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.
Had a breakfast of Melemen (Menemen?) dish with bread and tea. The menu is quite extensive. Understandably, no alcohol. Cards taken (subject to a signal). @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Had a breakfast of Melemen (Menemen?) dish with bread and tea. The menu is quite extensive. Understandably, no alcohol. Cards taken (subject to a signal). @seatsixtyone.bsky.social
A lot of intermediate stops and most passengers in my coach at least only travelled part way. No catering. I stay in Samsun tonight and head back to Sivas tomorrow. Really not much of a town to write home about, but a great fish dinner for just 350 TL!
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A lot of intermediate stops and most passengers in my coach at least only travelled part way. No catering. I stay in Samsun tonight and head back to Sivas tomorrow. Really not much of a town to write home about, but a great fish dinner for just 350 TL!
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.
Two tracks for the Marmary Commuter and one for mainline. Both trains lost time. Train to & from Adapazari was the Ada Express which connects with Marmary trains at Gebze. These have reserved seats, catering and security checks before entering the platforms. Same security for YHT too.
November 4, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Two tracks for the Marmary Commuter and one for mainline. Both trains lost time. Train to & from Adapazari was the Ada Express which connects with Marmary trains at Gebze. These have reserved seats, catering and security checks before entering the platforms. Same security for YHT too.
Border checks for Turkey as @seatsixtyone.bsky.social reported a couple of months back is Edirne. The train wasn't that full (50 pax?) so not much hanging around in the cold. I got off at Çerkezköy & train was less than 10 mins late. Backtracked to Uzunköprü which of course was a route into Greece.
November 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Border checks for Turkey as @seatsixtyone.bsky.social reported a couple of months back is Edirne. The train wasn't that full (50 pax?) so not much hanging around in the cold. I got off at Çerkezköy & train was less than 10 mins late. Backtracked to Uzunköprü which of course was a route into Greece.
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.
And the others? Apparently around here. There's plenty of floor space but no sign of any work to install them.
So a slow start. E* like airports etc. have until 10 April 2026 to be fully up and running.
So a slow start. E* like airports etc. have until 10 April 2026 to be fully up and running.
October 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
And the others? Apparently around here. There's plenty of floor space but no sign of any work to install them.
So a slow start. E* like airports etc. have until 10 April 2026 to be fully up and running.
So a slow start. E* like airports etc. have until 10 April 2026 to be fully up and running.
Staff member near Premium check-in said a block of terminals here - opposite National Rail ticket office & Thameslink.
October 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Staff member near Premium check-in said a block of terminals here - opposite National Rail ticket office & Thameslink.
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.
This was posted on an email group a few weeks ago
September 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This was posted on an email group a few weeks ago
I'm assuming the trains will now go SE of Caserta through Maddaloni Inferiore then NE following and weaving close to the old line through Valle di Maddaloni etc.?
September 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I'm assuming the trains will now go SE of Caserta through Maddaloni Inferiore then NE following and weaving close to the old line through Valle di Maddaloni etc.?
Photos at Głuchołazy Miasto station. The other station has a better service to neighbouring Czech Republic than Poland!
August 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Photos at Głuchołazy Miasto station. The other station has a better service to neighbouring Czech Republic than Poland!
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.
A useful app called ATM Fee Saver helps. Data is all inputted by users, but does disclose what fees may be charged. In some cases I’m sure in non-euro EU countries card holders from other EU banks aren’t charged a user fixed fee. But coming from UK, may be this is further punishment after Brexit?
August 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A useful app called ATM Fee Saver helps. Data is all inputted by users, but does disclose what fees may be charged. In some cases I’m sure in non-euro EU countries card holders from other EU banks aren’t charged a user fixed fee. But coming from UK, may be this is further punishment after Brexit?
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.
A useful app called ATM Fee Saver helps. Data is all inputted by users, but does disclose what fees may be charged. In some cases I’m sure in non-euro EU countries card holders from other EU banks aren’t charged a user fixed fee. But coming from UK, may be this is further punishment after Brexit?
August 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A useful app called ATM Fee Saver helps. Data is all inputted by users, but does disclose what fees may be charged. In some cases I’m sure in non-euro EU countries card holders from other EU banks aren’t charged a user fixed fee. But coming from UK, may be this is further punishment after Brexit?
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).
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.
#NowPlaying "Sheer Heart Attack" by Queen. Probably my favourite album by the legendary band and produced by #RoyThomasBaker whose passing was announced earlier today.
April 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
#NowPlaying "Sheer Heart Attack" by Queen. Probably my favourite album by the legendary band and produced by #RoyThomasBaker whose passing was announced earlier today.
Any idea what's causing a photo to go dark on another site? My original and as seen on Flickr. I then upload the same photo to a site which has rolling stock data files. Get an approval email and it is now on display. Details of what photo is what is in the Alt text.
April 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Any idea what's causing a photo to go dark on another site? My original and as seen on Flickr. I then upload the same photo to a site which has rolling stock data files. Get an approval email and it is now on display. Details of what photo is what is in the Alt text.
And that includes buses to Palermo Airport. Bus fare is cheaper and quicker than the train. The slower trains take well over an hour and stop at all stations to the airport. The one I was on was very crowded, but most got off before the airport. Single fare for Trenitalia €6.80.
April 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
And that includes buses to Palermo Airport. Bus fare is cheaper and quicker than the train. The slower trains take well over an hour and stop at all stations to the airport. The one I was on was very crowded, but most got off before the airport. Single fare for Trenitalia €6.80.
Where else would you find the state owned national railways board with many of its subsidiary companies managing a long distance bus station right next to its own Central rail station?
April 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Where else would you find the state owned national railways board with many of its subsidiary companies managing a long distance bus station right next to its own Central rail station?