#operationoslo — Public Fediverse posts

I, for myself, discovered the beauty of the dark Scandinavian winter on this trip. Arriving in Switzerland feels totally wrong, like I've traveled to spring way too early. Until now, I never considered going North in winter - but now, I wish that I could just start #OperationOslo again tomorrow. ❄️⛄️

With that, thank you for reading, sharing and commenting along my trip, good night and soon Merry Christmas!
#OperationOslo out.

The discussions in Oslo and elsewhere show that better international rail connections in Europe aren't just an unrealistic dream of rail nerds. It is doable, but what we need is a strong support for international rail travel on European and national level, in the society and among policy makers - a real shift of priorities.
#OperationOslo

As fun as this was - it can't be the future. We need more connections to and in Scandinavia, better and more international trains, through ticketing and passenger rights, better punctuality and more competition on the night train market instead of one company charging astronomical prices. Then, this journey could be done in less than 24 hours with changing trains only once. Then it would be rail, not ferries, «connecting Europe for a sustainable future».
#OperationOslo

This last week has shown, that doing a business trip to the badly connected very North of Europe is possible by train and ferry. Is it something for everyone? Maybe not - but it's also not something only for nerds. If you like travelling, if you can work remote and if you're willing to invest some of your own time and money (or working for a company that covers all costs), then this is a wonderful way to see new things, widen your horizon and travel comfortably and sustainably.
#OperationOslo

The 11% among you who believed in DB, which did an outstanding job today, proved to be right.
#OperationOslo

Exactly 50 hours and 21 minutes after leaving Oslo on the RE11 on Thursday evening and nearly 7 days since I left Zürich. #OperationOslo terminates here. The trip was, unlike DB's forecast said, indeed possible!

Zürich HB, 20:00 and 5 seconds, +2°C, 1400km south of Oslo. Arrival bang on time.
#OperationOslo

Yes, that's my ICE77 at Basel SBB and it's not terminating here! Departure towards Zürich on time at 19:06! 🤯
#OperationOslo

Frankfurt Hbf, 16:07, sunset. In Oslo, it would be dark for at least half an hour already now. Taking the opportunity to get a bit of fresh air during the impressively short 6 minute turnaround. Departure 16:13, 13 minutes delayed. Riedbahn next.
#OperationOslo

@mikey179 @kupfers
Ok, due to popular demand. 😉⤵️

📊 What are the main reasons for the delay, if there will be any:
#OperationOslo

Ok, we left with +18 minutes. The daily DB delay lottery is on again. 🔥
Officially, the ride to Zürich takes 8hrs32 with a planned arrival at 20:00. What do you think: What will be my delay on arrival at Zürich?
#OperationOslo

My ICE to Zürich is – surprise – delayed. Officially due to a problem with the rolling stock, but probably also because an ICE in the opposite direction stopped on our track roughly around our planned departure time.
Finally, it arrived with about +15.
#OperationOslo

From the balcony on the northern part of the train shed, you have a fantastic view over the tracks. Four platform tracks for the Berlin line, four platform tracks for the Hannover line and two platform tracks for the southbound S-Bahn share the limited space in the train shed. But are the two through tracks without platform really necessary or could this space be used to widen the narrow existing platforms?
#OperationOslo

The third rail is a very clear sign that we're approaching Hamburg. After the usual stops on the Verbindungsbahn just before the main station, we collect the mandatory delay to enter Hamburg Hbf. This could be such a beautiful station, but it's operated in a really "ugly" way.
#OperationOslo

Across the high level bridge.
#OperationOslo

Well, that was rather obvious, wasn't it?
Now I'm regretting having no stomach capacity left for a second breakfast. Well, I can at least get something to drink.
#OperationOslo

The lovely but a bit neglected Rendsburg station. But it seems that some kind of renewal is carried out.
Oh, and yes, that's a train up in the air there.
#OperationOslo

Schiffsbegrüssungsanlage*.
Peak Germany. 🇩🇪 😅
#OperationOslo

* Translates to something like "ship welcoming installation"

Not only the railway line, also the city has a very interesting layout here. I'll have to look this up later. All in all, Rendsburg is a lovely place for the overnight stop to Scandinavia. Way cheaper and quieter than Hamburg or København and more Hotels than Flensburg. I need to come back with more time to explore the old town and the Schwebefähre.
#OperationOslo

Good Morning from beautifully quiet Rendsburg. I slept like a stone and ate way too much from the excellent breakfast buffet, which I'll regret soon. Off for the last leg of #OperationOslo.

Rendsburg, terminus for today. The RE continues to Hamburg without me. I've only seen Rendsburg from above so far, it's about time to see it from ground level. 😉
Good Night!
#OperationOslo

More IC3 cosiness and then a short cross plattform connection to the RE 7 in Flensburg. Including a short chat with @niklas_net travelling in the opposite direction - thanks for saying hello! 🙂
Germany, third country for today. 🇧🇻 🇩🇰 🇩🇪
#OperationOslo

I first planned to stay in Denmark a day longer, but due to work-related circumstances, I scrapped this plan, Midtjyske Jernbaner has to wait. Instead, I'm boarding another IC3 towards Germany.
#OperationOslo

The electric rubber noses (god, we rail people have a really strange vocabulary!) class ER apparently get a new red livery. Could this mean they're staying a bit longer than the diesel ones?
#OperationOslo

Oh...
#OperationOslo

Arrival at Fredericia, the city which was built in the wrong location railway-wise. 😉
The train couples to another unit here while I alight. Luckily, I'm not using the local service to Odense, which would be one of these horrible Ansaldo units.
#OperationOslo

Thanks to my staff travel tickets, this is my first ride in first class on a DSB IC3. The seats are very similar in standard class, so there's normally no need to buy a first class ticket here. But there's complimentary snacks and self-service tea/coffee in first. Only the Kanelsnegle you have to bring yourself. 😉
#OperationOslo

Aalborg station. Finally a civilised station with a roof and a shop! The model railway is a plus. 🙂
The train was crowded indeed, even though it was in the middle of the afternoon. NJ should think of running double units and split them in Hjørring to Hirtshals and Skagen.
Anyway, my next train is a DSB ICL service and it's worked by everybody's favourite here, the insanely comfortable IC3 or class MF. 🥰
#OperationOslo

Hjørring station later in the afternoon. A Lint from Hirtshals, a Desiro from Aalborg and another Desiro from Skagen meet for Nordjyske Jernbaner's takt node. The line is apparently operated on ETCS L2 without signals, even though it's only a small branch line!
A lot of people queue in front of the doors of my train to Aalborg. This will get crowded... 😬
#OperationOslo

The ferry already left again when we depart Hirtshals. Through the rural Danish landscape, it's a 30 minute hop to Hjørring. We stop quite often and the train gets surprisingly full. Another argument for half hourly services.
#OperationOslo