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Trains

Oslo trams and trains

My wife and I have been going to Oslo at least once a year since 1992. I love the Oslo transportation system, and I was impressed with the letter “From Airport to Oslo and Frogner Park” (Sept. ’16, pg. 15).

The writer mentioned the brown brick building, near Oslo’s Sentral Station, where you can buy tram tickets. Something that travelers should be aware of is while entering the building to buy your ticket, you will need to take a number and wait for assistance from one of the clerks there. 

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways

Calling All Readers

Narrow-gauge and offbeat railways

Jack and Elizabeth Kaufman of Lake
Quivira, Kansas, wrote, “We would be interested in travelers’ suggestions for scenic or unusual railroad trips.

“We have ridden the well-known Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ‘toy train’ in India, a short but enjoyable trip. Another short trip is Norway’s Flåm Railway, pegged to tourists, with spectacular views of fjords. We also have taken the Cuzco-Puno railroad in Peru, passing over some of the highest railroad passes in the world.

Italy train collision

In the Apulia region of southeastern Italy, two passenger trains collided head-on on July 12 between the towns of Andria and Corato, killing 23 people and injuring 52 others.

The rail service in the area, which consists of a single track, requires stationmasters to notify each other when trains are on the track. The stationmaster at Andria admitted that he had OK’d the southbound train, not knowing that a northbound train was incoming.

Le Train Bleu

This month’s winner is SALLY KEVERS of Roswell, Georgia:

Dining at the fabulous Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris was on our bucket list for fall 2015. Since our TGV train would arrive at the rail station at 1:30 p.m., my husband and I had made lunch reservations.

In the station, since we had our luggage with us (a roller suitcase and a tote each), we asked for directions to the elevator up. We knew the restaurant had a special cloakroom just for luggage storage.  

Tips on transportation in Europe

I prefer to travel independently rather than with a tour group, and, over the years, one of the benefits of planning my own travel has been achieving a level of expertise in the various transportation systems abroad. On our September 2015 trip to Europe, my wife, Kris, and I and four friends used quite a few different conveyances to get around, many of which we booked before we left the US. 

Trains

Train travel in Europe is generally safe, efficient and fast. Traveling by train with full suitcases can be somewhat stressful, however. 

Train to Taj Mahal

The Gatimaan Express began operating high-speed rail service from Hazrat Nizamuddin Station in Delhi, India, to Agra, location of the Taj Mahal, in April. The train makes the nearly 130-mile journey in about an hour and 40 minutes. Food service, TV and Wi-Fi are offered on board.

Strikes in France

Workers often strike in France, and this occasionally affects travelers. The following occurred in 2016.

In March, two air traffic controller strikes caused the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights. (Since 2009, French air traffic controllers have convened 43 strike days.)

In late May, oil refinery workers held a strike that caused about 20% of the nation’s gas stations to run out of fuel.

“Grand Train Tour of Switzerland”

11-day, 10-night escorted tour, Sept. 17-27, 2016. (Group of 15-25.) Highlights: Take rail from Zürich to Pontresina for excursion at Muottas Muragl/Bernina Express to Poschiavo/Glacier Express to Matterhorn in Zermatt/Chillon Water Castle/Golden Pass Classic to Schynige Platte/in La Chaux-de-Fonds, International Watch Museum/Emmentaler Show Dairy in Bern/Lucerne. $3,815 per person, double occupancy (ppdo), or $4,409 single. Magic Switzerland (Kansas City, MO; 800/337-9477, www.magicswitzerland.com).

Special experiences

Embracing travel memories, two places stand out the most.

• During a trip that my wife and I took to Scandinavia about eight years ago, we rode the rails for 18 hours from Stockholm, Sweden, to Narvik, NORWAY. From there, we flew to Trondheim and eventually made our way to Myrdal Station by rail. From there, we rode the Flåm Cog Railway, which descends 2,840 feet to Flåm in 12 miles. This is one of the 10 steepest railways in the world.

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