Trains in this part of the world( europe) are considered to be a great experience and somewhat comparable to train fares..Apparently, there are many types of trains - TGV, ICE , EC etc some of these are ultra fast trains covering 300Kms/Hr ..However, I was booked on a train that used to chugh along and covered the distance between Paris-Linz in around 13 Hrs for a 1000 odd kms..There were some uncertain moments since I was not sure of how to identify the bogue( coach ) and unfortunately mine was at the end ..The Couchette ( Koo-Shey ) is a compartment with 6 beds like Indian trains ..Someways, Indian trains had better space in between the seats..The difference is the bedsheets, pillow and the breakfast..( the last one was not available because the water had exausted in the train apparently )
Another uncertain moment was when the attendendant/supervisor collected my passport and mentioned that he will return only in the morning before i alighted..This was because the train passes the border...finally I budged...
It was also unfortunate that I would be travelling both times at night and unlikely to see the beautiful countryside along the train lines ..
Linz, where I'am currently in is the third largest city in Austria and Vienna is the biggest here, which is further 3 Hrs in train ..My feelins is Salzbury is the most beautiful city that I have heard so far..
This probably was one of the most unlikely events of having to go and attend a business meeting right from the train station at 6:30 in the morning and the the customer/prospect coming to pick me up from the station..( I should be very glad to Simon ). Without him at the station, I'am sure that the taxi would not have been able to take me to where we wanted to go ...It was almost 35 Kms away from the station in the countryside ..like one of the Indian villages..with small hills lining the road..
saw some houses with brick and mud which was very similar to the ones in India. Apparently, it snows during this time and while I was here the whole day, the Sun was shining bright and sunny ..Just to say that we missed each other for the last few days when I was in Paris ..anyway, it was good to be feel the sunny weather at 10 degrees ...
What WoWed me also was the Wifi availability at the train station that made it easier to spend time from 4 till 10:30 at night ..and also probably why am writing this Blogpost ...
Probably, one of the only posts that I might end up writing from a train station !..
9:30 PM Austria time.
Another thing I just learnt is how to locate the coach number at the platform. The platform, I was able to figure from the information desk but the coach location was important since the train would just wait for 3 mins and I need to quickly hop in with the luggage..One of the ladies explained me on the 'art' of deciphering the chart that exists in the platform...Well, I hope it works ...
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