European, originally a Brit, became German, moved to France. Runs #CrossBorderRail project, writes a weekly newsletter about railways. Green, lives happily without a car. Normally stuck on a train, stuck in a village, or escaping either on a folding bicycle. Toots mostly in EN, einige auf DE, parfois en FR.
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2026-07-30T06:52:37Z Event JSON
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Last Notes npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So despite not getting the long term capacity guarantees from DB InfraGo it said it needed (although a rule change on % of paths allocated to any one operator might help), Italo has ordered 26 Velaro trains from Siemens Note: Velaro 8 carriage, the older design, not Novo with 7 longer carriages https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/italo-orders-velaro-high-speed-trains-siemens npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…c4yj yes. It was open. Then they closed it 🤷♂️ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…yj47 My best guess is SOME trains are certain to run, so are open for sale. Other where the timetable is still being worked on are simply not available yet. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Damn what are Norrtåg doing now? 🤔 Even the extra train Haparanda - Boden on the day Tornio - Haparanda opens (10 August) is not available And every train *other than* the midday train on every subsequent day is also not available for purchase This launch is 3 weeks away, and data and ticketing are STILL a total shit show #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/951/385/438/209/290/original/09bd497a431f43ef.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I’m on a train to 🇩🇰 and my newsletter has just gone out It’s here: https://jonworth.eu/after-years-of-frustration-suddenly-progress-with-france-spain-rail-connections/ This week: Analysis: After years of frustration, suddenly progress with France - Spain rail connections Bullshit Meter: Direct trains Trieste - Beograd Good week: A little summer holiday pause Also a good week: Electrification at Fuentes de Oñoro might be done this year npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Aaaannnddd ECE 392 is a DSB rubber nose (diesel under wires the whole way), not a Talgo. Because 🤷♂️ even a year after the launch DSB and Talgo still cannot get the Talgo trains running correctly. Because Talgo builds shit. #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/890/896/315/484/158/original/fa8bd3cf524f8cb1.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So tomorrow I am off on "holiday" (we'll see how relaxing it proves to be) And as ever, no flying Day 1 is Nuits-sous-Ravières - Skanderborg 🇩🇰 TODAY all the trains ran well enough to allow all connections to be reached. Will it be the same tomorrow? 😀 Posts will be sporadic, and tagged #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/890/864/035/086/803/original/b77314c662f7d4b2.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…acn0 @nprofile…y9mx Ich benötige zwei Gedenksteine, jeweils ca. 30 x 15 cm, wahrscheinlich aus Granit (muss hart und langlebig sein), die an Außenwänden von Bahnhöfen angebracht werden sollen. Auf jeden Stein müssen eine recht detaillierte Karte und ein Text eingraviert werden. Da die Steine jedoch klein sind, wird die Schriftgröße entsprechend klein ausfallen. Ich gehe davon aus, dass dies mit einer Lasergravur möglich wäre. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth First: Berlin - Bruxelles re planned because DB changed its timetable because of works Second: route to Aachen re-planned because National Express cancelled a train Third: route to Duisburg to get the re-planned train re-planned because of a DB signal box problem npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth In the end I can’t deny I enjoy the challenge of this. There are so many permutations, so many trains, so many problems to overcome. And I’ll get there. Were this mess in France it’d be „next train in three hours, just wait“ - and that’s dull 😀 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth This is basically „how far can you take the definition of Zugbindung aufgehoben?“ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth The event is at the -1 bunker level at Berlin Hbf. Theoretically there’s 5G but it’s poor. Posting might be limited. #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Hmm So from December 2027 every train in Belgium needs ETCS TGV Réseau doesn’t have ETCS And the TGV M is due 2029 (and as Alstom might be later still) What’s going to happen? 🤔 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So what are the plans? Extension July 2027 to Basel And Castex is talking about TGV-M from 2029… Will mean up from 6000 to 9000 seats in the fleet npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth 🤬🤬🤬🤬 #CrossBorderRail They’re obsessed And yes I stopped this right away https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/709/509/454/179/460/original/5e9763bd18d71a6a.