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> Netherlands You cannot possible rate the Netherlands good on comfort. It's cattle class, even on 'long' (for Dutch standards) haul routes. They _just_ starte

by brnt 3y ago

> Netherlands You cannot possible rate the Netherlands good on comfort. It's cattle class, even on 'long' (for Dutch standards) haul routes. They _just_ started to operate carriages with power sockets! I rode better trains in Poland 10 years ago than in NL. I take el cheapo French TGV (Ouigo) over any Dutch rolling stock any day.

baud147258 3y ago
> el cheapo French TGV (Ouigo) from the handfull of times I've taken Ouigo, it's just normal TGV, just without first class and sometime less convenient train stations (like outside of Paris instead of close to the center)...
- Tijdreiziger 3y ago
  IME, seat comfort on Ouigo is far less than e.g. Thalys or TGV Lyria. Haven’t been on regular TGV to compare, but it can’t be much worse than Ouigo…
BigJ1211 3y ago
That really depends on the train you were taking. Intercity trains have had sockets for a while, but YMMV if this wasn't on the most used tracks. Short distance or trains that stop at towns (called sprinters) didn't. Haven't ridden a train in quite a few years so that might have changed. The trains are mostly on time though, which is something most countries fail at. Granted Dutch people still complain about public transport, me included. Most people think it's too expensive and it takes too long to really get anywhere that isn't a direct connection. These days it is often cheaper to go by car too, especially if you are going somewhere with more than one person. Depending on the article the Netherlands seems to be either high in the top 10 or low in the top 20. Checked the latest WEF report I could find (2021), and it's ranked 14 on there. But that includes much more than just public transport. So not that useful. (Travel & Tourism Development or T&T index).
- brnt 3y ago
  NS uses a wilde variety of materiel for intercities, only a handful of new ones now that finally come with sockets. Never had a single one here at Maastricht. I did have a sprinter on intercity duty last time I went up north. It's abysmal.
Tijdreiziger 3y ago
Ouigo comfort is far less than any Dutch IC-class stock. Maybe the Ouigo is on par with Sprinter-class stock, but even then it’s a stretch. Compared to German stock — yes, the German stock is nicer (mainly has to do with different usage patterns, though — Netherlands train network has been said to resemble a country-sized metro network). Outlets — who cares, just bring a power bank — again, compare to networks like London Overground or Paris RER.
- brnt 3y ago
  That's so obviously incorrect that it'd be funny if those sprinters weren't so mightily uncomfortable. I guess it takes a Calvinist to prefer them.

by brnt 3y ago

baud147258 3y ago

> el cheapo French TGV (Ouigo) from the handfull of times I've taken Ouigo, it's just normal TGV, just without first class and sometime less convenient train stations (like outside of Paris instead of close to the center)...

Tijdreiziger 3y ago
IME, seat comfort on Ouigo is far less than e.g. Thalys or TGV Lyria. Haven’t been on regular TGV to compare, but it can’t be much worse than Ouigo…

BigJ1211 3y ago

That really depends on the train you were taking. Intercity trains have had sockets for a while, but YMMV if this wasn't on the most used tracks. Short distance or trains that stop at towns (called sprinters) didn't. Haven't ridden a train in quite a few years so that might have changed. The trains are mostly on time though, which is something most countries fail at. Granted Dutch people still complain about public transport, me included. Most people think it's too expensive and it takes too long to really get anywhere that isn't a direct connection. These days it is often cheaper to go by car too, especially if you are going somewhere with more than one person. Depending on the article the Netherlands seems to be either high in the top 10 or low in the top 20. Checked the latest WEF report I could find (2021), and it's ranked 14 on there. But that includes much more than just public transport. So not that useful. (Travel & Tourism Development or T&T index).

brnt 3y ago
NS uses a wilde variety of materiel for intercities, only a handful of new ones now that finally come with sockets. Never had a single one here at Maastricht. I did have a sprinter on intercity duty last time I went up north. It's abysmal.

Tijdreiziger 3y ago

Ouigo comfort is far less than any Dutch IC-class stock. Maybe the Ouigo is on par with Sprinter-class stock, but even then it’s a stretch. Compared to German stock — yes, the German stock is nicer (mainly has to do with different usage patterns, though — Netherlands train network has been said to resemble a country-sized metro network). Outlets — who cares, just bring a power bank — again, compare to networks like London Overground or Paris RER.

brnt 3y ago
That's so obviously incorrect that it'd be funny if those sprinters weren't so mightily uncomfortable. I guess it takes a Calvinist to prefer them.