You do a wonderful job in your videos. You check all the boxes - accessibility, ticket pricing, comparing the different types of rail carriages on a train. Keep up the good work.
Greetings from Aachen! Thumbs up for your video: interesting topic, and well presented. Vistors to Aachen, please expect some more traffic and some overcrowded locations, as the Christmas market will open soon. 😁
The plug sockets being added to the I11 coaches is a part of a modernisation programme of the I11 and M6 coaches (you can find modernised M6 coaches with plug sockets being added, the lighting changed from halogen tubes to LED, and a livery similar to the M7 with the big class numbers). I think the AM 96 EMU's might also be going through that programme though I'm not sure. However, there is a proposal of reinstating the Oostende to Cologne IC train when the new HLE 17 Traxx 3 locos will enter service, as they're capable of running in Germany and the Netherlands (they will also be put on the Eurocity to Rotterdam eventually). As for the Belgians not wanting to cooperate with other countries, I don't think that's true because at the next timetable change, daily Eurocity trains between Brussels and Paris operated by SNCB will enter service, after a succesful trial period during the Olympics. I think the reason with Arriva is mostly due to hostility from worker unions about allowing a private company on a regional line, although it has been sorted since the Arriva train has Belgian train guards on board between Liège and Maastricht
took this in early November its quite a nice ride and NMBS's flexable tickets really help and can tie nicely with a Deutchland Ticket to continue on to Cologne. too bad the NMBS doesn't allow a GO Unlimited pass to cross the border with this train and they have to buy a ticket from the last BE station to Aachen. love the i10 but even the i11's are both quite comfy. i do find it quite odd the journey planners always try and push you to change at Welkenraedt if your changing onto or from a train to Brussels instead of at Liege.
That train is a Intercity train, like the ones that use to run from Maastricht to Oostende via Brussels, some time ago. But that service ceased to run after several years... As you say the Beglians and Dutch seem to have problems getting along. Also the new Fast Tram between Maastricht and Hasselt failed. That was a shame.
Helemaal ontschoten, de laatste is relatief nieuw. Een video Charleroi Central - Brussel met de IC staat ook nog op de lijst trouwens, al zal ik even moeten wachten tot het station van Charleroi af is voordat ik dit ga opnemen.
Het Euregioticket is zo'n mooi product, dat dit eens wat meer gepromoot zou mogen worden. Ik heb het idee dat sowieso promotie van het OV erg achterblijft.
The introduction of this train was potentially influenced by the SNCB politics, but another explanation is this : Because of the different train securitysystems, and also the much lower demand, it was not practical so send the large very long and frequent Ostend-Eupen train through to Aachen. So many years ago the old ‘classic’ rolling stock was (re)used on this line. These old trains looked old and ridiculous from the outside, but were not bad on the inside, certainly not in first class. The NMBS wanted to replace this old rolling stock but they needed their I10 amd I11 cariages desperately on other lines. Only when the M7 rolling stock started to arrive more rapidly, it freed up I11s for this German bound line. So I’m not so sure this shorter line between Liege and Aachen was involved in the heated start of the ‘other’ line, now managed by Arriva. But you are right that the introduction of that line was a difficult road. On that topic however, while the SNCB might have been a hesitant partner, Arriva is not without blame in the preparation of this project.
Of course it's not that black and white, however I do see a trend that's not in the benefit for passengers. Same thing now with the new EuroCity Direct (why is it even called EuroCity in the first place?), I know SNCB / NMBS is responsible for the Belgian section, but why can't people use that train between Antwerp and Brussels with a normal train ticket? Why will the EuroCity Direct arrive at Antwerp earlier than the Eurostar en will the Eurostar depart earlier from Antwerp, why does the Eurostar Direct not stop in Mechelen and Brussels Central? Because of the time table thing, that new train is probably pretty much empty between Antwerp and Brussels and local commuters can't use it either. It's really a bad development.
