One possibility for the weird booking option could be that the cabin is held back for VIPs and government ministers and only relaeased on the day if not required.
I'm georgian... and no... no single person from gov will ever travel using train in Georgia. In Georgian stereotype train is transport for poor and villagers. Georgians travel using own private cars, like Toyota Prado and so on.
Czech private operator Leo Express has similar seats in their Premium class. When I travelled with them in Premium few years ago, there was a 3 course meal, unlimited consumption of non-alcoholic beverages and one or two alcoholic beverages included in the price of the ticket. Definitely recommend to try
@@SuperalbsTravels Both are from the same manufacturer, Borcad (CZ). The Georgian version uses the Borcad Excellent frame with seatback and headrest from their Comfort series. Leo Express has the original Excellent seat, with a wider headrest, but otherwise similar features (minus the heating).
I love this train! Thank you for coming back and giving Georgia a second chance, Superalbs! My profile photo is actually the exact train you rode, the GRS 012! (you can find it on the front of the train) also notice how this train was in an accident before, as you can see one of the fenders was DIY sculpted together and bolted on, as Stadler replacement parts were too expensive.
Hahaha! It was great to come back, I love travelling in Georgia so much. Next time I will go and travel on a few of the elektrichka routes, and hopefully even the line to Bakuriani!
@@SuperalbsTravels are you talking about the narrow gauge railway? I also suggest seeing the Tbilisi Children’s railway, it was the first in the USSR before any other city, quite the honor!
Your videos of train travel across Europe is so beautiful, breathtaking and amazing. I do enjoy your content and hope you continue with more great videos in the new year 😊
Enjoyed your 'dry' Brit humour on the vagaries of a train travel in an ex-Soviet Union nation! May the travel Gods bless you with more such safe adventures!
The seats are by Czech company Borcad, I remember trying them out at InnoTrans. Very comfortable indeed! Considering these trains were originally designed for a rather short city to airport trip, they also seem to make a decent intercity train, even though they have no restaurant car. At least there should be a person to operate the coffee machine for you, otherwise it's useless!
Very nice looking train indeed! Those seats also looks almost identical to the ones that are now fitted in some coaches in Norway. You should definetly try to catch the Oslo S - Trondheim route with SJ Nord in premium pluss, with departures at 14:02 from Oslo and 10:18 from Trondheim, as well as night trains. Or you can catch the Oslo S - Stavanger route with Go-Ahead with the "hvile" class, departures 09:25 from Oslo and 10:16 from Stavanger, and also night trains. Both are excellent, but I think the product from SJ is slightly better since you get a bottle of water and complimentary food :)
I've lived from 2005 to 2013 where the first generation EMUs built by Stadler was running, from Biel to Ins on a suburban line along the streets in Biel. Fascinating how many varieties that company has now and how well accepted they are almost a decade later while the company exists since end of world war 2. Makes you think what did change that they grew that much so fast.
@@SuperalbsTravels yeah, like the american dream, just on the other side of the pond, the "small" swiss company that all of a sudden becomes a huge world business. Just for that fact I like them even if they've just become like any full urban service, it keeps up hope that so much is possible.
This is one of the best trains I've ever take... for this price! And, yes, it was almost impossible to get a ticket when I traveled in summer 2023. I did this trip in 1st class. Good work.
As a spaniard, seeing the horrendous frankenstein train with the AVE logo at 1:12 made me laugh nervously in confusion XD Seriously, what the hell is that supposed to be? The modified engine cars of some ancient AVE prototype with no passenger cars, coupled three times in a row? Jesus christ.... Good catch Superalbs!
Am a new subscriber to your channel,really enjoying your train journeys through-out.,i must say you are quite a busy man doing all these adventures.All the best for 2023🚅
Oh the stories I could tell! Sadly, NDAs are a Thing. This journey is not as weird as it was, and the stations are being moved "soon" Thoroughly loved this.
My favourite railway line is the G43 from Budapest kőbánya-Kispest to Székesfehérvár. It is also not bad, check it out, sometimes there are even double-decker trains.
Exactly the same carriage is being used between Baku and Ganja, just travelled on this a few months ago. If I remember correctly, it was about 50,- EUR. Only two other passengers were in First Class together with me.
I traveled from Tbilisi to Batumi using Georgian Railway in 2022 and I must say that it was really worth it. The views were really stunning, specially when you are nearing Batumi (Black Sea Coast). So wonderful. I will do it again once I travel to Georgia
Well, the history of those trains is an excellent example of how NOT to order new rolling stock "Just because". Stadler trains are too expensive to maintain for any post-Soviet country. Especially speaking of Georgia. Batumi city tries (too) hard to be modern but is without doubt yet another tourist "amusement park" among destroyed villages.
