| Re: Learning around Prague Posted by grahame at 11:23, 30th July 2026 |     |
Similar, posted on my social media. Questioner asks:
Not just Wiltshire - the whole country. If they can do it, why can't we?
Answer (from me):
Some the UK could do, some they could not. Electrification, good connections to local stations, trains with enough space to do something useful while you travel, ticket cost, afforbable station rents for stores you could. Double deck trains would be much harder with our loading gauge, but modern technology should allow for a further generation of them (things have changed since 1949) which a single level over the wheels with steps up to the first floor and down to the near-ground floor. Modern materials reduce the physical need for a solid straight underframe.
| Learning around Prague Posted by grahame at 07:55, 30th July 2026 | |
A "spare" afternoon yesterday - based in Prague - and too hot to walk around the city. I took the opportunity to travel on some random trains, keep cool, see the countryside, perhaps meet some of the people, and learn about what works and perhaps does not work here.
Praha Masaykovo n. - Poříčany
Poříčany - Nymburk hl.n
Nymburk hl.n - Usti Nad Labem hl.n
Usti Nad Labem hl.n - Praha hl.n
Pictured
- double deck train to Poříčany
- modern "railbus" on to Nymburk
- train to Usti advertises passenger comfort and low cost
- business-aware seating allowing good use of travel time
- smart branding for a GW train
So many lessons - fast, comfortable, electric trains. A train that pulled out of Poříčany on time - then pulled up along the platform to allow people to connect into it from another train that was just arriving. Passengers to and from Třebestovice - a small 'halt' just out from Poříčany, yet thriving in spite of its closeness to that main station, perhaps because of a reliable hourly service that really connects. The use of really good pricing to encourage people to use the trains. Open stations that are naturaly friendly without barriers, but with ticket checks on all legs. Display screen in trains telling me what the ongoing connections were at intermediate stations. A train manager who let me know that a train was going to reverse at an intermediate station ... so I not be concerned. On time arrival back into Prague, and a call in the supermarket actually located in the station, well stocked at sensible prices, and many, many outlets making the station very much a shopping mall for general use too. And walking / easy access back to the hotel with just one very local access road to cross.