@@Trainviking I think NS want to have train that breaks Eurostar monopole and that's good as prices are incredibly high. To break this monopole and have a 2-hour ride between Brussels and Amsterdam they must bypass Mechelenn Noorderkempen and Breda. That's why SNCB launched their Eurocity to Amsterdam. As there's too much trains between Brussels and Antwerp they had to remove one, which is a real downgrade for commuters living in little towns between Brussels and Antwerp. This is I think the limit of an open rail market. NS doesn't want commuters between Brussels and Antwerp because this is a 'High speed train' and not a regional one
On a side note : Verviers is definitely not an economically thriving city. It has had a great past, when it was one of Europes largest centers for cloth/tissue production, but these days are 50 to 75 years behind us. The present Verviers has some ‘vivid’ quarters and some youngsters want to spend time in the big neighbouring city of Liege. And these youngsters can then be found in this train, certainly later in the evening. While there is no big problem, this is one of these trains where keeping a very good eye on your belongings is important.
I know Verviers doesn’t have the best reputation. I think it’s always important to keep a close eye on your luggage, no matter what. Pretty often I feel like those kind of groups do feel more threatening as they really are, but of course it’s very important to keep a close eye on your luggage.
The line through the Netherlands is not meant as a competitive line. It's a totally different line that mostly connects Aachen and Maastricht directly, which wasn't the case few years ago. Maastricht-Liège is a "bonus".
deze regionale Belgische trein is vele male comfortabeler dan de break die op vele ic verbindingen word in gezet in België, ja de raampjes kunnen open in de Break, maar erg comfortabel zijn de stoelen niet.
Het comfort is zeker vele malen hoger dan veel regionale treinen. De break treinen kunnen echt niet meer (fun fact, zoals het er nu naar uitziet heb ik volgende week een video in een break in Marokko). Ik vind het alleen jammer dat deze verbinding pas in het leven is geroepen op het moment dat de NMBS de hete adem van Arriva voelt, deze verbinding had er al jaren eerder moeten zijn, de oude verbinding over deze grensovergang van Spa naar Aken was echt niet goed.
Concerning ticket prices on this line: the viewers of this video might also consider the Euregio ticket which gives unlimited bus and train travel in the whole of the Euregion (but not on the highspeed lines). And if bought and used for the weekend, the same low tarif is valid for the whole family (one ticket for instance makes 4 people travel).
I think that’s a really good deal in the weekend. For during the week it really depends on your plans / schedule. Although the Euregio ticket does give you more freedom to move around without thinking too much.
You need a different ticket. Deutschlandticket is only valid on German railways. You can book online on the SNCB international website or App or use the SNCB ticket machine in Aachen.
Heel veel acties lijken er op om Arriva dwars te bomen, en beter te lijken. Ik denk puur dat dit de rede is waarom er stopcontacten zijn, Arriva heeft dat ook. De eerste keer dat ik deze trein nam waren er geen stopcontacten en een maand later waren ze er opeens wel. Dat dit er komt is goed maar ik denk dat stopcontacten op andere routes veel meer kunnen toevoegen dan voor deze stoptreinen.
@@Trainviking er is een project lopend om de i11 treinen te moderniseren voor hun inzet naar Rotterdam, er worden stopcontacten toegevoegd en in elk rijtuig word er plaats gemaakt voor twee fietsen ( paar stoelen moeten weg)
Absolutely infuriating that DB charges double for a Belgian train. To me that seems worse that NMBS messing with the schedule. And in fact I think it's quite logical the way it is scheduled, you can easily transfer from either Eupen or Oostende (brussel) to Aachen or Maastricht. The Arriva train would never be competitive, it takes 1h43 whereas the direct Belgian train takes only 43 minutes. That's not to say NMBS is not sometimes anticompetitive, but I think in no way does the current schedule reflect that.
In terms if changing time, that makes sense, however if you just missed this train in Aachen and the Arriva train will depart 5 to 10 minutes after that. The Arriva train would be a good addition (maybe this can only work one way though). Hopefully this will change some day.
You do a wonderful job in your videos.
You check all the boxes - accessibility, ticket pricing, comparing the different types of rail carriages on a train.
Keep up the good work.
Interessant verslag. Dank voor het "uploaden".
Greetings from Aachen! Thumbs up for your video: interesting topic, and well presented. Vistors to Aachen, please expect some more traffic and some overcrowded locations, as the Christmas market will open soon. 😁
I’ve been to the Christmas market in Aachen in the past and it’s really worth visiting.
I love these cheap cross-border train videos!
Great video!
