Tagged With "rail reform"
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Re: EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017
Yes, it will apply to prepaid plans, which many Europeans as well as visitors use, but it's not as happily absolute as some of the celebrators make it sound. The final June 2017 step depends on a reform of the European wholesale roaming market in which carriers pay each other for roaming use, and is also subject to limits for those who roam "too much." Here's a quote from one of the Parliament members who was a leading proponent of the law (which also originally included provisions for net...
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Re: Grand Central Terminal, New York (Where Gumbo Was #164)
Looks like you have a great liking for the good old days of the railroad. Loved the reference to the new complex - It was picking up steam in the 80s and 90s. Fascinating slice of architecture hidden away. But better a market hall than a memory.
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Re: Grand Central Terminal, New York (Where Gumbo Was #164)
Love the history and old photos! Nice post!
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Re: Grand Central Terminal, New York (Where Gumbo Was #164)
And thanks to you, DrF, for suggesting it to me as a topic!
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Re: Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
That is a good value, esp. for those who traveling across the country and who can use the pass extensively for 2 months.
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Re: Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
I love youth passes . It fosters a lifelong love of travel. I'm sure this a good value but still seems high for youths on a limited budget
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Re: Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
A one way flight from Vancouver to the east coast of Canada might run you $700.00. Remember, you're talking about distance of almost 4000 mi/6000 km between Vancouver and Halifax. Travels north towards the Yukon and NWT are also expensive, so if you will actively travel for 2 months, this is a good value.
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Re: Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
Yes ,a good value ,but I'm still nostalgic for the old Eurail youth passes in Europe. Now it's the budget airlines in Europe that make travel within Europe a complete bargain compared to North America.
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Re: SNCF: Oooops, we made the trains too big!
I'm astounded at the level of incompetence! Does SNCF order trains without providing manufacturing specifics, like how tall and wide a train should be? Really?
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Re: SNCF: Oooops, we made the trains too big!
I suspect, although without evidence, that since the trains are very close to the previous size, that someone looked, saw a fairly familiar measurement and said, say “2.6 meters…that’s not so different from 2.5…OK!” Puts me in mind of the rocket that missed Mars because one team was measuring in metric units and the other in English… http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/
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Re: Canada to New Citizens: Travel your new country!
I think it's a great idea. The country is so large and varies so much fro region to region, it takes a long time to explore all it has to offer.
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Re: Tilt! Retro railroad offers retro pinball car
Now that's definitely a train car I'd like to visit!
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Re: Eurostar: New Amenities, New Routes
Thanks for this. You gave me the idea to book the Eurostar for our train travel from Cologne, Germany via Brussels, to London.
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Good News For Musicians Traveling by Airplane
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule to implement section 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The rule requires that each U.S. airline allow passengers to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument,...
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Eurostar's direct London-Marseille route opens
London-Marseille in 6-1/2 hours without changing trains, or heading early to airports and finding your way back to downtown. That's the premise of Eurostar's new direct service from London's Saint Pancras to Marseille's Saint Charles stations. The...
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Chicago set to open new rail-line park
Chicago will open its new Bloomingdale Trail, a park built on 2.7 miles of abandoned railway on June 6. That's 6/06 if you write it a different way, and 606 is both the root of Chicago area codes, and the name of an overall park project (the606) that...
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Eastern European Rail Odyssey: Gdansk to Vilnius
Wilbur's Eastern European train journey continues, with travels through Gdansk, Kaliningrad, Minsk and Vilnius.
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The Bathing House, Howick, Northumberland
Ian Cook shares a lovely and historic cottage with one of the finest views in Northumberland.
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Churches of Park Slope, Brooklyn
PHeymont explores the varied and mostly 19th-century churches in one of Brooklyn's premier neighborhoods, and explores the area's history.
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In crisis, Britain re-nationalizes rail
In a move that mixes the virus crisis with long-term dissatisfaction with Britain's rail system, the government has ordered a temporary takeover.
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Wiener Bonbons: Highlights of Vienna (Where Gumbo was #114)
This week’s puzzle started with a very puzzling picture—so puzzling it needed a second shot to clarify that it was in a tunnel. Even so, Jonathan L was sharp enough to jump to a correct conclusion, which he hinted to the crowd in a comment...
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Plan to axe French trains stirs opposition
A report to the Ministry of Transport urging scrapping of hundreds of inter-city and regional trains is getting a hot reaction from towns and politicians all over. The proposal would also kill a number of overnight trains connecting Paris to the...
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Canada to New Citizens: Travel your new country!
Quebec City...one of the popular visits for new Canadians. For more, click HERE Canada has a novel gift for its new citizens: a 50%-off railpass to get to know the country's sights and beauty spots, and a menu of over 1200 free cultural...
