By now, all eleven of my country 🚂 #train diagrams have been updated for 2026! Represented are: 🇦🇹🇧🇪🇩🇰🇫🇮🇫🇷🇩🇪🇱🇺🇳🇱🇳🇴🇸🇪🇨🇭 I really enjoy updating the diagrams; however, I'm also glad when I've finished. I have become quicker, but it still takes a lot of effort. I hope they help you plan your spring, summer or autumn holiday tour through central or northern 🇪🇺 #Europe or whatever you need them for. 😊 👉️ You find the 2026 rail diagrams on my website: larstransportmaps.com/
Hmm... That’s a very interesting, but also difficult question. Most of it is probably learned intuitively rather than consciously. What springs to mind straight away is: - As a transport planner, I tend to want to simplify things in diagrams to make them as clear as possible and to illustrate the ‘system’. However, many users expect every exception or individual case to be shown somewhere. I try to respond to this by explaining the simplifications more clearly in the text. (1/6)
@madeindex - The process of simplifying or abstracting the timetable, i.e. sensibly grouping connections into a single graphical line, takes a great part of effort. - Generally speaking, I think the presentation has improved over time: I’ve even taken my first few diagrams offline. With completely new diagrams, I try to find a structure that suits the country. I’m thinking of France, definitely the diagram with the best ‘structure’. (2/6)
@madeindex - I do my utmost to create accurate diagrams. It doesn’t always work 100%. But I can count on feedback that points this out to me straight away. 😊 (3/6)
@madeindex The way the service offering has changed varies from country to country. In my view, the general trends since around 2020 are as follows: - There is once again a greater focus on (rather unsystematic) individual international connections that also cover longer distances (e.g. Berlin–Paris, Zurich–Florence, Oslo–Malmö). - Competition from state-owned railways is intensifying, particularly in countries such as Sweden and France, but also in other countries like Germany or Austria. (4/6)
@madeindex - The arrival of additional operators is also leading to a gradual blurring of ‘train categories’ with these being increasingly adapted to national requirements (e.g. EuroCityExpress in Germany). - Regional services are increasingly being upgraded to long-distance services (e.g. Interregio in Austria), whilst ‘genuine’ long-distance services are tending to concentrate on the main routes. National long-distance services to less populated regions are rather on the decline. (5/6)
Is that only the case for national long-distance? I heard that in some regions in Europe the smaller lines are being completely closed, due to urbanization, cost cutting etc.?
Also that in France the network connections between the big cities towards Paris are great, but the coverage in the rest of the country isn't very good?
MadeInDex 📰🌎
in reply to lars' transport world • • •What have you learned over time making all these diagrams?
Also since you update, have you noticed any trend? How is the European network expansion going according to your observations? :)
lars' transport world
in reply to MadeInDex 📰🌎 • • •- As a transport planner, I tend to want to simplify things in diagrams to make them as clear as possible and to illustrate the ‘system’. However, many users expect every exception or individual case to be shown somewhere. I try to respond to this by explaining the simplifications more clearly in the text.
(1/6)
lars' transport world
in reply to lars' transport world • • •- Generally speaking, I think the presentation has improved over time: I’ve even taken my first few diagrams offline. With completely new diagrams, I try to find a structure that suits the country. I’m thinking of France, definitely the diagram with the best ‘structure’.
(2/6)
lars' transport world
in reply to lars' transport world • • •lars' transport world
in reply to lars' transport world • • •- There is once again a greater focus on (rather unsystematic) individual international connections that also cover longer distances (e.g. Berlin–Paris, Zurich–Florence, Oslo–Malmö).
- Competition from state-owned railways is intensifying, particularly in countries such as Sweden and France, but also in other countries like Germany or Austria.
(4/6)
lars' transport world
in reply to lars' transport world • • •- Regional services are increasingly being upgraded to long-distance services (e.g. Interregio in Austria), whilst ‘genuine’ long-distance services are tending to concentrate on the main routes. National long-distance services to less populated regions are rather on the decline.
(5/6)
MadeInDex 📰🌎
in reply to lars' transport world • • •Thank you for all the insight & detailed reply, also thank you for putting so much effort into your cards, they are beautiful :)
If you had to say, in which countries in Europe (of the ones you are watching closely) is the network/coverage improving and in which getting worse?
MadeInDex 📰🌎
in reply to lars' transport world • • •Is that only the case for national long-distance? I heard that in some regions in Europe the smaller lines are being completely closed, due to urbanization, cost cutting etc.?
Also that in France the network connections between the big cities towards Paris are great, but the coverage in the rest of the country isn't very good?