#CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days 11 September Train 1 of 8
ICE 503
06:35 Berlin Südkreuz - Leipzig Hbf 07:42
DB Fernverkehr

Train type: Siemens-Bombardier ICE4 12 carriage version
⚡️
🚲: ✅ (needs reservation)
🦽: ✅ (on board lift)
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ✅
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂

(I’m on a fast train! 💨)

ICE 503
06:35 Berlin Südkreuz - Leipzig Hbf 07:42

Distance: 162.7km
Average speed: 146km/h

2 stops:
Lutherstadt Wittenberg Hbf
Leipzig Hbf

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#9/51.9151/12.8253

Meanwhile there’s a group of passengers in this train speaking German, but one of them is French speaking German with a heavy French accent.

This still messes with my head after all these years. English-German mix: fine. English-French mix: fine. German-French mix: I’m always confused!

#Deutschlandticket messes up DB’s data processing

I have a ICE ticket Berlin-Leipzig, and will use Deutschlandticket for the RB 13 Leipzig-Hof

My ICE to Leipzig is delayed, I might miss the connection onto the RB 13 - but due to the split ticket the train manager didn’t even know there was anyone on board with that connection…

Got the connection 🎉

#CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days 11 September Train 2 of 8
RB 13 (81013)
07:54 Leipzig Hbf - Hof Hbf 10:25
Erfurter Bahn GmbH

Train type: Stadler RS1 railbus, 2x 1 carriage (1 further carriage to Saalfeld)
⛽
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (big gap at Leipzig though - you’d need a ramp)
🛜: ✅
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 🙂 (newly renovated too)

RB 13 (81013)
07:54 Leipzig Hbf - Hof Hbf 10:25

Distance: 158.5km
Average speed: 63km/h

25 stops:
Leipzig-Plagwitz
Leipzig-Knauthain
Zwenkau-Großdalzig
Pegau
Profen
Zeitz
Wetterzeube
Crossen Ort
Crossen a d Elster
Bad Köstritz
Gera Hbf
Gera Süd
Gera-Zwötzen
Wolfsgefärth
Weida
Weida Mitte
Weida Altstadt
Loitsch-Hohenleuben
Hohenleuben
Triebes
Zeulenroda unt Bf
Mehltheuer
Schönberg(Vogtl)
Feilitzsch
Hof Hbf

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#9/50.8736/11.3763

And yes, tilting trains are like Marmite. You either love them or you hate them.

And apart from SBB ICN and SJ X2000 that are good (more because they’re nice on board than anything to do with the tilt) I can happily give all the rest a miss.

#CrossBorderRail 2024 Extra Days 11 September Train 3 of 8
RE 2 (4861)
10:40 Hof Hbf - Wiesau(Oberpf) 11:19
DB Regio AG Bayern

Train type: Class 218 diesel locomotive and 5 double deck carriages, driving control car
⛽
🚲: ✅
🦽: ✅ (step free into lower level)
🛜: ⛔️ (there aren’t even⚡️ sockets)
🍽️: ⛔️
🧳: 🙂
🧽: 😐 (grimy outside)

RE 2 (4861)
10:40 Hof Hbf - Wiesau(Oberpf) 11:19

Distance: 59.3km
Average speed: 91km/h

2 stops:
Marktredwitz
Wiesau(Oberpf)

This train, mapped: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/crossborderrail-extra-days-2024_1030682#11/50.1096/12.0623

What?

Ad at Hof Hbf

1&1 is offering a 50MBit/sec fibre package

Why even bother with fibre for that limited speed? And €30/month isn’t even very cheap. 1000MBit is €60/month which also isn’t great

And really, DB Regio Bayern, this RE 2 Hof - München is crap

Given DB has only just won this back from Alex (Netinera group), you’d think they’d try to make a positive impression

But no

No power sockets. No WiFi. A 1970s diesel locomotive (class 218). Older double deck carriages with hard seats

*For more than 3 hours if you go the whole way*