Thank you
The plug sockets being added to the I11 coaches is a part of a modernisation programme of the I11 and M6 coaches (you can find modernised M6 coaches with plug sockets being added, the lighting changed from halogen tubes to LED, and a livery similar to the M7 with the big class numbers). I think the AM 96 EMU's might also be going through that programme though I'm not sure. However, there is a proposal of reinstating the Oostende to Cologne IC train when the new HLE 17 Traxx 3 locos will enter service, as they're capable of running in Germany and the Netherlands (they will also be put on the Eurocity to Rotterdam eventually). As for the Belgians not wanting to cooperate with other countries, I don't think that's true because at the next timetable change, daily Eurocity trains between Brussels and Paris operated by SNCB will enter service, after a succesful trial period during the Olympics. I think the reason with Arriva is mostly due to hostility from worker unions about allowing a private company on a regional line, although it has been sorted since the Arriva train has Belgian train guards on board between Liège and Maastricht
took this in early November its quite a nice ride and NMBS's flexable tickets really help and can tie nicely with a Deutchland Ticket to continue on to Cologne. too bad the NMBS doesn't allow a GO Unlimited pass to cross the border with this train and they have to buy a ticket from the last BE station to Aachen. love the i10 but even the i11's are both quite comfy. i do find it quite odd the journey planners always try and push you to change at Welkenraedt if your changing onto or from a train to Brussels instead of at Liege.
Excellent explanation, I'd consider Frisian as language at the Arriva ticketmachine.
That train is a Intercity train, like the ones that use to run from Maastricht to Oostende via Brussels, some time ago. But that service ceased to run after several years... As you say the Beglians and Dutch seem to have problems getting along. Also the new Fast Tram between Maastricht and Hasselt failed. That was a shame.
Excellent video friend
Thank you
18:40 er zijn 4 centrale stations in belgie: brussel-centraal, Antwerpen-centraal, charleroi-centrale en verviers-centrale
Helemaal ontschoten, de laatste is relatief nieuw.
Een video Charleroi Central - Brussel met de IC staat ook nog op de lijst trouwens, al zal ik even moeten wachten tot het station van Charleroi af is voordat ik dit ga opnemen.
Het Euregioticket is zo'n mooi product, dat dit eens wat meer gepromoot zou mogen worden. Ik heb het idee dat sowieso promotie van het OV erg achterblijft.
Helemaal mee eens
The introduction of this train was potentially influenced by the SNCB politics, but another explanation is this :
Because of the different train securitysystems, and also the much lower demand, it was not practical so send the large very long and frequent Ostend-Eupen train through to Aachen. So many years ago the old ‘classic’ rolling stock was (re)used on this line. These old trains looked old and ridiculous from the outside, but were not bad on the inside, certainly not in first class.
The NMBS wanted to replace this old rolling stock but they needed their I10 amd I11 cariages desperately on other lines. Only when the M7 rolling stock started to arrive more rapidly, it freed up I11s for this German bound line.
So I’m not so sure this shorter line between Liege and Aachen was involved in the heated start of the ‘other’ line, now managed by Arriva. But you are right that the introduction of that line was a difficult road. On that topic however, while the SNCB might have been a hesitant partner, Arriva is not without blame in the preparation of this project.
Of course it's not that black and white, however I do see a trend that's not in the benefit for passengers.
Same thing now with the new EuroCity Direct (why is it even called EuroCity in the first place?), I know SNCB / NMBS is responsible for the Belgian section, but why can't people use that train between Antwerp and Brussels with a normal train ticket? Why will the EuroCity Direct arrive at Antwerp earlier than the Eurostar en will the Eurostar depart earlier from Antwerp, why does the Eurostar Direct not stop in Mechelen and Brussels Central?
Because of the time table thing, that new train is probably pretty much empty between Antwerp and Brussels and local commuters can't use it either. It's really a bad development.
@@Trainviking I think NS want to have train that breaks Eurostar monopole and that's good as prices are incredibly high. To break this monopole and have a 2-hour ride between Brussels and Amsterdam they must bypass Mechelenn Noorderkempen and Breda. That's why SNCB launched their Eurocity to Amsterdam. As there's too much trains between Brussels and Antwerp they had to remove one, which is a real downgrade for commuters living in little towns between Brussels and Antwerp. This is I think the limit of an open rail market. NS doesn't want commuters between Brussels and Antwerp because this is a 'High speed train' and not a regional one
On a side note : Verviers is definitely not an economically thriving city. It has had a great past, when it was one of Europes largest centers for cloth/tissue production, but these days are 50 to 75 years behind us. The present Verviers has some ‘vivid’ quarters and some youngsters want to spend time in the big neighbouring city of Liege. And these youngsters can then be found in this train, certainly later in the evening. While there is no big problem, this is one of these trains where keeping a very good eye on your belongings is important.
