for planning city public transport. I'm 99%sure MPK Wroclaw was integrated with GM. Now they are not. Bit of a dismissive reply I thought.
Not done this for many years for European trips. I'm no fan of using cash, but always needed in case you end up at a place that doesn't accept cards. My bugbear nowadays is so many ATMs are charging a user fixed fee to withdraw cash.
August 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Not done this for many years for European trips. I'm no fan of using cash, but always needed in case you end up at a place that doesn't accept cards. My bugbear nowadays is so many ATMs are charging a user fixed fee to withdraw cash.
I see this trial pass has just been launched. Global 7 days in a month or Italy only 4 days in a month. Includes cost of most seat res although with T&Cs. Approx extra €100 for Global pass though that will then include E*.
plus.interrail.eu/en/interrail...
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
plus.interrail.eu/en/interrail...
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
Interrail Plus Pass | Interrail.eu
Discover the new Interrail Plus Pass – enjoy all the benefits of our standard Pass without worrying about seat reservation fees.
plus.interrail.eu
August 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I see this trial pass has just been launched. Global 7 days in a month or Italy only 4 days in a month. Includes cost of most seat res although with T&Cs. Approx extra €100 for Global pass though that will then include E*.
plus.interrail.eu/en/interrail...
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
plus.interrail.eu/en/interrail...
@jonworth.eu @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
Why is the airline industry so bad at communicating details about what has or went wrong? If this was a major issue with rail infrastructure in the UK, Network Rail would be up there and explaining and apologising.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Airlines demand answers after Air Traffic Control failure
Ten flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled on Thursday, on top of some 150 across the UK on Wednesday.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 31, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Why is the airline industry so bad at communicating details about what has or went wrong? If this was a major issue with rail infrastructure in the UK, Network Rail would be up there and explaining and apologising.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Will be exploring the effectiveness of VPNs to circumvent going through this. It's a step too far. As all I'm sure know for BS it's DMs only. Understand it may be needed for things like hobby forums which have a similar DM facility.
July 24, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Will be exploring the effectiveness of VPNs to circumvent going through this. It's a step too far. As all I'm sure know for BS it's DMs only. Understand it may be needed for things like hobby forums which have a similar DM facility.
Whilst I'm no big user of buses, just over a year to go and I get an England bus pass. Biggest benefit is not having to work out the most applicable bus fare/pass rather than the actual cost it.
Fortunately I already go free in London (after 09:00 Mon-Fri).
Fortunately I already go free in London (after 09:00 Mon-Fri).
May 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Whilst I'm no big user of buses, just over a year to go and I get an England bus pass. Biggest benefit is not having to work out the most applicable bus fare/pass rather than the actual cost it.
Fortunately I already go free in London (after 09:00 Mon-Fri).
Fortunately I already go free in London (after 09:00 Mon-Fri).
Trip to Aylesbury to visit a relative in Stoke Mandeville Hospital tomorrow. Local bus ticketing info sketchy. PlusBus not valid on the operator, Redline routes 130 & 300 between bus station in the town and hospital. Local £4 day pass strangely valid on the 130 but not the 300.
May 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Trip to Aylesbury to visit a relative in Stoke Mandeville Hospital tomorrow. Local bus ticketing info sketchy. PlusBus not valid on the operator, Redline routes 130 & 300 between bus station in the town and hospital. Local £4 day pass strangely valid on the 130 but not the 300.
Just had my US eSTA approved. About 2.5 hours wait. I found it quite odd that the section to fill in for Social Media profiles still lists Twitter and not X. And Bluesky amongst not in the list of other SM sites.
May 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Just had my US eSTA approved. About 2.5 hours wait. I found it quite odd that the section to fill in for Social Media profiles still lists Twitter and not X. And Bluesky amongst not in the list of other SM sites.
Reposted by Phil Richards
I remember using Minitel and Chip and PIN in France when these things were unknown in the UK. France had a technological edge. Now, Paris shows itself to be decades behind.
May 9, 2025 at 6:45 AM
I remember using Minitel and Chip and PIN in France when these things were unknown in the UK. France had a technological edge. Now, Paris shows itself to be decades behind.
According to @seatsixtyone.bsky.social RATP paper tickets for the Paris Métro etc. had gone in 2025:
www.seat61.com/changing-sta...
This page was shared today and surprised to learn they are still being sold until Tuesday 13 May:
www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualite...
www.seat61.com/changing-sta...
This page was shared today and surprised to learn they are still being sold until Tuesday 13 May:
www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualite...
How to change stations in Paris by metro, bus or taxi
A guide to changing trains & stations in Paris by metro, RER, bus or taxi, from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est and Gare de Bercy. How to...
www.seat61.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:09 AM
According to @seatsixtyone.bsky.social RATP paper tickets for the Paris Métro etc. had gone in 2025:
www.seat61.com/changing-sta...
This page was shared today and surprised to learn they are still being sold until Tuesday 13 May:
www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualite...
www.seat61.com/changing-sta...
This page was shared today and surprised to learn they are still being sold until Tuesday 13 May:
www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualite...
I get an irate caller on my phone earlier who runs an apartment in Foggia. Stayed there a month ago. Had to register online including uploading passport page photos for Italian police before I arrived. Turns out he never got the photos. And he never bothered to check on the day or straight after.
May 8, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I get an irate caller on my phone earlier who runs an apartment in Foggia. Stayed there a month ago. Had to register online including uploading passport page photos for Italian police before I arrived. Turns out he never got the photos. And he never bothered to check on the day or straight after.
It's early days yet, but many of our council seats are filling up with Reform candidates. Many I'm sure just volunteered to stand as a candidate and weren't selected by a referendum at local branch level. These new recruits with Reform badges on need scrutiny.
May 2, 2025 at 9:31 AM
It's early days yet, but many of our council seats are filling up with Reform candidates. Many I'm sure just volunteered to stand as a candidate and weren't selected by a referendum at local branch level. These new recruits with Reform badges on need scrutiny.
Really worried about potential outcome of today's #LocalElections in parts of Britain. Reform no doubt have put up candidates with no proper understanding of what local councillors actually have to do. It's all about numbers to change political distribution & not actually needs of local residents
May 1, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Really worried about potential outcome of today's #LocalElections in parts of Britain. Reform no doubt have put up candidates with no proper understanding of what local councillors actually have to do. It's all about numbers to change political distribution & not actually needs of local residents
Went to see Norwegian prog rock band, Airbag at The Dome in North London last night. Powerful, brilliant set. Their 1st UK gig headlining despite being around for 20 years or so. They played at Winters End Festival in Chepstow on Friday. Support was Dutch band Lesoir. Again a great performance.
April 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Went to see Norwegian prog rock band, Airbag at The Dome in North London last night. Powerful, brilliant set. Their 1st UK gig headlining despite being around for 20 years or so. They played at Winters End Festival in Chepstow on Friday. Support was Dutch band Lesoir. Again a great performance.
Would never have used the word culvert unless it was explained with a definition in plain English as a separate sentence. When I posted information like this for a TOC, that would never have gone out. Probably written by someone who deals more with operations rather than the general public.
April 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Would never have used the word culvert unless it was explained with a definition in plain English as a separate sentence. When I posted information like this for a TOC, that would never have gone out. Probably written by someone who deals more with operations rather than the general public.