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IanInterior view on this Transport for Wales dining car also far from shabby. Having last week praised the Czech trains breakfast, has to be said this is proper job. £11 for all this, cooked by a chef on board. In the running for best veggie breakfast on <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>, I reckon. cc <a href="https://rail.chat/@diningcar" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@diningcar</a>

IanTime for my new bike to take its first big trip, heading for Orkney and Stromness Shopping Week. One joy of <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> is that I can take any route I like from Cardiff to Thurso. So stops today in Chester and tomorrow in Edinburgh. A second joy (hmm) of Interrailing in Britain is that the entire pass can pay for itself in a single journey. All my <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> adventures to get here were basically free. Thirdly, Cymru can turn on the style when viewed from a train window.

IanThe <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Eurostar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Eurostar</a> was pleasingly uneventful. Just, as usual, my reintroduction to a lot of British people being very British. (I include myself, sadly.) Plenty of earwigging opportunities. A high maintenance mum (50s?) and her daughter coming home from their first <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> adventure. A family on the comedown from Disneyland Paris, complete with a 'bit of a madam' 3yo daughter. A lady from Idaho with all kinds of plans for her week-long holiday in London and then Scotland. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanSome other time (not twenty past gin o'clock) I will write up advice for first timers in navigating train stations from the former Soviet bloc. They follow a different, and perfectly good logic, but it can catch you out if you've only done British or west European train travel. Praha hl.n. is off-the-scale baffling in fact, due to its size and the fact that "J" indicates a south platform in Czech while (wait for it) north platforms are labelled "S". <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

IanThe <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanSleeper" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanSleeper</a> rolls silently out of Prague. Well, I am in one of the rearmost carriages. All the cool bicycles that I saw hanging around Praha hl.n. (main station) have been boarded too. This train is mecca for people of taste! On that subject, I mentioned supplies. There's cheese and wine for later, and some healthy rubbish, but right now I declare it gin o'clock! <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanGetting my money's worth out of my 1st class <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a>, with luck, on today's first <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a> journey: 7 hours direct from Poprad Tatry, <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Slovakia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Slovakia</a> to Prague. 'Business class' on <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Regiojet" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Regiojet</a> seems mainly to be huge seats but less view out of the windows at the stunning scenery. Oh, and free prosecco. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

Ian<a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a> moves on from Slovakia's Tatra Mountains today. Keeping the hashtag as I trundle on to Cymru via <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Regiojet" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Regiojet</a> to Prague, overnight <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanSleeper" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanSleeper</a> to Brussels, then <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Eurostar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Eurostar</a> to London – for the convenience of all who have sensibly muted. And cos I can't think of a decent alternative. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a>

IanDobrý deň/hello Slovakia! And hello too a CD veggie breakfast, cooked on board in the restaurant car and served at my seat. Three fried eggs with enough parmesan on top to spark cheese sweats. To travel is fatter than to arrive! <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

IanNot massively impressed by the <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/LeoExpress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#LeoExpress</a> train, by the way. Wouldn't honestly recommend, despite gushing review by <a href="https://mas.to/@seatsixtyone" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@seatsixtyone</a> Delay not a big deal. Loads of space on board and friendly staff. But despite the carriages looking shiny and new, the seats were tired and uncomfortable, even in the 'Business class' that my <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> pass allowed me into. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/ProTip" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ProTip</a>: because most people prefer window seats, when the seats are old, you'll often find the aisle cushions more comfy. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

IanFiled under much more interesting. The WARS catering cars on PKP are fantastic. If there is one on any train you travel, do yourself a favour and take a seat, a beer, and some affordable real food. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanFiled under dull but good to know, Mockava/Suwalki is one of those places where the <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> app can go funny. There's a known issue when it has limited but more than zero bandwidth, and can hang when you try to show your digital ticket. (It just did it to me.) The solution is to switch off mobile data and relaunch. The app is happy running offline, as long as you've been online in last couple of days. Here endeth today's <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> lesson.

IanLow surprise perhaps that mobile data coverage is limited in the Suwalki Gap. Kind of feel I wouldn't be trusting a GPS there, either. Now in Poland and 4G is back. So for your potential <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> travelling pleasure, a picture showing just how complicated the train connection is at Mockava. Polish PKP Intercity on the left, Lithuanian LTG Link on the right. You have half an hour to complete this manoeuvre. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanCześć/hello Poland. All kinds of border fun that train spods who know all about track gauges will likely find fascinating. Me? I just saw two trains, got off one, walked 4m and got onto the other. Kind of sensitive this border crossing of course, so best I don't describe some of the freight I saw. It will however always amuse me that German freight wagons routinely have not just a web address and email in the safety into on the side, but also… a fax number. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanLet the actual <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> commence! First train of today's long (27hr) and timezone extended (1hr at the LT-PL border) journey is a short hop to Kaunas. In good news for Scots, I'm told it is pronounced more like coo than cow-nas. And in good news for me, given the whole 27 hours thing, it's my introduction to doing <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> in 1st class. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a>

IanDull but possibly useful <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> note. A ticket Riga–Vilnius costs €9,50. As so often in eastern Europe, it's not worth burning a day of an <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> Flexipass for one ride, even if you go hundreds of km and into a neighbouring country. Can be worth it, of course, if part of a much longer journey. I imagine I'll have time to explain more about that on Friday. (Suspense, much?)

IanSveiki/hello Lithuania! The LTG Link train between Riga and Vilnius takes 4 hours but it's a pleasant ride through green countryside and a few industrial towns. (Hello again, Siauliai, bicycle capital of LT.) It's a slow and sometimes bouncy ride, but the train has friendly staff, decent coffee, wifi, great bike arrangements, and water bowls for dogs aboard. What more could anyone want? How's about a carriage done out in bright pink, homage (no lie) to Lithuania's love of beetroot? <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

IanHere's a free <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Latvia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Latvia</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/TravelTip" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TravelTip</a> that goes against my standard advice. Left luggage is usually cheaper at bus than train stations. But in Latvia, buses rule and that's where the money is. So choose €2/hour for a locker at Riga's Autoosta or €4 (coins needed) for 24 hours at the train station a 400m walk away. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

IanA journey of a thousand schleps begins with a single mile. Just walked to the station for the first of no idea how many trains or how many km over the next week. Even by my <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/SwedenToWales" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SwedenToWales</a> standards, this go west <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a> adventure is a round about route. Main target is Poprad in the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia, hence going with <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Trains2Tatras" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Trains2Tatras</a> (which you are welcome, even advised, to mute). <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a>

Ian<a href="https://mastodonsweden.se/@interrailinfosvenska" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@interrailinfosvenska</a> For info, the tech issue on PKP's website appears to be fixed. I was able to get the <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> reservation for a Polish intercity train that I was after. (And also a refund on the LTGlink one I bought to make sure I could board the train at Mockava.) <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

Ian<a href="https://mastodonsweden.se/@interrailinfosvenska" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@interrailinfosvenska</a> Your suspicion was correct. I emailed PKP. They replied within 2 hours, confirming that the function is not available at the moment, but they are working to fix. <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/Interrail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Interrail</a> <a href="https://toot.wales/tags/EuropeanRail" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#EuropeanRail</a>

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