lars' transport world

Passing through Gothenburg's archipelago by ferry is marvellous. 🥰 #StrandbyMode

Getting into #StrandbyMode is even better when you get off the Skagen Line at intermediate stops and walk to a secluded 🦭 beach, untouched marshland or a moving sand dune.

This is my second visit to #Aarhus. I don't know why, but I don't remember my first visit to Denmark's second-large city in 2017 very well. So I'm enjoying refreshing my memory now even more. 😊 #StrandbyMode

New 🚂 #rail diagram on larstransportmaps: #Ireland ☘️ I created this transport diagram, which captures the Irish rail network in the form of a custom-sized, 36°-angled structure. This allows for an axis-symmetrical representation of the main line along the east coast near Dublin, as well as the west-bound lines. The great variety in density throughout the island and the bilingual station names meant that mapping the Irish rail network was no trivial task. 👉 https://larstransportmaps.com/2026/06/13/rail-services-in-ireland-2026/

On the subject of passenger information, please allow me a brief rant: Firstly, why would you choose such a tiny font size for the name of the next stop? Secondly, why use the remaining space for an ad with 'Next station' and the name of a station on the line, in a font size much bigger than that used to indicate the next stop? Stop abusing passenger information screens for marketing purposes. Provide proper information about the next stops, especially if they are request stops! 🤬 #StrandbyMode

Finally, that's more like I imagined our rail trip! 🥰 #StrandbyMode

I didn't realise that Hamburg was so car-focused that there are even cars in the railway station. 🤭 #StrandbyMode

One advantage of taking the ferry to #Göteborg is that it takes you straight to the city centre. The Danmarksterminalen is just 400 metres from Järntorget! #StrandbyMode

The first kanelbulle means: We've arrived in Scandinavia! #StrandbyMode

The older M31 tram in #Göteborg still has a string above the windows for requesting a stop. (What's this thing actually called in English? Is it still in use on the M31? I couldn't test it.) #StrandbyMode

DSB doing DSB things... 😊 Our next InterCityLyn in Fredericia consists of four train sets, each with its own destination. At Vejle, the rear set continues to Struer. The other three continue towards Aarhus, but only two run all the way to Aalborg. Finally, only one train set remains for the last three stops to Aalborg Lufthavn (Airport). Pas på which part of the train you get on! #StrandbyMode

Arriving at Aarhus Hovedbanegård #StrandbyMode

I am happy that our ECE is up and running! It's a big mess, though. Many people from a cancelled replacement RJ to Fredericia are on board. In our carriage, three children are crying because of the chaos. Lars is probably the most amused passenger as he is about to enjoy another city tour. It's his first time on the Hamburg Güterumgehungsbahn! #StrandbyMode

#DB still has a talent for comedy. The ICE Portal, referring to our order from the @diningcar@rail.chat (an espresso): 'Unfortunately, your order cannot be fulfilled because our team is too busy.' Ten seconds later, an unoccupied staff member walks past asking several times: 'Does anyone want anything from the restaurant car?' #StrandbyMode

First things first: Maybe I was looking in the wrong places, but I didn't see any 🌱 plant-based cinnamon or cardamom buns in Jutland. So I have a lot of catching up to do in Gothenburg. However, I won't start a Bulle Counter though, as I cannot match up to @dominicstucki@urbanists.social 's numbers. 😁 #StrandbyMode

Malicious gossip has it that I lured my fellow traveller to Sønderborg just to fill a gap on my map of travelled rail lines. (#TokeriiBergslagen led me to Gråsten, but not beyond, cruelly omitting the Gråsten–Sønderborg section.) Of course, this rumour is completely ridiculous. Just look at how beautiful Sønderborg is. 😊 It even has a centrally located beach, perfect for getting into #StrandbyMode.

Although we are spending three nights in #Göteborg, I didn't manage to take many pictures, but I enjoyed this wonderful city. I've been here four times already, but I liked it the most this time by far. It's probably also because of the weather. So you won't hear much from me about the public transport system. #StrandbyMode

#Aarhus has a bus-only corridor that crosses the old town from north to south. This corridor consists of several short 'bus tunnels' that pass through buildings. #StrandbyMode

Our ICE 770 arrives at Hamburg Hbf with a delay of 5 minutes! The original ICE 200 via Cologne and Dortmund is delayed by 45 minutes, so changing trains at Mannheim was worth it! #StrandbyMode

