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Post by Ghost Bear on Jan 19, 2010 5:16:37 GMT -5
A new one!
People who're sitting on their own on the train, but sit on the outside seat rather than the window one, and put their bag on the window seat - even on a packed train.
These people should be hurled out the door and down a steep embankment.
-GB
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Post by Doomy on Jan 19, 2010 5:21:53 GMT -5
My "most hated people on trains" are the ones who play loud music nobody else on the carriage wants to hear, usually via mobile phone.
Get some f&*@ing headphones!
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Post by jan on Jan 19, 2010 11:29:27 GMT -5
I also hate the groups of four or more old ladies who sit in your compartment and talk about their health without any interruption for an hour and more.
I also hate the groups of four or more teenage girls who sit in your compartment and talk *very loudly and not very smartly* about *cool* things like clothing, make-up, boys, TV, latest radio hits, shopping and other stuff.
I usually sleep or read on train, but it's impossible in the above-described conditions, so I usually get a headache and have a temptation to throw these people out of the window (unfortunatelly, it's impossible in the modern trains where the windows cannot open so widely).
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Post by Simey on Jan 21, 2010 10:04:29 GMT -5
You still have compartments, which is pretty cool (they are no more on British trains), though not in the aforementioned situations! I'll put my bag on the seat on a quiet train (whilst sitting next to the window, of course), but will put it on the floor at least temporarily when arriving at a station with enough people boarding that there might no longer be free pairs of seats. It is quite offensive that there are people who will apparently use their bag simply to try and ward off anyone from sitting next to them, regardless of how packed the train may be. Seats are designed first and foremost for people to sit on! If they were meant primarily for bags, they'd be shelves! Grrr.... Regarding music: yes, get some headphones, but please also listen at a reasonable volume - I don't want to be getting a tinny, but all-too-clear rendition of what you must be listening to at deafening volume. Grrr-grrr.... AND! If you have to make or take a phone call whilst in a railway carriage with other passengers, make it quick! One half of a thirty second conversation sorting out what time to meet, where to be picked up or somesuch? No problem. One half of five, ten, fifteen minutes of wittering about boyfriends, or sorting out business issues or whatever - I don't wanna know! Grrr-grrr-grrr.... Just to be clear though: I do love travelling by train - it is the best form of transport ever invented, and we desperately under-value it in the U.K.. Happy train-travelling all!
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Post by Doomy on Jan 21, 2010 15:33:20 GMT -5
I'm going to Leeds for an overnight visit - that's nine hours on trains between tomorrow and Saturday.
Wish me luck!
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Post by Beowuuf on Jan 21, 2010 15:59:39 GMT -5
Lol, good luck iof yopu have change overs! I used to have complete confidence, now I'm paranoid!
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Post by Doomy on Jan 21, 2010 16:11:34 GMT -5
Three trains in either direction. "Should" be easy enough...
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Post by Beowuuf on Jan 21, 2010 16:35:43 GMT -5
O.O
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Post by jan on Jan 21, 2010 16:53:39 GMT -5
Good luck, Doomy! I love trains, and I use them a lot. From Monday or Tuesday to Thursday of Friday I work in Prague and for weekends I go to my hometown - 169 kms, 2:30 hours by train, here and there every week, for about 12 years now. It's always very funny - you board the train in Prague, in a big city in the lowland, you read for some time and then fall asleep, and then you wake up in the Highland, with fresh air, hills and forests around - I seem to live two separate lives, and these lives are separated by the sleep in the train. I also go to Montenegro (in the Balkans) each summer for some time, and it takes about 25 hours by train. I change the trains two or three times (normally in Budapest - Hungary, and in Beograd - Serbia), but it's relatively fast, and you know... fascinating. And, yeah - the Montenegro's main railway (from Bar on the coast to Bijelo Polje and further to Beograd in Serbia) is the most beautiful railway with the best scenery I've ever seen. It cuts through the huge mountains with about 250 tunnels and 250 bridges! It's breath-taking (even with the "Turkish-toilets" in the trains, lol). If you love trains and mountains, you must see it!
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Post by Doomy on Jan 21, 2010 17:07:13 GMT -5
Trains are my primary mode of transport these days though it's usually just short journeys around Scotland.