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth That’s Signal de Botrange. Highest point in Belgium! #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/707/850/276/785/368/original/12d8487bd2c46b27.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Damn I don’t like buses on #CrossBorderRail This driver swings the bus around the corners. I need the seat belt to avoid flying off the seat! npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth #CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Bus 14 of 14 E 28 09:55 Eupen Bushof - St Vith An den Linden 11:01 TEC Bus type: Mercedes Citaro regional bus ⛽️ 🚲: ⛔️ 🦽: ✅ 🛜: ⛔️ 🍽️: ⛔️ 🧳: 🙂 (multi use area and overhead racks) 🧽: 🙂 https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/707/752/790/894/678/original/e365ec256f5f0047.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…zywc hmmm. Whatever is in that post I can’t access it. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…q0th the renovated ones are Germany - Paris mostly. The old ones still to Amsterdam. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So that’s #CrossBorderRai Bonfol 🇨🇭 - Pfetterhouse 🇫🇷 https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/897/226/399/803/original/d20d46d72b5d58e3.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/897/588/891/679/original/3e478bb84958ada6.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/897/910/861/368/original/f27c783573584824.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/898/298/025/660/original/0cd1633ddd790052.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Next up: Train pour Bonfol Sans pastis. Avec canicule. 🥵 #CrossBorderRail https://youtu.be/u2ueOo1jE2w?is=oI65asUfrMfNus6k npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Nice trip on the CFJ. And no Josette 🐈 in today’s thread but there is Rosette #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/605/151/291/623/original/8e5dcaf8f20b0746.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth R 36 (245) 12:02 La Chaux-de-Fonds - Glovelier 13:18 Distance: 50.6km Average speed: 40km/h 18 stops: La Chaux-de-Fonds-Est La Cibourg La Ferrière La Chaux-dAbel La Large-Journée Les Bois Le Boéchet Le Creux-des-Biches Le Noirmont Les Emibois Muriaux Saignelégier Le Bémont JU Pré-Petitjean La Combe Bollement Combe-Tabeillon Glovelier This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#11/47.224698/7.063179 #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth #CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 122 of 134 R 36 (245) 12:02 La Chaux-de-Fonds - Glovelier 13:18 Chemins de Fer du Jura Train type: Stadler narrow gauge EMU ⚡️ (1.5kV dc) 🚲: ✅ 🦽: ✅ (step free) 🛜: ⛔️ 🍽️: ⛔️ 🧳: 🙂 🧽: 🙂 (spotless) Interrail: 🙂 (accepted) https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/657/444/003/881/540/original/981272c37844eee7.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth But while today’s #CrossBorderRail takes me into European rail paradise, as Switzerland isn’t EU I have no data roaming 😡 Posts to resume when I get to Dannemarie 🙂 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth TER 18107 09:31 Besançon-Viotte - La Chaux-de-Fonds 11:24 Distance: 86.1km Average speed: 46km/h 16 stops: Besançon-Mouillère Morre Saone Mamirolle LHôpital du Gros Bois Etalans Le Valdahon Camp Militaire Le Valdahon Avoudrey Gilley Morteau Le Locle-Col-des-Roches Le Locle Le Crêt-du-Locle La Chaux-de-Fonds Les Forges La Chaux-de-Fonds This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-2026-spring-tour_1361108#11/47.140432/6.423050 #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth #CrossBorderRail 2026 Spring Tour Train 121 of 134 TER 18107 09:31 Besançon-Viotte - La Chaux-de-Fonds 11:24 SNCF for TER Mobigo Train type: Bombardier AGC DMU, 3 short carriages ⛽️ 🚲: ✅ 🦽: ✅ (step free, and even tiny halts have been rebuilt to be step free) 🛜: ⛔️ 🍽️: ⛔️ 🧳: 🙂️ 🧽: 🙂 (this one is passably clean)️ Interrail: 🙂 (accepted) npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Agh total planning fail 😡 There's an organised 17km hike along the former #CrossBorderRail line La Fregeneda 🇪🇸 - Pocinho 🇵🇹 Which end does the hike start (exclusively)? La Fregeneda 🇪🇸 Which end has public transport? Pocinho 🇵🇹 (train to Porto, there's a bus 1x a day at La Fregeneda at the wrong time) Site: https://caminodehierro.es Or am I misunderstanding something? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…gl70 *Theoretically what will happen* then 🙂 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Right A little Ravières - Frankfurt (Main) - Berlin - Bruxelles - Ravières #CrossBorderRail trip is planned for the end of June The joy of Interrail. "Can you stop for lunch in Frankfurt?" "Yes, of course, I am on Interrail!" 🙂 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…ca69 No, because I *think* what's causing the issue is temporary maintenance and not long term stuff. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Repeating what happens every summer Jon tries to go to Sweden Jon fails to get Swedish trains at the times he wants them There are works in late August - early September between Hässleholm and Lund, resulting I think in diversions via Åstorp But I cannot work out precisely when these works start and end @nprofile…5cze @nprofile…d3df do you possibly know? Or know how to find out? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth 🎉 Since I was last there, they've upped the number of Badajoz 🇪🇸 - Entroncamento 🇵🇹 #CrossBorderRail trains to 2 a day (used to be 1) 😡 There aren't any in the morning though 🤷♂️ https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/634/295/782/924/523/original/f09d097593d74571.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth EXCLUSIVE! SAVE 25% with Jon's exclusive ticket offer for Paris - Berlin ICE trains! Really! Sort of... and with relevance for the EU's ticketing reforms to come Explained 👇 https://jonworth.eu/jon-worth-exclusive-25-off-paris-berlin-train-tickets-really-sort-of/ https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/630/143/102/640/196/original/28214fd242c091ac.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth lol 😂 Trainline shows me both times https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/629/847/971/465/858/original/381b79eb76ede149.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth FWIW Interrail has the same time as DB. So the data in UIC Merits is correct. SNCF’s is wrong. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Remember with the new EU rail capacity regulation all this has to be set at least 5 months ahead from 2029 😂 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Ah 👏 SNCF and DB “en coopération” 25 June Paris - Berlin, same train, whose timetable do I believe? 19:04 or 20:21 arrival in Berlin #CrossBorderRail Found via @nprofile…mpx2 https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/629/819/434/567/482/original/253c39c118fb39a4.png https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/629/819/688/302/336/original/bdb047a96a31701a.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…8k5z But why this, and *not* other ICE Sprinters that day? Is one track, rather than both tracks, closed somewhere perhaps? Maybe even at Bad Hersfeld? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth What route is the direct Paris - Berlin ICE 9591 taking on 25 June? 🤔 There are 5 hours timetabled for Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - Südkreuz, and no interim stops You can go via Göttingen, with interim stops, faster ICE 838 (Sprinter) on the same day does it in 3h 44 mins, direct to Südkreuz (i.e. via Erfurt) https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/629/097/532/104/396/original/1c5e8a988dbd44ae.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…aagj even then you’d only get 1 or 2. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I‘m at Paris Gare de Lyon this morning They’re repeating over and over that someone needs to come collect a bag left behind in carriage 6 of a TGV that arrived from Lyon Perrache Honestly if you did want to blow something up, surely an empty TGV, away from passengers, wouldn’t be your target? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Bahnblick versucht, die Zukunft des Kanaltunnels zu analysieren. Es ist völlig offensichtlich, dass sie sich dazu weder grundlegende Fragen gestellt noch jemanden mit Fachkenntnissen befragt haben. Der Film enthält einige grundlegende Fehler. #CrossChannelRail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpa7MspehYo Link via @nprofile…4c8w npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…drgj no. The wrapping requirement got dropped last year. So it’s fine. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Tornio - Haparanda might finally open after 10 August 🎉 https://yle.fi/a/74-20226999 But that's AFTER the special summertime weekend trains on Kemijärvi - Kemi stop, adding 8 hours to the trip time of the longest train ride in the EU 😭 https://jonworth.eu/the-longest-train-journey-in-the-eu/ #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth All of this proves a point I have made many times over the years: a good rail journey STARTS WITH A GOOD ROUTE Once you have the route, work out how to sell it SNCF Connect lacks the basic building blocks for planning, and only serves up limited options it can sell So even though it CAN sell to Germany again, DO NOT USE IT, because it's STILL a shit show #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Customer service, SNCF at Bercy It’s 08:47 on a Tuesday and the SNCF ticket office isn’t open SNCF runs trains to Centre Val de Loire. But the SNCF ticket office can’t sell you those tickets Oh and there’s a lunch break too https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/605/571/599/915/000/original/d84c501962a096d8.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/605/572/066/904/875/original/70d952b41af090f7.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/605/572/373/654/372/original/1ffd97338cb05dcb.