(Right up front, this will not be a bad science fiction post.) If you count yourself as a regular rail user (we’re talking to you, you heroic public transport denizens) you may fall into one of two (or maybe three) camps when it comes to rail travel. #1 is that you wish you never had to step into a train ever again. #2 is that you use it when you can, but sometimes circumstances just doesn’t work for you. Or, #3, where you absolutely love taking rail as your transport of choice. As you might guess, we fall into the latter category. To this day – it’s 2024 for Pete’s sake – we still stand with our mouths open when we see how so many cities and countries cast rail aside as an annoyance, rather than one of the best things on the planet. Harumph.
So, today we were perusing another interesting and informative video on rail, courtesy of the indefatigable Jago Hazzard where he answered what is probably a fairly common question for we rail enthusiasts, or even for you nervous riders: why are some trains (in this case, London’s DLR) so wobbly? Are they defective? badly planned and implemented? Are they old and ready for the boneyard? Will the train fall apart mid-journey? It’s none of the above, actually. It’s a phenomenon known as hunting oscillation and most rail systems experience it; and it’s fine. So, the next time one of your friends, family or colleagues go apoplectic when a train squeaks or wobbles or bumps . . . relax. Watch Jago’s video, above.
When you’re in the UK or on the European continent, RailEurope is there for you. Click here to book.
If you really love rail . . . and art, then the Musée d’Orsay is calling your name. It was once a spectacular railway station, but, once it was retired, the French have gone one step beyond. It’s now a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. (Wikipedia.) Click here for a fabulous private tour. Prepare to be wowed.
As ever, we recommend the Hotel du Champ de Mars. Gorgeous, central and unforgettable. Click here.