Line L1 of the #Aarhus Letbane runs from Aarhus H to Grenaa along the old railway line. The stations still have Banedanmark signs. L1 is operated by Stadler Tango trams, which are capable of reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. However, the tram on my journey sounded rather unpleasant at high speed. In my opinion, the interior is rather uncomfortable for a 70-minute ride from Aarhus to Grenaa. The line L1 runs every 30 minutes. #StrandbyMode

The Sønderborg branch line ends at... erm... Sønderborg. There has been no station building since 2004. The station, which serves about 50,000 inhabitants, now only consists of an anonymous, unwelcoming covered platform. However, I assume that there aren't many passengers, given that it is only served by InterCityLyn trains every two hours. #StrandbyMode

Speaking of trips into the Jutish countryside... I sometimes forget to talk about things other than transport. #StrandbyMode

'Midttrafik præsenterer... de elektriske BYD busser'. I'm impressed by the fact that every bus I see on my journey into the countryside is a BYD electric bus. However, I am not really fond of the design and miss the 'gigantiske paranamovinduer for imponerende udsigt'. Sorry, Mittjyder, I know it's been a while. But every time I see a Midttrafik bus, this pops into my mind. 😁 #StrandbyMode

All intermediate stops between Skagen and Frederikshavn are request stops. You have to press a button on the train or at the station to make the train stop. It feels rather grand to make a humming LINT stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere in North Jutland just for you. Okay, not nowhere, but the stops Rimmen and Bunken are far from any settlements. However, I wonder how many tourists have failed to push the button because it is rather subtle. #StrandbyMode

Our Intercity train to Aalborg is waiting for us on the same track as a GoCollective LINT train. I assume the double occupancy is due to the ongoing construction work. This will probably be the last comfy rubber-nose train ride of the trip! The catenary seems ready, except at Aarhus Hovedbanegård. #StrandbyMode

After one night, it's already time to leave Sønderborg by train, or how I'd like to say, the rolling living room. Due to construction work somewhere in Europe (possibly in Odense), our train waits for 20 minutes in Tinglev. #StrandbyMode

I really like that the Västtrafik app lets you know if your ticket is valid for a connection. #StrandbyMode

I mustn't miss this intermediate station on the Skagen Line if I want to get into #StrandbyMode.

There is Nordjyske Jernbaner staff on each train between Frederikshavn and Skagen keeping an eye on the bicycle situation. They seem to take this matter very serious, but there has always been enough space on the trains I have travelled on. #StrandbyMode

This is the first time I have changed trains at Padborg. We are only allowed to leave through the door of coach 18 because there is a mobile ramp to overcome the height difference. The DB staff are talking to the DSB staff to inform them of the suboptimal condition of the train. #StrandbyMode

By April, it was already difficult to book accommodation for our holiday, so we had to commit to a travel plan. However, our respective train journeys have been affected by at least three changes due to track work after our booking. For example, the travel time for ICE 770 to Hamburg has been extended by one hour today. This is why we are changing from ICE 200 that was due to arrive in Hamburg at 17:15 to ICE 770 that is now due to arrive at 17:29 (originally 16:29) at Mannheim. #StrandbyMode

Why didn't we just stay on the first ICE? Well, maybe because I didn't want to pay additional reservation fees again. But it was also because a longer journey would mean taking the Main-Weser-Bahn, which I haven't travelled on before. There's even a city tour with interesting connections in Frankfurt! Well, the ICE train has to kill 2.5 hours between Frankfurt and Kassel somehow. #StrandbyMode

Our next train is a packed IC coming from Flensburg. We can barely stand in the doorway as we enter it at Padborg, as many passengers have chosen this alternative connection to Denmark. The train is too full to do a border check on everyone, as I am used to at Padborg, so they'll have to make do with some quick racial profiling today. We leave Padborg ten minutes late. #StrandbyMode

Our ECE 1196 departs from HH-Harburg at 11:29. If I understand correctly, track works in Hamburg have resulted in earlier departures for ECE/RJ trains. Track works near Odense have been extended (unexpectedly?), meaning that ECE/RJ trains to Copenhagen terminate at Fredericia. Most of these have been cancelled, but replacement trains run at a similar time. However, some of the replacement trains have also been cancelled. We're lucky; ours was bound for Fredericia from the outset. #StrandyMode

There are construction works at Aarhus H. In the late evening, replacement buses are provided for all trains. The layout also seems to have changed, for example, the flyover on the line to Aalborg appears to have disappeared. The catenary wires and masts are still missing. #StrandbyMode