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth What is the best way to proceed from here? Find time to call the editor and go through all the points line by line? It's not that the edits are necessarily a problem, I just don't understand the point of most of them 🤨 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Just got a chapter of a book I wrote about railways back from the editor, with Word track changes I approve the changes, and it introduces so many sentences that don't make sense, capital letters in the wrong places etc. that it now makes less sense than it did when I sent in the chapter As I am not used to these processes for book chapters, what's the best (and fastest?) way to proceed from here? 🤔 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth You'd think that two reasonably well run countries - Sweden 🇸🇪 and Finland 🇫🇮 - could manage to fix a #CrossBorderRail line in a timely fashion But no they can't Wherever I go these sorts of sagas seem universal A rant about Haparanda 🇸🇪 - Tornio 🇫🇮, and some nice photos: https://jonworth.eu/cross-border-railway-problems-are-annoyingly-universal/ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…w3eh @nprofile…w7xd disagree. The way the respective governments set up the liberalisation was completely different. I suspect Renfe will lose. (Note: I’m not judging what’s right here, but assessing probabilities) npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth And going via Besançon-Viotte - La Chaux-de-Fonds and a bit of Chemins de Fer du Jura 🎉 #CrossBorderRail npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So I have a spare Interrail day to use before 10th June That means #CrossBorderRail day trip Train pour Bonfol! 🇨🇭🇫🇷 Border: Bonfol 🇨🇭 - Pfetterhouse 🇫🇷 Close enough to link to the classic song, right? 😂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ueOo1jE2w npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth As my head has been full of all the #PassengerPackage stuff this week, I have barely had a moment for any other railway news For tomorrows newsletter I have: Bullshit meter - ICE-L to Oslo Good news - FS wins a contract to rebuild a Serbian line Bad news - the Wunderline re-opening is delayed again But did anyone have a Very Bad Week I have missed? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Some of this discussion about #PassengerPackage makes me think I’m losing my mind This stuff isn’t easy. There are big sums of money at stake. There won’t be only winners But the amount of spurious and obviously disingenuous arguments deployed by supposedly intelligent people is quite extraordinary npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth And I’ve got state railway sock puppets commenting on #PassengerPackage on LinkedIn telling me the proposal is against the OSDM implementation the industry has done (it’s not) and will only assist US tech What’s with these people? I get you might defend your employer, but why use arguments that are obviously bollocks? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth State railways this week CER (state railway trade lobby) in Brussels “Big evil US tech platforms will cream off our profits if the EU gets its way with ticketing reform!” DB Regio “Hey Google, here’s a load of data so you can sell our tickets!” https://railway-news.com/db-regio-introduces-ticket-purchase-options-via-google-maps/ Hypocrites. #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth In the end at least there’s this: the European Commission’s #PassengerPackage as drafted is not a step backwards, and it might put a few things right. It won’t make anything worse in its current form. Sure, I’d not have done it this way. But it’s not a backward step. That’s something. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…nq6t But someone else could build such a ticket now. (And I think it's more than 2 connections, not just one, but yes, it is a problem currently) npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth LOL 😂 CER is throwing its toys out of the pram about the #PassengerPackage Later on I will take this one apart, piece by piece It's fantastically awful, amusingly so https://www.cer.be/cer-press-releases/dominant-digital-platforms-and-higher-ticket-prices-the-hidden-side-effects-of-the-eus-new-rail-ticketing-legislation npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Earlier today I explained how the European Commission's proposals on rail ticketing are both radical and, in their current form, unworkable Now I have started to work out what European Parliament and Council would have to do to make things more workable from here #PassengerPackage https://jonworth.eu/how-to-make-the-rail-ticketing-aspects-of-the-european-commissions-passenger-package-more-workable/ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I had most of the #PassengerPackage leaked to me yesterday afternoon, and that allowed me to prepare my response, getting it out in a timely fashion: https://jonworth.eu/how-the-gospel-the-political-guidelines-left-the-european-commission-with-a-ticketing-proposal-both-radical-and-unworkable/ I cannot imagine the main trade associations did not have the same leaks I did? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth It's quite amusing #PassengerPackage is the most important legal proposal on rail from the Commission this year, perhaps even in the whole 5 year term Trade lobbies CER: Site: https://www.cer.be LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cer-community-of-european-railway-and-infrastructure-companies-/?originalSubdomain=be And ALLRAIL: Site: https://www.allrail.eu LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allraileu/posts/?feedView=all So far: NOTHING AT ALL! 😳 npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Agh, the journalists *mostly* want to talk about airline fuel, not the proposal 🤷♂️ #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Damn this is painful. Neither Fitto nor Tzitzikostas know why this is being done *this way*. The vague gist of it they get. #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Screaming. Screaming! NOOOOO #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth We're now talking about airlines in the press conference 🤷♂️ #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth This is not going to work. #PassengerPackage There is a SINGLE TRANSACTION obligation to get rights - see https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fc019827-59c9-400f-a530-4d7d21957a7d_en?filename=COM_2026_233_Proposal_on_the_protection_of_passengers_with_single_tickets.pdf BUT that means that IF you have some ticket already - a Klimaticket for example - and want to add something on to that, you are left without rights npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth This is a mess #PassengerPackage https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/566/703/955/818/647/original/6ec66cfe3eff36d3.png npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Noooooooo, ah what he is saying is not what the Regulation says, not clearly anyway. #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth "Our vision is very clear," says Tzitzikostas. "One journey, one ticket!" If only it were to work like that 😀 #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Here's my take on the #PassengerPackage "How the gospel - the Political Guidelines - left the European Commission with a ticketing proposal both radical and unworkable" https://jonworth.eu/how-the-gospel-the-political-guidelines-left-the-european-commission-with-a-ticketing-proposal-both-radical-and-unworkable/ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth OK here we go, press conference starting #PassengerPackage npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…n7mn so press know what the Commissioner will say today, before he says it. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Overall my fear about #PassengerPackage is this: the Commission is going to propose something both radical and far reaching, but I fear also unworkable. Overall this morning: I’m nervous. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Some Dutch and Swedish media have been… well, let’s say, not entirely respectful of an embargo and have already hit publish #PassengerPackage NOS 🇳🇱 https://nos.nl/l/2614072 DN 🇸🇪 https://www.dn.se/varlden/sigrid-melchior-ar-det-en-revolution-pa-gang-for-tagresenarer-i-europa/ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Today the European Commission is publishing the #PassengerPackage - legislation to fix railway ticketing I’ll be following what happens all day, and this thread will be updated as things are known / released npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…45c5 It is not *only* a verification app, I think? 🤔 There is a social feed on top? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth A political friend of mine asked me for my assessment of W Social - https://wsocial.news Currently 🤷♂️ It's to be based on AT Protocol, which is better than being closed, but what is the front end / app layer to look like? Some European hosted version of Bluesky? Or more radical than that? And the FAQ is *very vague* Anyone have any interesting takes? npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…5n05 @nprofile…5cze it’s infuriating. I can’t tell if it’s just no one knows a date, but it might happen. Or if VR is deliberately not acting, and the minister is trying to shame them into acting. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth There was a surprise waiting at home. A €10 purchase from Emmaüs, a 1971 Nikko TRM-230 amp and some elegant wooden case bookshelf speakers. The volume control is a bit scratchy but this is a nice amp and a good deal! https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/550/385/733/753/138/original/af5af522de080e86.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth It’s now mid May. Are we going to still see Tornio - Haparanda #CrossBorderRail opening this summer still? 