I know Verviers doesn’t have the best reputation. I think it’s always important to keep a close eye on your luggage, no matter what.
Pretty often I feel like those kind of groups do feel more threatening as they really are, but of course it’s very important to keep a close eye on your luggage.
The line through the Netherlands is not meant as a competitive line. It's a totally different line that mostly connects Aachen and Maastricht directly, which wasn't the case few years ago. Maastricht-Liège is a "bonus".
17:19 vanaf de HLE17 (BR188) word geleverd voor de belgishe spoorwegen zal de oostende-eupen waarschijnlijk doorgetrokken worden tot keulen
Dat zou echt perfect zijn, gaat dit dan over de HSL of over de klassieke lijn?
deze regionale Belgische trein is vele male comfortabeler dan de break die op vele ic verbindingen word in gezet in België, ja de raampjes kunnen open in de Break, maar erg comfortabel zijn de stoelen niet.
Het comfort is zeker vele malen hoger dan veel regionale treinen. De break treinen kunnen echt niet meer (fun fact, zoals het er nu naar uitziet heb ik volgende week een video in een break in Marokko). Ik vind het alleen jammer dat deze verbinding pas in het leven is geroepen op het moment dat de NMBS de hete adem van Arriva voelt, deze verbinding had er al jaren eerder moeten zijn, de oude verbinding over deze grensovergang van Spa naar Aken was echt niet goed.
Concerning ticket prices on this line: the viewers of this video might also consider the Euregio ticket which gives unlimited bus and train travel in the whole of the Euregion (but not on the highspeed lines). And if bought and used for the weekend, the same low tarif is valid for the whole family (one ticket for instance makes 4 people travel).
I think that’s a really good deal in the weekend. For during the week it really depends on your plans / schedule. Although the Euregio ticket does give you more freedom to move around without thinking too much.
A train with the toilet that dumps waste directly onto the tracks in Western Europe and is expected to continue doing it until 2031. Imagine that.
I'm planning to take S41 from Aachen to Liege... is the Deutschlandticket covers the train ride or do I have to purchase a different ticket for that?
You need a different ticket. Deutschlandticket is only valid on German railways. You can book online on the SNCB international website or App or use the SNCB ticket machine in Aachen.
Stilte zone is relatief nieuw voor Belgische treinen.
Shouldn’t the screens be in German as well passing through Hergenrath according to de taalwetgeving?
I personally agree, if you do it well it should be German.
However I think it should be combined with French as well.
Sinds wanneer zijn er stopcontacten in de i11? Heb deze nog nooit gezien en zit er bijna elke week in tussen gent en luik😅
Heel veel acties lijken er op om Arriva dwars te bomen, en beter te lijken. Ik denk puur dat dit de rede is waarom er stopcontacten zijn, Arriva heeft dat ook. De eerste keer dat ik deze trein nam waren er geen stopcontacten en een maand later waren ze er opeens wel. Dat dit er komt is goed maar ik denk dat stopcontacten op andere routes veel meer kunnen toevoegen dan voor deze stoptreinen.
@@Trainviking er is een project lopend om de i11 treinen te moderniseren voor hun inzet naar Rotterdam, er worden stopcontacten toegevoegd en in elk rijtuig word er plaats gemaakt voor twee fietsen ( paar stoelen moeten weg)
Absolutely infuriating that DB charges double for a Belgian train. To me that seems worse that NMBS messing with the schedule. And in fact I think it's quite logical the way it is scheduled, you can easily transfer from either Eupen or Oostende (brussel) to Aachen or Maastricht. The Arriva train would never be competitive, it takes 1h43 whereas the direct Belgian train takes only 43 minutes. That's not to say NMBS is not sometimes anticompetitive, but I think in no way does the current schedule reflect that.
In terms if changing time, that makes sense, however if you just missed this train in Aachen and the Arriva train will depart 5 to 10 minutes after that. The Arriva train would be a good addition (maybe this can only work one way though). Hopefully this will change some day.