Have you ever been on a High Speed Train?

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Ricardodaforce

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If so, what's it like?

I'm going on my first trip on a 300kmh AVE soon and am quite excited. When I think of trains, I think of High Wycombe to Marylebone, so I'm expecting the AVE to be a totally different experience.

So, if you've been on an AVE, TGV or Shinkansen, what's it like?
 
Yes, I went on the magnarail thingy from Shanghai International to Shanghai, around 40km. This was about 4 years ago, the Chinese are way ahead of us.

It's incredibly quiet and smooth, and although each carriage has a digital speed readout on view, it's hard to believe what it shows. It only became obvious when we were running alongside a motorway for a while, and all the traffic going the same way as us seemed to be going backwards
 
I work for Eurostar and they run at about that speed, it is surprisingly smooth and doesn't feel fast.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Yes, I went on the magnarail thingy from Shanghai International to Shanghai, around 40km. This was about 4 years ago, the Chinese are way ahead of us.

It's incredibly quiet and smooth, and although each carriage has a digital speed readout on view, it's hard to believe what it shows. It only became obvious when we were running alongside a motorway for a while, and all the traffic going the same way as us seemed to be going backwards
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Me too, the Maglev train is awesome, the speed was only noticeable when the other train passed us, nearly cra@@ed myself :lol:


Simon
 
They are much nicer to travel on than regular trains, really smooth & quiet running. Just been to Cologne on Eurostar and Thalys and they both run at 186mph (300km/h) although I would say the Thalys seems a bit nicer in terms of comfort.
 
I took the TGV from Lille to Cannes and it was one of the best travel experiences I have had, you would never believe the speed is so fast, it is smooth and very comfortable.
 
Eurostar then TGV across France, smooth as you like but little sense of speed (or movement of any kind).
As above though, when you do pass a train going the other way, you realise how fast you are travelling.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
If so, what's it like?

I'm going on my first trip on a 300kmh AVE soon and am quite excited. When I think of trains, I think of High Wycombe to Marylebone, so I'm expecting the AVE to be a totally different experience.

So, if you've been on an AVE, TGV or Shinkansen, what's it like?
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I get one every day, Reading to Paddington. Doesn't feel anything special
 
boliston said:
They are much nicer to travel on than regular trains, really smooth & quiet running. Just been to Cologne on Eurostar and Thalys and they both run at 186mph (300km/h) although I would say the Thalys seems a bit nicer in terms of comfort.
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I'd agree but the Eurostar trains are 20 years old now. We have a major upgrade starting next year, half the fleet is being replaced by brand new trains and the rest are undergoing complete bare shell upgrades. From what I've seen so far they look pretty good.
 
TGV from Paris to Bordeaux, 186 mph most of the way, such a lovely way to travel. The new AGV the French and Italian's will be shortly getting goes even faster, 220 mph which should be even better.
 
Just recently went from Cordoba to Madrid using the high speed RENFE train. Opted for the Turista+ tickets, and got really comfortable seats, loads of leg room, and a short walk to the buffet carriage. Really smooth ride. Train only got up to 270km/h though.
 
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mindcrime said:
Just recently went from Cordoba to Madrid using the high speed RENFE train. Opted for the Turista+ tickets, and got really comfortable seats, loads of leg room, and a short walk to the buffet carriage. Really smooth ride. Train only got up to 270km/h though.
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I'm going for Turista+ too. Am gonna download a GPS speedometer app and take a screen shot when we kit 300. Anyone got an app recommendation?
 
I've used the German ICE which has a top speed of 300 km/h I believe. As you would imagine from the Germans, it's very efficient and very good. Travelling on it is fast (obviously), and comfortable.

My old colleagues in Germany used to complain about it's inefficiencies if the service was running even 6 minutes late..... over the course of the whole week! :thinking::lol:
 
mortimerhill said:
Definition of high speed rail is 200 kmoh on existing tracks
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Just found this in an article on the train derailment in Galicia.

What is high-speed rail?

It depends where you are, but the International Union of Railways says the term is reserved for systems (not just trains) designed for speeds of more than 250 kph (155 mph) if the lines are new and speeds up to 220 kph (137 mph) if the lines are upgraded.
 
I've been on a few bullet trains in Japan and they were great, so much space and so smooth.
 
I'm currently in the Renfe First Class lounge awaiting my AVE to Alicante. The trip here was so easy and comfortable. I had Tourista+ for the outward trip, but the amount of room per seat was outstanding.
Am looking forward to even better conditions for the return as I have a preferente ticket (1st class).
When we hit 300km/h the ride was a smooth as silk. I'll never fly Alicante-Madrid again. This is so much better!
 
Is the extra cost for 1st class worth it over Tourista+? When we travelled from Cordoba to Madrid, the difference was 40 Euro! The seats look similar, and you're really just paying for food service, aren't you? Unless of course, you got a good deal for 1st class?

If I'm ever in Spain again, I would definitely travel using the high speed trains. Less stressful than an airport!
 
mindcrime said:
Is the extra cost for 1st class worth it over Tourista+? When we travelled from Cordoba to Madrid, the difference was 40 Euro! The seats look similar, and you're really just paying for food service, aren't you? Unless of course, you got a good deal for 1st class?

If I'm ever in Spain again, I would definitely travel using the high speed trains. Less stressful than an airport!
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When I booked, the difference for the return leg was only 8€. That seemed to good to pass up. The difference for outbound was greater which is why I went Tourista+.
 
Of course some of us prefer the real thing. :)

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Symi. Small island just off Rhodes. Utterly, utterly gorgeous place. Honest!

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Did a few bullet train trips in Japan. Still have the tickets! It's really quite odd. It's very smooth and quiet (far smoother and quieter than the trains we get around here!) and there's not really any sensation of speed until you pass something that's close to the train. A very pleasant, and fast way to travel.

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I've done the Maglev in Shanghai - when it hits a bend at 370Km per hour, it's something to behold.....it's a shame it stops in the middle of the business district, miles away from the bit of Shanghai where most of the hotels are.....
 
Only good old Eurostar to Paris for me but it was very impressive - in fact the whole Eurostar thing was impressive... arriving back at Ashford and having to get on a crappy Connex train was a massive culture shock from the slowness, the filth and the damned rude unhelpful staff.

I measured the Eurostrar speed with my GPS, just over 200mph across France... seemed very calm until we came to run alongside a motorway.... watching the "parked" traffic at only 70/80mph :D
 
eurostar and HS1 regularly for me. Colin is right, the eurostar is looking a bit dated now but upgrades will be good...
 
mindcrime said:
If I'm ever in Spain again, I would definitely travel using the high speed trains. Less stressful than an airport!
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Recently used the high speed trains in Spain and they are fantastic. Economical and run a great service, spot on time too.

I'll definitely use them again when we're back there. :thumbs:
 
I've done the Eurostar/TGV thing many times - ironically the best part of those journeys was the slowest - coming through that alps while on the Milan to Paris TGV! Beautiful..!
 
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