Here is a short introduction,TO A REPORT
POSTED -14–03–2008::
-The A2 motorway between Basel and Lugano
is one of Europe’s most important north-south
connecting routes. Some 2500 trucks travel it
every day. At the end of May, a rockslide just
outside the Gotthard tunnel killed two people,
and the A2 was closed until at least July 9,
and probably for longer. Since then, road
traffic has been diverted to the Brenner
or San Bernardino passes.
brit pete:
ONE reason to use the RAILWAY to cross the ALPS;
That’s very sad news indeed Pete.
Years ago, I used to give that route a miss because of the sheer volume of traffic at Como.
As an alternative to that, I used to go into Swiss at Vallorbe and then over the Simplon.
I’m not sure whether that would be a viable alternative these days though…
The riseing cost to use the swiss roads,waiting time
at the bordersand along the route(s) which lead to
the neighbours ,make it harder for everone, perhaps
thats why i do enjoy the use of the train,
it saves time money,wear & tear not only on the vehicle
but also is good for the driver;
brit pete:
it saves time money,wear & tear not only on the vehicle
but also is good for the driver;
Unless things have changed a lot since I last used the train, roughly 4 years ago. Then it only looks good on the tacho’.
You get a bunk to sleep on and a place where you can heat up food or make coffee and sit to eat and drink. There is no way I would consider it a good nights sleep though.
The train has several changes of engine and is shunted into sidings a few times too. One change-over on the Italian border and another on the German border. Then the Swiss hook up another engine or two, to drag it over the Alps. These change-overs and hook-ups are done in much the same way as night trunkers do their change-overs, in the middle of a group of their day shift colleagues trying to sleep. You get shaken around pretty roughly, several times during the journey.
Don’t expect to be fresh as a daisy and ready for a long hard shift after a night on the train. You are unlikely to be, unless you’re really knackered when you get on.
brit pete:
it saves time money,wear & tear not only on the vehicle
but also is good for the driver;
Unless things have changed a lot since I last used the train, roughly 4 years ago. Then it only looks good on the tacho’.
You get a bunk to sleep on and a place where you can heat up food or make coffee and sit to eat and drink. There is no way I would consider it a good nights sleep though.
The train has several changes of engine and is shunted into sidings a few times too. One change-over on the Italian border and another on the German border. Then the Swiss hook up another engine or two, to drag it over the Alps. These change-overs and hook-ups are done in much the same way as night trunkers do their change-overs, in the middle of a group of their day shift colleagues trying to sleep. You get shaken around pretty roughly, several times during the journey.
Don’t expect to be fresh as a daisy and ready for a long hard shift after a night on the train. You are unlikely to be, unless you’re really knackered when you get on.
That was about my experience too Simon, not the comfiest things when they are running on 7 inch wheels either. The only good thing I can say is that is was better than the Dresden to Lovosice service
brit pete:
ONE reason to use the RAILWAY to cross the ALPS;
That’s very sad news indeed Pete.
Years ago, I used to give that route a miss because of the sheer volume of traffic at Como.
As an alternative to that, I used to go into Swiss at Vallorbe and then over the Simplon.
I’m not sure whether that would be a viable alternative these days though…
[/quote]
Lots of people still use this route, was with a Dutch driver in Monthey a few weeks ago and he was telling me they use it all the time, and i know of a fair few Brits using that route too.
WHAT is then better to be stuck in a queue some
where between BASEL–COMO .and haveing to
wait a lengthy time period , not allowed to switch
you motor on,no where to eat(when stuck on the
road) unless you have some thing with you or are at a
motorway rest stop,sorry YES it,s noisy and you have to
do you own food plus bring your sleeping stuff, NO
for me its okay, and i have been useing the train
for quite a while now as our firm was allways
useing the train to get more permits,
brit pete:
WHAT is then better to be stuck in a queue some
where between BASEL–COMO .and haveing to
wait a lengthy time period , not allowed to switch
you motor on,no where to eat(when stuck on the
road) unless you have some thing with you or are at a
motorway rest stop,sorry YES it,s noisy and you have to
do you own food plus bring your sleeping stuff, NO
for me its okay, and i have been useing the train
for quite a while now as our firm was allways
useing the train to get more permits,
There are several good reasons for using the train Pete.
A good nights sleep isn’t one of them.
brit pete:
ONE reason to use the RAILWAY to cross the ALPS;
That’s very sad news indeed Pete.
Years ago, I used to give that route a miss because of the sheer volume of traffic at Como.
As an alternative to that, I used to go into Swiss at Vallorbe and then over the Simplon.
I’m not sure whether that would be a viable alternative these days though…
Lots of people still use this route, was with a Dutch driver in Monthey a few weeks ago and he was telling me they use it all the time, and i know of a fair few Brits using that route too.
[/quote]
Vallorbe Simplon is still used and is probably the cheapest route Metz to Milan without a peage
brit pete:
ONE reason to use the RAILWAY to cross the ALPS;
That’s very sad news indeed Pete.
Years ago, I used to give that route a miss because of the sheer volume of traffic at Como.
As an alternative to that, I used to go into Swiss at Vallorbe and then over the Simplon.
I’m not sure whether that would be a viable alternative these days though…
Lots of people still use this route, was with a Dutch driver in Monthey a few weeks ago and he was telling me they use it all the time, and i know of a fair few Brits using that route too.
Vallorbe Simplon is still used and is probably the cheapest route Metz to Milan without a peage
[/quote]
Totally agree, we used it all the time on PTM when doing Italy.
Only problem now is the Road Tax is damned expensive. A freind was talking o a British Guy at St. Louis Yesterday, he did 50km in Swiss and got charged £30!!
brit pete:
ONE reason to use the RAILWAY to cross the ALPS;
That’s very sad news indeed Pete.
Years ago, I used to give that route a miss because of the sheer volume of traffic at Como.
As an alternative to that, I used to go into Swiss at Vallorbe and then over the Simplon.
I’m not sure whether that would be a viable alternative these days though…
Lots of people still use this route, was with a Dutch driver in Monthey a few weeks ago and he was telling me they use it all the time, and i know of a fair few Brits using that route too.
Vallorbe Simplon is still used and is probably the cheapest route Metz to Milan without a peage
Totally agree, we used it all the time on PTM when doing Italy.
Only problem now is the Road Tax is damned expensive. A freind was talking o a British Guy at St. Louis Yesterday, he did 50km in Swiss and got charged £30!!
[/quote]
I would pay that myself for that scenery though. I love the Simplon pass. I was driving near Simplon a couple of years ago when my Brother called me. We hadn’t spoken for a couple of months and he and his wife were on the Venice Simplon Orient Express for a short break. I looked up to see the train going past
It was like, Ey up boy, where are you? Im in Swiss. So are we. Where abouts?
Im driving over the Simplon pass, Well we are on the posh train. Talk to you later. How cool is that
Mind you, I’m old enough to remember doing Basel - Como before the motorways were finished.
Who remembers having to park up for a while each day so that the mail coach could get past??
