4 ms·

I have amazing memories, as a kid, of going on vacation with my parents, from Belgium to the french riviera... We'd load our car, a Lada (the Lada Riva, an horr

I have amazing memories, as a kid, of going on vacation with my parents, from Belgium to the french riviera... We'd load our car, a Lada (the Lada Riva, an horrible car btw), on the train and then, in the same train, we'd go to the passenger car. The trip was about 1100 km / 685 miles. The train would drive over night and we'd eat and sleep in the train and then arrived near destination next morning, we'd hop into our car. We'd do that every year. There were both 2nd and 1st class cabins. You'd save 1000 kilometers to the car (and in gasoline), times two. I miss that a huge lot: apparently some european countries, including France, are planning to reintroduce these.

lopis 3y ago
I think because cars became much more reliable, we felt we didn't need these anymore. The reintroduction of that type of service would mean you no longer thad to worry about your electric car's range when going on a road trip. The car could even charge while in the train.
- TacticalCoder 3y ago
  > I think because cars became much more reliable, we felt we didn't need these anymore. Oh that's a good point. Cars got comfier too: nowadays with AC and they're quieter etc. > The car could even charge while in the train Oh that'd be completely amazing!
  - lopis 3y ago
    It would be like the hyperloop but actually useful and effective!
    - panick21_ 3y ago
      Hyperloop does not contain cars, that a vacuum tube system. I think you are talking about the normal small tunnels from the Boring company, that's just called loop. And its not actually useful or effective outside of a few specialized situations. Like in Switzerland where you only have 1 tunnel and no actual car tunnels. So all cars have to get on trains.
- panick21_ 3y ago
  It just makes no sense. You can get a car share in like 10min. Just go where you want to go and rent bikes or a car. Honestly in most places, you really don't need a car anyway.
  - lopis 3y ago
    But car shares get prohibitively expensive in very long trips. And there's no coverage outside the cities.
dieortin 3y ago
I think we’re better off not carrying a 2ton machine with us on trains. Just renting a car on your destination sounds way more efficient
- barrkel 3y ago
  Luggage isn't more convenient on trains, and car rental often isn't super convenient either, if you need e.g. a 10 minute walk through city streets with all your bags to get to some multi-story car park.
awiesenhofer 3y ago
Those still exist in Austria! As you write, great for travelling with the whole family. There are regular services in the summer time between ie. Vienna/Innsbruck and Livorno, Vienna and Split and others (Hamburg iirc). Also some all year round connections between Vienna and Bregenz/Zurich.

lopis 3y ago

I think because cars became much more reliable, we felt we didn't need these anymore. The reintroduction of that type of service would mean you no longer thad to worry about your electric car's range when going on a road trip. The car could even charge while in the train.

TacticalCoder 3y ago
> I think because cars became much more reliable, we felt we didn't need these anymore. Oh that's a good point. Cars got comfier too: nowadays with AC and they're quieter etc. > The car could even charge while in the train Oh that'd be completely amazing!
- lopis 3y ago
  It would be like the hyperloop but actually useful and effective!
  - panick21_ 3y ago
    Hyperloop does not contain cars, that a vacuum tube system. I think you are talking about the normal small tunnels from the Boring company, that's just called loop. And its not actually useful or effective outside of a few specialized situations. Like in Switzerland where you only have 1 tunnel and no actual car tunnels. So all cars have to get on trains.
panick21_ 3y ago
It just makes no sense. You can get a car share in like 10min. Just go where you want to go and rent bikes or a car. Honestly in most places, you really don't need a car anyway.
- lopis 3y ago
  But car shares get prohibitively expensive in very long trips. And there's no coverage outside the cities.

dieortin 3y ago

I think we’re better off not carrying a 2ton machine with us on trains. Just renting a car on your destination sounds way more efficient

barrkel 3y ago
Luggage isn't more convenient on trains, and car rental often isn't super convenient either, if you need e.g. a 10 minute walk through city streets with all your bags to get to some multi-story car park.

awiesenhofer 3y ago

Those still exist in Austria! As you write, great for travelling with the whole family. There are regular services in the summer time between ie. Vienna/Innsbruck and Livorno, Vienna and Split and others (Hamburg iirc). Also some all year round connections between Vienna and Bregenz/Zurich.