My Train Journey This Morning

[chef]

WOW!!

In 2001..Virgin Trains raised the idea of constructing new track and purchasing a new fleet of trains for the line[6]. These so-called VGVs (Virgin Grand Vitesse, after the French TGV) would be capable of 330 kilometres per hour (210 mph) and travel using a mixture of new track and existing track. The new track would be from Peterborough to Yorkshire and on from Newcastle to the Scottish border. This first track would have opened in 2009 and was chosen for ease of construction in the south and elimination of severe curves in Northumberland. Later, if successful, further stretches would have been upgraded. Publicity material featuring Virgin branded TGV and ICE trains appeared and it was stated that the stock would be built in Birmingham (implying Alstom would be the supplier), although at that time the only train capable of such speeds was the German ICE3.

Virgin teamed up with experienced civil engineering contractors such as Bechtel, but their tender was rejected.

, move to Germany mate, the trains here are far more fun

[lilelvis2000]

hmmm it would appear she is a GP. Surely I must be mistaken?

me fault - got my own name wrong. hee hee. Have corrected my post.

[SofaKingdom]

, move to Germany mate, the trains here are far more fun

It's just the people that lack a sense of fun.

[threaded]

The have an IC3 in Denmark. Very pretty. Just doing commuter runs...

[gricerboy]

The have an IC3 in Denmark. Very pretty. Just doing commuter runs...

I was rather grateful to be sitting in that one refurbished coach that Arriva Trains Wales rent.

Much more pleasant than the usual filthy rolling stock.

Nice. If you're in South Wales, I see they still run the old 'Bubble Car' Class 121 DMU

[gricerboy]

Nah.

These.

http://img.youtube.com/vi/2TfF3Cn_69Y/0.jpg

Smart!

[chef]

It's just the people that lack a sense of fun.

such a stereotypical view, agreed the humour is very dry but German's definately know how to party, 2 examples come to mind;

Oktoberfest - 16 day's of solid partying and drinking. On average 6.5 million visitors come to the 42 hectare site. 72% of the people are from Bavaria (i.e German). Such an event could not happen in the Uk without serious overhanded policing.

Cologne Carnival - officially opens 11th November and then parties occur every weekend up until the final week of Lent (March/April) in which over 1 million people celebrate/party/drink almost solid for 6 days. ALL bars in the city celebrate and the atmosphere is fantastic.

If you've ever visited Germany for any length of time you'd realise that any excuse possible and the bands/sausage stalls and beer tents are got out and a party begins..

[minestrone]

David Hasselhoff, that is all.

[chef]

David Hasselhoff, that is all.

yeah, that's always a good tease, I didn't say they were perfect, I just disagree with the "they don't know how to have fun" comment

[OwlHoot]

such a stereotypical view, agreed the humour is very dry but German's definately know how to party, 2 examples come to mind;

Oktoberfest - 16 day's of solid partying and drinking. On average 6.5 million visitors come to the 42 hectare site. 72% of the people are from Bavaria (i.e German). Such an event could not happen in the Uk without serious overhanded policing.

Cologne Carnival - officially opens 11th November and then parties occur every weekend up until the final week of Lent (March/April) in which over 1 million people celebrate/party/drink almost solid for 6 days. ALL bars in the city celebrate and the atmosphere is fantastic.

If you've ever visited Germany for any length of time you'd realise that any excuse possible and the bands/sausage stalls and beer tents are got out and a party begins..

Just as impressive is the way the Germans get tanked up to the eyeballs, then drink several cups of strong coffee, honk it all up, and then carry on drinking where they left off.