Richard Smith
@raves.bsky.social
He/Him. Travels a lot. Posts a lot. Occasionally complains a lot. @richardavsmith on Twitter and @richardavsmith@mas.to on M
"Drivers say" what kind of attribution is that?!!
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
"Drivers say" what kind of attribution is that?!!
That's... certainly a claim. @jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy
October 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
That's... certainly a claim. @jon.gruene.social.ap.brid.gy
So much for "when the time is right".
Given her bio, I'm not remotely shocked, considering her lack of experience outside SNCF and Finance. Explains so much about their direction.
Also, fine dining my ass, they've given up on Plus dessert lately in favour of a single square of chocolate.
Given her bio, I'm not remotely shocked, considering her lack of experience outside SNCF and Finance. Explains so much about their direction.
Also, fine dining my ass, they've given up on Plus dessert lately in favour of a single square of chocolate.
October 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
So much for "when the time is right".
Given her bio, I'm not remotely shocked, considering her lack of experience outside SNCF and Finance. Explains so much about their direction.
Also, fine dining my ass, they've given up on Plus dessert lately in favour of a single square of chocolate.
Given her bio, I'm not remotely shocked, considering her lack of experience outside SNCF and Finance. Explains so much about their direction.
Also, fine dining my ass, they've given up on Plus dessert lately in favour of a single square of chocolate.
Seats on the new NextGen Acela look like alien robots giving a lower back rub and/or needy hug, I saw it and now you will too.
(Hitchhiker's vibes.)
(Hitchhiker's vibes.)
August 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Seats on the new NextGen Acela look like alien robots giving a lower back rub and/or needy hug, I saw it and now you will too.
(Hitchhiker's vibes.)
(Hitchhiker's vibes.)
My review of The Greatest Gathering.
August 2, 2025 at 8:15 PM
My review of The Greatest Gathering.
Hotel in Vietnam.
Stood up from the toilet and the edge of the lid of the metal loo roll holder sliced through my elbow. It hadn't seen sandpaper or a file in its life.
Hotel cleaner got worried I'd damaged a towel cleaning up the blood, but fortunately realised this probably wasn't worth pushing.
Stood up from the toilet and the edge of the lid of the metal loo roll holder sliced through my elbow. It hadn't seen sandpaper or a file in its life.
Hotel cleaner got worried I'd damaged a towel cleaning up the blood, but fortunately realised this probably wasn't worth pushing.
June 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Hotel in Vietnam.
Stood up from the toilet and the edge of the lid of the metal loo roll holder sliced through my elbow. It hadn't seen sandpaper or a file in its life.
Hotel cleaner got worried I'd damaged a towel cleaning up the blood, but fortunately realised this probably wasn't worth pushing.
Stood up from the toilet and the edge of the lid of the metal loo roll holder sliced through my elbow. It hadn't seen sandpaper or a file in its life.
Hotel cleaner got worried I'd damaged a towel cleaning up the blood, but fortunately realised this probably wasn't worth pushing.
Not the map I would have chosen but you do you
June 15, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Not the map I would have chosen but you do you
Folks, I think we're doomed.
June 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Folks, I think we're doomed.
Touristing in Geneva.
May 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Touristing in Geneva.
High effort trainspotting.
May 23, 2025 at 7:36 AM
High effort trainspotting.
well that would be a turn up for the books
May 9, 2025 at 7:49 AM
well that would be a turn up for the books
Was looking forward to a nice evening run over Semmering as the sun set, but now I'm more concerned we won't even make it to Rome.
May 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Was looking forward to a nice evening run over Semmering as the sun set, but now I'm more concerned we won't even make it to Rome.
The train finally strops back into the station.
Not a word of apology or explanation from the staff.
We depart +73.
I already have a bad feeling about this.
Not a word of apology or explanation from the staff.
We depart +73.
I already have a bad feeling about this.
May 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The train finally strops back into the station.
Not a word of apology or explanation from the staff.
We depart +73.