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SNCF: Oooops, we made the trains too big!
Above: Too high for tunnel....Below: Too wide for the station SNCF, the French rail operator that last year ordered trains too wide for its platforms has now ordered cars too tall for the tunnels that connect the rail systems of France to Italy....
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Tilt! Retro railroad offers retro pinball car
The Strasburg Rail Road, which bills itself as the “Rail Road to Paradise” has added a less-heavenly attraction to its steam-train rides through the Pennsylvania countryside near Lancaster. Using a dozen vintage...
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France: Baking up a fight over bread and hours
French law, French tradition and what some perceive as "modern times" are leading to a clash in France over laws mandating that artisan trades—and that includes the bread bakers—must close for at least one day a week. The tradition is old,...
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Who are we when we travel?
Gumbo's Picture of the Day for April 13th, above, is an image I made nearly 55 years ago, on my first trip to Paris: a man sleeping on the ground at a side entrance to the National Assembly building. I like the picture; I’m pleased with its...
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May 10 is National Train Day
National Train Day...a celebration of why rail travel matters...is Saturday, May 10 and includes hundreds of events all across the country, with displays and activities at Amtrak stations, rail museums and more. More details on this Amtrak-sponsored...
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A Couple of Tips on Booking the High Speed Bargain TGV Ouigo Trains in France
Ouigo is an independently run subsidiary of the French national rail company SNCF . It started in April 2013 between Marne-la Vallee (the Disney station near Paris) and some points south east. A certain number of seats are 10 Euros and go up as...
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Canada: See it all while you're young (Summer Rail Passes)
VIA Rail Canada, the national rail network, is running two specials for youth 12-25 (or 26+ with ISIC card) this summer. Both offer unlimited rail travel between July 1 and August 31. For $499, you get the Quebec-Windsor Corridor; for $999 you get...
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The Whitney Museum, New York City
Jonathan L takes us along to one of his favorite smaller art museums in New York City, dedicated to modern and contemporary art by American artists.
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Rome may back out of quest for 2024 Olympics
Rome is a finalist for 2024, but the bid can't go ahead without the city government's support, and that may not be there.
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Barcelona gets serious about 'over-tourism'
Barcelona is enforcing rules on holiday rentals with fines on offending agencies. It's also banning Segways and groups in crowded spaces.
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British rail operators push for simpler fares
Britain's rail operators line up behind a plan to simplify fares and make it easier to take the train instead of flying or driving.
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Grand Central Terminal, New York (Where Gumbo Was #164)
Gumbo was visiting New York City's Grand Central, one of the classics of the heyday of trains, and still a thriving center for local and commuter trains.
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World's longest tunnel will speed Alpine trains
Switzerland is about to open the new St. Gotthard Base Tunnel, 35 miles long and as much as 7500 feet deep to speed up rail traffic through the Alps.
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France's new regions get new names
France recently merged some of its regions, reducing 22 to 13. Some of them are just now getting permanent new names, and not everyone is happy.
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Eurail adds extra days, early-bird benefit
Eurail's passes purchased before April 30 now include free extra travel days, and can be bought 11 months in advance.
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London Postal Museum features secret underground railway
New museum will let London visitors ride on the secret "Mail Rail"
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France to free workers from free-time emails
Among a number of new laws, France is giving workers the right to turn off, tune out and disconnect from work e-mails, texts and phone calls.
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Trouble on the tracks: French rail strike ahead
Four French rail unions, acting together for once, have called a 37-hour strike for next week over pay, staffing and working conditions.
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Protests hit 'Decline and Fall of Rome'
As the city's infrastructure suffers serious problems, protesters turn out to demand the city's 'reform' mayor take strong action.
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China cuts tourism admission fees
In a bid to attract more visitors from China and abroad, prices have been cut at nearly a thousand sites, including well-known favorites.
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Re: Air France returns to Tehran in April
I think potential European travelers to Iran now have to consider the likelihood of those traveling to Iran not being able to use the US's Visa Waiver Program when traveling to the States. The Reform Bill passed the House and the Administration supports it. It most likely will pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President. https://www.travelgumbo.com/blo...-free-travel-program
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Temple Beth Tefilloh, Brunswick, Georgia (Where Gumbo was #376)
Gumbo was visiting Temple Beth Tefilloh in Brunswick, Georgia
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Visit Former Prison: Hobart Hotel Accommodation Or Port Arthur Hotel
A rather unique place to spend a holiday -- a resort in an old prison (sponsored content)
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UK activists: Cut short-haul flights
Environmental groups call for an end to short-haul domestic flights just as a flight tax cut that favors them is proposed.