Did my first long drive in years today in a decidedly rubbish company car - over 100 miles. Something fell off and it's now in the garage overnight. Glad it's not me who has to pay the bill!
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Post by Simey on Jan 21, 2010 18:23:57 GMT -5
All the best, Doomy! I'm visiting friends in Bridlington near Hull next week, and will be doing similar length journeys to yours, by the sounds of it, but I am staying for a couple of days, so if it all goes horribly wrong, I'll have time to recover! I love trains, and I use them a lot. From Monday or Tuesday to Thursday of Friday I work in Prague and for weekends I go to my hometown - 169 kms, 2:30 hours by train, here and there every week, for about 12 years now. It's always very funny - you board the train in Prague, in a big city in the lowland, you read for some time and then fall asleep, and then you wake up in the Highland, with fresh air, hills and forests around - I seem to live two separate lives, and these lives are separated by the sleep in the train. I also go to Montenegro (in the Balkans) each summer for some time, and it takes about 25 hours by train. I change the trains two or three times (normally in Budapest - Hungary, and in Beograd - Serbia), but it's relatively fast, and you know... fascinating. And, yeah - the Montenegro's main railway (from Bar on the coast to Bijelo Polje and further to Beograd in Serbia) is the most beautiful railway with the best scenery I've ever seen. It cuts through the huge mountains with about 250 tunnels and 250 bridges! It's breath-taking (even with the "Turkish-toilets" in the trains, lol). If you love trains and mountains, you must see it! With regards to all that: I'm very jealous - it sounds wonderful! And yes, more train travelling in the Balkans is something that must be done! Though I'm rather suspicious that the Montenegran trains are probably not as depicted in Casino Royale - perhaps you can confirm this, or shame me on my assumption!
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Post by jan on Jan 22, 2010 7:33:12 GMT -5
Though I'm rather suspicious that the Montenegran trains are probably not as depicted in Casino Royale - perhaps you can confirm this, or shame me on my assumption! Unfortunately, I haven't seen Casino Royale (James Bond film, I presume?), so I can't compare it. But I can tell you this: The main Montenegrin railway (well... the only one Montenegrin railway...) was built between ca 1950 and 1980 as the main railway connecting the Yugoslavian capital of Beograd to the sea. So it was a huge, important and strategic project, technically very advanced and up-to-date. Rather than following the river valleys, the railway cuts through the mountains (to be as straight as possible), so as a result, it's very panoramic. There is for example this Mala Rijeka viaduct, the tallest railway viaduct in the World. It's mostly one-track, but fully electrified. It was built as a relatively fast railway (about 100km per hour in most sections). However, the long-term undeirnvestment and poor maintenance during last two decades meant that it has slowed down and the track is mostly in a bad shape. Similarly, the cars and engines were modern in 1970s, but are obsolete and not well maintained nowadays. As a result, the fast trains used to go from Beograd to Bar in ca 8 hours two decades ago, and now it's about 10 or 12, and there are normal long delays. However, the Montenegrin economy is growing, and there are some investments from the EU, so there are ungoing many renovations and restoration projects. So - it's pretty safe, and relatively civilised - not as good as in the UK, but OK. Well - I won't describe it any further. Visit it!
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Post by Al on Jan 22, 2010 10:06:41 GMT -5
At least you people have trains! I miss that about Europe. The North American rail system is garbage - that is my pet peeve! The entire continent is designed for cars!
Redesign North America I say!
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Post by Black Cat on Jan 22, 2010 12:46:48 GMT -5
At least you people have trains! I miss that about Europe. The North American rail system is garbage - that is my pet peeve! The entire continent is designed for cars! Redesign North America I say! Oh, but it wasn't like that before: where I live, almost every little town had a railway station for passengers. Now, only two are left: one that is now abandonned, and another one that has been turned into an office building (but only recently: it was unoccupied for 25 years). There is only one railway left and it's for cargo only, once or twice a week. The United States and Canada were built thanks to railways. But now, thanks to the car lobby, trains are about to disappear.
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Post by Al on Jan 22, 2010 16:21:49 GMT -5
The United States and Canada were built thanks to railways. But now, thanks to the car lobby, trains are about to disappear. GM was actually convicted in court of illegal activities in the US with relation to the dismantling of the railway system!
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