I already have a bad feeling about this.
Not a word of apology or explanation from the staff.
We depart +73.
I already have a bad feeling about this.
I mean I guess I'm happy for them, but when I relied on that sleeper (from Brussels) it got cancelled.
And then a delayed EuroCity set out of Vienna depot meant I missed any hope of regaining my plan and speedrunning Istanbul.
This depot hates me.
Also, it's +60 and no customer info. Pathetic.
And then a delayed EuroCity set out of Vienna depot meant I missed any hope of regaining my plan and speedrunning Istanbul.
This depot hates me.
Also, it's +60 and no customer info. Pathetic.
May 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I mean I guess I'm happy for them, but when I relied on that sleeper (from Brussels) it got cancelled.
And then a delayed EuroCity set out of Vienna depot meant I missed any hope of regaining my plan and speedrunning Istanbul.
This depot hates me.
Also, it's +60 and no customer info. Pathetic.
And then a delayed EuroCity set out of Vienna depot meant I missed any hope of regaining my plan and speedrunning Istanbul.
This depot hates me.
Also, it's +60 and no customer info. Pathetic.
Still nothing for us, but the Nightjet to Hamburg has arrived. Wonder if they bothered to water that either.
May 1, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Still nothing for us, but the Nightjet to Hamburg has arrived. Wonder if they bothered to water that either.
Email citing "operating difficulties". What an absolute cop out of an explanation.
May 1, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Email citing "operating difficulties". What an absolute cop out of an explanation.
15 minutes after scheduled departure and it's finally sulking off to the depot to be watered.
Honestly, I'm absolutely stunned at how low priority this seems to be.
Best case we import hours of delay into Italy, worst case they dump us in Venice and say we're not their problem.
Honestly, I'm absolutely stunned at how low priority this seems to be.
Best case we import hours of delay into Italy, worst case they dump us in Venice and say we're not their problem.
May 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
15 minutes after scheduled departure and it's finally sulking off to the depot to be watered.
Honestly, I'm absolutely stunned at how low priority this seems to be.
Best case we import hours of delay into Italy, worst case they dump us in Venice and say we're not their problem.
Honestly, I'm absolutely stunned at how low priority this seems to be.
Best case we import hours of delay into Italy, worst case they dump us in Venice and say we're not their problem.
I just do not get how you bring a huge **overnight** train into a platform, load almost everyone, get to departure time, and THEN realise you've got no water.
Basic incompetence by ÖBB. (And then the nerve to say it'll only take 20 minutes to fix!)
Basic incompetence by ÖBB. (And then the nerve to say it'll only take 20 minutes to fix!)
May 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I just do not get how you bring a huge **overnight** train into a platform, load almost everyone, get to departure time, and THEN realise you've got no water.
Basic incompetence by ÖBB. (And then the nerve to say it'll only take 20 minutes to fix!)
Basic incompetence by ÖBB. (And then the nerve to say it'll only take 20 minutes to fix!)
Partial eclipse of 29 March 2025, from London. (Though a filter.)
March 29, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Partial eclipse of 29 March 2025, from London. (Though a filter.)
We cross the Murray River, the longest river in Australia, on a 1920s bridge adjacent to the original railway bridge (now used by road traffic).
March 7, 2025 at 7:06 AM
We cross the Murray River, the longest river in Australia, on a 1920s bridge adjacent to the original railway bridge (now used by road traffic).
And yet suddenly, it's green again, as we approach the Murray River, Murray Bridge and the bridge itself.
March 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
And yet suddenly, it's green again, as we approach the Murray River, Murray Bridge and the bridge itself.
We passed a freight yard, unexpectedly with a roundhouse (?) of coaches at the back.
March 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
We passed a freight yard, unexpectedly with a roundhouse (?) of coaches at the back.
It's so expansive and empty, and yet I get the impression this is only a hint of what the Nullarbor Plain is like.
March 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
It's so expansive and empty, and yet I get the impression this is only a hint of what the Nullarbor Plain is like.