It's now between the EuroCity Direct (ECD) to Brussels and the InterCity Express (ICE) to Berlin Ost for worst 1st class train seats. 💔🚅 #trainreview #trains

@Gina 1st world problems? 😉

@semanticfire oh lol absolutely.

@sam oh there are storage compartments. Sorry I think we have different standards for trains in the modern world 😅

Also I get that this is at the level of "my steak isn't juicy and my lobster not buttery enough", but if we want to incentivize people to take a 6 hr train instead of a 1 hr flight (same price btw) then it could at least be comfy.

@Gina I heard that ' being on time , kind of ' is also an issue in germany, that's why I didn't booked a train from Berlin to Luxembourg . You were better than me choosing the train way . Have a good ride nevertheless !

@PorCus yeah it's why I chose the 8am train instead of the 10am one, one third of all ICE's are late.

@Gina I’m curious now: exactly what is it that’s uncomfortable for you about these seats? I’ve travelled first class on ICE trains a few times and thought it was kinda nice? (Not trolling, I’m genuinely interested.)

@Gina honest question: what is the problem here?

@falkheiland uncomfy seats, low tray tables (too low to comfortably work on), gross fabric pillow napkins against your head, limited legroom.

@Gina Isn't the ECD fantastic? It is so good that 2nd class is as good as 1st class.

I have never been on ICE.

@Gina as a brit this looks perfect to me 😭 decades of privatised rail have really lowered our expectations

@ahalam yeah the ECD so far is the clear winner of the worst international trains. The ICE has been pretty okay so far.

@Gina For air replacement I think we need to learn from some of the EU services that work and go further. Simple point to point travel between major hubs, clearly identifiable trains, airline like onboarding and baggage assistance.

Some of it is literally as dumb as just having people clearly recognisable on the platform who seem to belong to your train and reassure new people it is the right train and help with bags.

And speed isn't critical with WiFi and tables

@Gina@fosstodon.org The real issue is in between the parenthesis. The air traffic industry gets absolutely insane tax cuts and other benefits that the railway industry does not get anywhere in the EU. Perhaps airplane traffic should start paying taxes on fuel (finally), and that money could be spent on improving rail infrastructure across the EU.

@tyil absolutely, we need to fund trains more. And more sleeper trains! And an Amsterdam to Athens direct line 🔥🔥

@Gina and car trains! I’d love to take the train with the car on it for trips to southern France or Spain. Less miles on the road and less stress

@bigbelgianbopper yaaas

Okay I will say that so far the InterCity Express (ICE) has been very pleasant. It's no Eurostar, but it's fine.

Edit: yall better believe I'm using the full name and not the abbreviation every time 🥲

Double edit: actually this train has a waiter??? and he brings coffee and snacks to your seat! The InterCity Express is now my fav <3

@Gina The waiter is – I think – only for the 1st class. 2nd Class doesn't have it. (Say that as someone who rode IC Express trains from and to Munich multiple times this year)

@Gina nice Gina 🙂

@Gina
I don't think much of that tiny toilet seat 😉😆

@Gina

@Gina a 1 hour flight tends not to be, though.
Arrived 1-2-3 hours before loading time, fly 1 hour, wait for luggage, find transport, get from airport to near destination.
That's part of the comfortable bit I suppose ;)

@Photo55 oh absolutely, if I can't be at the airport 3 hrs early I'm not going.

@Gina absolutely love train travel! Eurostar is an excellent train! 😃

@Gina The Shinkansen green car ruined trains for me.
Now every other train feels like a caddle transport even in 1st class. :)