Debconf9 by train
With Debconf9 being on the european mainland this year, a plane flight isn't necessary. Since flying in cattle class isn't my idea of 'fun', I had been planning to take the train to Caceres this year.
So, with the public announcement of debconf registration being open, I thought I'd look at train options. Short version: I think I'll be going to the train station and ask them there, rather than looking something up on the NMBS website.
Long version:
| Trajectory | Date | Departure | Arrival | Train |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechelen -> Brussels North | 2009-07-13 | 07:02 | 07:18 | IR 3128 |
| Brussels North ->Köln Hbf | 2009-07-13 | 07:27 | 09:15 | ICE 11 |
| Köln Hbf ->Mannheim Hbf | 2009-07-13 | 09:54 | 11:24 | ICE 515 |
| Mannheim Hbf ->Basel SBB | 2009-07-13 | 11:36 | 13:47 | ICE 375 |
| Basel SBB ->Arth-Goldau | 2009-07-13 | 14:03 | 15:45 | IR 2177 |
| Arth-Goldau -> Milano Centrale | 2009-07-13 | 15:50 | 18:50 | CIS 21 |
| Milano Centrale ->Barcelone Estacion de Franca | 2009-07-13/14 | 19:40 | 09:43 | EN 11274 |
| Barcelona Estacion de Franca -> Barcelona Sants | 2009-07-14 | 09:43 | 10:28 | Transfer |
| Barcelona Sants -> Madrid-Puerta de Atocha | 2009-07-14 | 12:00 | 15:23 | AVE 3122 |
| Madrid-Puerta de Atocha | 2009-07-14 | 16:40 | 20:02 | TLG 194 |
And that's after asking to arrive 'around' noon on the 15th. Although I'd love to combine ICE ('Intercity Express', German high-speed trains), CIS ('Cisalpino', Italian high-speed trains), EN ('EuroNight', pretty much what the name says), and AVE ('Alta Velocidad España', Spanish high-speed trains) in a single trip, I think I'll pass for this particular suggestion. And that's ignoring the fact that 5 minutes for a transfer in Arth-Goldau (a place I've never heard of before, let alone been in that train station) is rather tight, and that I don't know whether I'll be able to make it in 45 minutes from one train station to another in Barcelona without actually knowing the city.
More soon.
There is no transfer problem in Arth-Goldau: two trains will arrive at the same time (one from Basel and the other from Zurich) and they will depart at same time: one more direct, one with some stops in the Alps (BTW: one to Locarno, one to Lugano/Milano). So the two train are near, on the two side of the same pavement, allowing passangers to change the trains.
I'm more worried about CIS. It is not really high speed, they broke often, they are always late, and BTW we are still waiting for the new CIS: maybe in July you will really find some of the CIS, but now there are some replacement trains which don't go in Italy. For statistics: http://cessoalpino.com
I used page of Polish railways: http://rozklad.pkp.pl/?q=en/node/146 and it gave me 26h for Your trip.
Check out the german railway website - this seems to work quite well.
I would guess your ideal trajectory would be Brussels -> Paris Paris -> Madrid (overnight) Madrid -> Carceres
Well... It seems that their algorithm do everything to avoid Paris !
In fact, you won't certainly get more info at the train station. You can't book french's trains more than three months before your trip.
However, there's a night train from Paris Austerlitz to Madrid each night. Arriving around 10AM.
you're right on the spot with your concerns about switching trains in arth-goldau. I would advise against using Cisalpino if you must catch any connecting trains at all, not just within 5 minutes
Google "Cisalpino breakdown" if you are interested in all the gory details.
The change in Arth-Goldau is the least of your problems, as you only have to cross the sidewalk, and the second train WILL wait for the first one.
Just FYI
Hi, Going from Brussels to Spain, I'd minimize the number of connections (and companies!) and do (anywhere in .be -> Brussels)(Brussels -> Paris, direct, I guess ~2h)(Paris -> Madrid, direct or change in Hendaye, iirc) There might be a way to sleep in the Paris->Madrid. Added bonus: you can buy everything off voyage-sncf.com and increase your chances of getting something back if a train is late and you miss your connection. Enjoy!
Hi Wouter
Don't worry about the short transfer time in Arth-Goldau. 5 minutes is enough. Arth-Goldau is a small train station in the center of Switzerland where the lines from Zurich and Basel going to the Gotthard tunnel meet. So every hour either passengers coming from Basel or Zurich have to change trains there. The trains stop just side by side.
If I were you I'd rather worry about taking the Cisalpino. These trains have a long history of being very unreliable. The are often late and replacement trains usually only go to Chiasso at the italian border. BTW Cisalpino, while similar to the Italian high speed trains is a joint venture of the italian and swiss railways.
I'm not sure yet if I will attend DebConf. But if I will I would be glad to join you on the train. I'm coming from Bern.
Gaudenz
You want Brussels -> Madrid and the idea is to go via Germany, Switzerland and Italy?
This is to make sure that the only part of the trip in France is on the sleeper train?
Actually all the direct Paris->Madrid trains seem to be sleepers, leave Paris around 19:46, arrive Madrid Chamartin at 9:10. Otherwise it's Paris -> Irun on TGV, then Irun -> Madrid, which is nearly 6 hours.