🤔 https://www.railwaygazette.com/railtech-archive/2026/04/16/finland-says-long-delayed-cross-border-rail-link-to-sweden-set-for-summer-launch/ npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…asys unwillingness to push back on bad behaviour of passengers is such a universal annoyance. Even a „can you move your bag so I can sit“ gets a push back. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth @nprofile…asys Right. People are shocked. Because they never experienced it! npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I asked about Schengen. I sound like a one man pro Schengen campaign here. I think I’m one of the few people who ever pitches up in Brussels who gets subjected to illegal border controls. If you’re a Commission official who flies you don’t. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth And Schengen? The Commission is not even doing the minimum to defend it npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth It’s such an effing massive chasm There’s a Regulation on rail ticketing due next week. Is it going to do what PEOPLE need? No. Why? Because it’s industry that has more been heard. And here we’re hearing it’s all popular FFS npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Sigh https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/543/640/496/512/841/original/0f5ea794027cea34.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Today: off to talk to European Cyclists’ Federation. About… rail ticketing! 😀 But I’ve got the right mode of transport! https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/532/044/876/446/938/original/12180bfcec2ea950.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Meanwhile on LinkedIn 😆 #CrossBorderRail https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/526/577/153/052/987/original/a5c4adf215c0366c.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/526/577/430/667/840/original/986b9280b9a3e496.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I got a bus from a wet Bastogne. That passed a lot of wet cows. And now I‘ve got a train to Bruxelles Schuman https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/523/412/108/870/856/original/cfd59672ad33ddc3.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/523/412/436/651/116/original/301e3f8ef24beac0.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/523/412/799/907/782/original/bdc8b55e7b83a21e.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth So two more borders checked Rumelange 🇱🇺 - Ottange 🇫🇷 Benonchamps 🇧🇪 - Schimpach-Wampach 🇱🇺 Both dismantled lines, both not coming back The latter one is between Wiltz 🇱🇺 and Bastogne 🇧🇪 and there’s an excellent cycle path the whole way, Inc through tunnels. It was just very wet today! https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/523/389/646/525/951/original/6315ccc10c930fbe.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth That was a horrid wet cycle ride. I’ve done only half, the rest will be a bus! https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/523/068/715/806/707/original/2bdbd0c493211b14.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth But the crux is this: the Court of Auditors does not mess around. When they check things, they check. They dig. They work. Their report on high speed rail infra a few years ago was excellent. So hopefully something solid on rail services, cross border, will emerge from this. npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth In the end on the Court of Auditors thing, it is once more a problem of being a freelancer in a sector with no freelancers, and so once more I am doing complicated intellectual work for free BUT when they ask me a question about a railway topic I can answer it straight up. No need to defend what a company tells me, what a senior manager decides. I think a few unvarnished comments about the problems are helpful for them to frame their work npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth After 75 minutes being grilled by the Court of Auditors for a report they’re writing about railways, I’m on my way again. Next: Wiltz And this - as ever - is unpaid. Everyone else the Court will speak to has a job to allow them time for this. But as I’m self employed it’s just me, me giving my time. It’s nice to be asked of course! npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I don’t have any data on these either. But I’m getting closer to my destination: the European Court of Auditors https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/521/587/002/176/981/original/b08f592d3228f372.jpeg https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/521/587/654/795/011/original/3c3ce3975b44cffe.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth I know it’s the Lux tram. But *that* lux, with seats that light up? 🤔 https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/521/560/280/590/339/original/71a781775f639299.jpeg npub14v4yh4nkp3g4arfkdnyd5t5e6xn3zt5jsn8t8kt9sez35s3vat8scn8jgt Jon Worth Lëtzebuergesch is a funny language to read as a speaker of German and English! https://gruenesocial-userfiles.nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/media_attachments/files/116/521/547/608/490/304/original/427ed6c1faec5583.jpeg