Post by londonstuff on Oct 20, 2013 20:07:35 GMT
Just in case anyone's interested. I've been in the south of France for the last week and used the railways a little, to get to Nice and also for a quick overnight schlep to Milan. I've tried to take as many photos of train stuff as I can 
</geek>
Nice railway station. Lots of iron, really low platforms compared to the track that accommodates the double-decker trains. In general the trains on the French side are really quite modern.
Monaco, Monte-Carlo station. Modern and tunnel carved out of rock. About four different exits which all bring you out in different parts of MC on different levels. The station is enormously long and from one exit to another takes about a third of the principality.
Changing trains just over the Italian border, in Ventimiglia, it's like going back in time. The intercity trains take forever - Ventimiglia to Milan was four hours for about 230 miles though each carriage has its own compartments, seating six. They've also got power points, which is great, especially for old trains.
Milan station. Absolutely unbelievable construction, an enormous building, comprising of 21 platforms and incredible architecture. I've never seen a station like this. Typically Italian.
Trennibianco on the left. Don't ask me any details about it! The one I took from Ventimiglia on the right.
This is the station concourse - though only part of it. It's absolutely enormous.
Down to the metro - with conveyor belts for luggage in the middle of the stairs at Milano Centrale station. Wouldn't it have just been easier to add an escalator?
The metro system itself. Reminds me of Barcelona. Didn't get to take photos of the inside of trains because I wanted to keep my phone(!) but there were various LCD displays in there and maps seemed to integrate with the bus and tram system. Compared to London the system seemed fairly rough with lots of graffiti on trains and stations. There were more screens on the platforms displaying adverts - not sure how long they'd last in London.
An added bonus, a tram system I didn't know about with beautiful, old-fashioned trams.
</geek>Nice railway station. Lots of iron, really low platforms compared to the track that accommodates the double-decker trains. In general the trains on the French side are really quite modern.
Monaco, Monte-Carlo station. Modern and tunnel carved out of rock. About four different exits which all bring you out in different parts of MC on different levels. The station is enormously long and from one exit to another takes about a third of the principality.
Changing trains just over the Italian border, in Ventimiglia, it's like going back in time. The intercity trains take forever - Ventimiglia to Milan was four hours for about 230 miles though each carriage has its own compartments, seating six. They've also got power points, which is great, especially for old trains.
Milan station. Absolutely unbelievable construction, an enormous building, comprising of 21 platforms and incredible architecture. I've never seen a station like this. Typically Italian.
Trennibianco on the left. Don't ask me any details about it! The one I took from Ventimiglia on the right.
This is the station concourse - though only part of it. It's absolutely enormous.
Down to the metro - with conveyor belts for luggage in the middle of the stairs at Milano Centrale station. Wouldn't it have just been easier to add an escalator?
The metro system itself. Reminds me of Barcelona. Didn't get to take photos of the inside of trains because I wanted to keep my phone(!) but there were various LCD displays in there and maps seemed to integrate with the bus and tram system. Compared to London the system seemed fairly rough with lots of graffiti on trains and stations. There were more screens on the platforms displaying adverts - not sure how long they'd last in London.
An added bonus, a tram system I didn't know about with beautiful, old-fashioned trams.