The #Aarhus Letbane L2 line runs from Odder, via the old Odderbanen, to Aarhus H, continuing on new urban sections to Lystrup via the Universitetshospital. At Lystrup, passengers can change to line L1. Although the line opened in 2017, urban development north of Aarhus has yet to take place. The line is operated using Stadler Variobahn trams with a maximum speed of 80 km/h. L2 is operated on a 15- to 7.5-minute frequency between Aarhus H and Universitetshospital. #StrandbyMode

After four days, it's time to continue our journey. Our NightJ... Nordjyske Jernbaner train arrives in Frederikshavn. There is a connection to Tolne with the Togbus, or you can take the regular Expressbus to Aalborg. #StrandbyMode

We make use of the Skagenbanen a lot over the following days. However, I haven't fully understood the adapted capacity pattern yet. On weekdays, there are half-hourly services in the afternoons. On Saturday, there were hourly services with two LINT each. On Sunday, there were hourly services with one LINT. I would guess that 80% of passengers are tourists right now, so I didn't expect these differences in capacity during the summer construction period. #StrandbyMode

The next morning, the journey continues. At the station, the departure board reveals that track works are affecting our journey again. (In my opinion, it's good to know that there are four replacement buses, but this takes up too much space.) A couple of days in advance, DSB sent me an email requesting that I check my connections again. Indeed, we have to head back to Hamburg-Harburg instead of just board at the main station. We choose a crowded Metronom train for the transfer. #StrandbyMode

Instead of taking the bus, we are walking towards the Frederikshavn ferry terminal. I quite like the access; it's a 500-metre-long pedestrian bridge that leads directly to the terminal. What I like less is standing still for 20 minutes in the queue with sniffing passengers. #StrandbyMode

Not only does #Aarhus have bus streets that pass under buildings, the Letbane does too in one place. In 2017, I only saw the Letbane's infrastructure, not the trams. So I am happy to finally see them in operation. #StrandbyMode

Fortunately, we only have to stay aboard for ten minutes. It's only possible to change trains at Tinglev because of another short-term timetable change; otherwise, we would have had to wait for the next ICL due to the IC's delay. However, the ICL departure to Sønderborg is scheduled for 20 minutes later today. #StrandbyMode

Not only is this my first time on the Güterumgehungsbahn, it is also my first time on the new DSB EC train. We have vis-à-vis seats in first class, with one seat facing the other. The alignment of the seats and windows is not suitable for @wrzlbrnft@troet.cafe. Otherwise, I think the interior design is OK, but sterile. Six toilets, the reservation system and some doors are out of use. The vending machine isn't stocked. The train doesn't run smoothly above 150 km/h. #StrandbyMode

On board the Stena Jutlandica, we struggle to find our way around. Unfortunately, we fail to find any normal passenger seats without an extra fee or that are not exclusively dedicated to bar customers. Having to find our way around a new ferry each time (not to mention other things such as check-in procedures and a manageable fear of sinking) means that ferries and I won't become friends. Anyway, we chose to sit on the sun deck to enjoy the sunny weather and the fresh sea air. #StrandbyMode

My photo app constantly reminds me of my three-month rail trip last summer. I travelled through 14 🇪🇺 European countries by train, bus and ferry to discover some #BlankSpots on my map. I'm sharing four of my favourite 🚂 impressions again. I'm hoping it will soften my melancholy. 🥰 However, the next trip will come soon. 👉 https://mastodon.social/@larstransportworld/115401713304445301

@sorenhave@mastodon.nu Thank you for reminding me to refer to the Midttrafik ad videos from a looong time ago. However, I prefer the Danish version. 😉 👉 https://youtu.be/VXzuQiP6U8Q?is=kphEJXatkyGN8xz_ 👉 https://youtu.be/yn2HM0f2uDM?is=aEKkBTOI9jRiGIBg

@datenschatz @julian_b Gibt es leider nicht. 😐

@Yuu War auch nicht als Vorwurf an dich gedacht. 😊 War nur erstaunt, dass dies sonst noch niemand gemeldet hat und mir fiel es ja auch nicht auf.

@yetzt It is a 4.5 km walking distance between Haparanda and Tornio-Itäinen, so I wouldn't consider it a walking distance. This applies in particular, because the Finnish and Swedish bus services provide much more attractive connection at a common bus station. Direct day trains connecting Haparanda to Finland are planned, so I hope I will add these services soon and the train interchange question will be obsolete.