Travel to Zurich August 2024

 

We took a TGV from Paris CDG Airport to Strasbourg

This was the plan for today:

Arrive Paris 0550 Air France 0327

1122 Paris Aéroport Charles de Gaul TGV 5482  Strasbourg 1312 Coach 2 seats 53 and 54

1321 Strasbourg TER 96353 to Basel 1440 (31)

1506 Basel (4) IR37 to Zurich 1600 (10)

The least said about Air France the better. The plane was cramped and the aisles of this airbus were very very small. The crew were numerous but didn't seem to know what they should be doing. The food was abominable. We left 30 minutes late but arrived at CDG on time.

We had allowed much time for potential delays getting out of the airport but things went very smoothly. We had plenty of time to change our reservations to a TGV which left CDG at 0901 and eventually arrived in Zurich two hours earlier than planned.

Our train from Strasbourg to Basel was pushed from the rear by this French bicourant locomotive. 
Our first class car was roomy and very comfortable even the old UIC cars were becoming weary.
The journey was excellent. It was interesting to note that the route from CDG was left hand running but from Strasbourg it was right hand running.
From Basel we had a recently rebuilt Re 460 and coaches. Very comfortable.
We checked into the Hotel Bristol, which is quite familiar to us, and went back to Zurich Hauptbahnhof to take a quick look around.
The first Magnum of the trip.
A train returning to Italy
Grafitti on a German ICE train. I assume the grafitti was picked up in Germany.
One of the Stadler Gottardo trains which were put on the scenic old Gottard route through Goshenenen when the new tunnel was opened.
As usual the station was very busy indeed and we noted a number of changed on operations and there is a large number of coaches which have been upgraded and refurbished.













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