True they are expensive, but then the cheaper CRRC built units (video coming soon) aren't in much better condition. The less said about the weird DIY elektrichka fleet the better! 🤣
@@SuperalbsTravels speaking of Soviet suburban EMUs in Georgia - yep, the story of rebuilding this rolling stock back in the 00's is really strange. Front and rear non-motorized control coaches were built from regular coaches adding strange looking front plastic mask. There was (and probably is) yet another interesting train which consists of VL10 electric locomotive and 2 passenger coaches rebuilt from old East German freight ones (former refrigerator coaches).
Fantastic stuff, I definitely need to head back to the country, I did a 2 week road trip there about 10 years ago. Did the NG electric railway which is definitely worth a bash. And as you say, the scenery, food, wine and friendly people make the country a brilliant place to go if you want somewhere a bit different but still very very pleasant.
Railway station is perfectly situated at entrance of Batumi city. Probably most of travellers have connections with a private car. Other people can reach the station by bus line number 10, or by Taxi.
So you waited until the day you got on the train to book this business class fare? Thats some dedication right there! Was this your only realistic chance to experience this product or did you plan for a backup route just in case? Great video as usual btw!
I had already booked First Class, but was going to refund them IF it was possible to get Business Class. Luckily, my gamble paid off, and it was so worth it! 😍
As far as i understand if available its available 18 hours before departure I booked 1st class tickets online for 75 GEL Tbilisi-Batumi and was asked by the conductor if i wanted to upgrade to business class (for 50 GEL)(and was asked the same on my returntrip). I guess in low season there is a good chance to upgrade The seating is good, but found it similar as the business seat offered by öBB Railjet (Austria) and MAV Intercity between Budpest and Szeged (no idea how to book though, got my seat since my e-ticket was valid for a coach not in use (Couldnt see buisness class tickets online )
You should try out the 1+ ic class on the hungarian kék hullám ic which runs in the summer, its similar to this but not quite, i suggest getting a friday or saturday train from balaton to budapest to have a higher chance of being there alone.
@@SuperalbsTravels I never realized! I've never actually travelled on a train which has a business class. The ones I use in the UK are either single or double class or recently Standard + Premium + First on Pendolinos. Meanwhile in India there's all variations of classes depending on the train, with them all being some variant of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
The coffee machine in the beginning of the trip was displaying the message "warming up, please wait" in Russian. Probably even the coffee machine was already installed when aeroexpress decided not to buy the train
1:14 Those are Spanish AVE HST, but in a never seen and illogical configuration. I don't know what they were thinking when they posted that. It looks like a renfe 100 series, but but weird and misshapen
on the subject of the end of this video, I've definitely spent some hours waiting around at Tbilisi station 😖 - somehow I've never been anywhere else like it. Not unsafe or anything - I think 'liminal' might be a better word. I absolutely adore Tbilisi and Georgia and have been many times, but that station at night in the middle of winter feels like the end of the world.
51 Laris for a First Class seat is equivalent to 18.50 Euros which is not expensive for Georgians. Georgia is now a middle income country and is in better shape economically than even some EU countries (ie. Bulgaria, Croatia and I dare say even Greece) because the price level in Georgia is very low thanks to cheap gas, petrol and electricity and cheap imports of many goods from Turkey, Russia and Iran. Georgia is a tiger economy that is growing at a pace of 10% a year. Georgians typically earn 2,500 Laris a month (+ or - 600 Laris) which is around 900 Euros. The reason the train ride is cheap despite its high quality and comfort is because there are so many travel alternatives between Batumi and Tbilisi (many busses, minivans, shared taxis and also flights from Batumi Airport direct to Tbilisi Airport)..
@@cehaem2 The price level in Russia is (on average) 15% - 25% less than in Georgia. This is mainly because energy and groceries are cheaper in Russia for obvious reasons (Russia is a major energy producer and exporter and the economies of scale a country with 140 million inhabitants and a fifth of the entire world's surface naturally has is why Russia is a cheap place to live in). However, when it comes to average income the wages in both countries are literally identical.
@@cehaem2 The Georgian Lari appreciated by 45% against the USD since the 1st January 2021 and is set to appreciate a further 10% - 15% by the end of this year. The average wage in Georgia is heading to 1,000 USD/month. In Tbilisi the average wage is already above 1,000 USD and will probably hit 1,250 USD/month next year. Don't take my word for it just look around when in Georgia and see how many workers move from Türkiye, India, Bangladesh,.Pakistan, Uzbekistan etc. and ask yourself why!
The seats look similar to those introduced on two long range distances in Norway now. Used for both day time and night time operation. Later this december a fully lie flat seat will also be introduced, on the Oslo-Bergen line. But that seat is only for the night trains.
Great trip, and great scenery around Black Sea Coast. This class is very special, beside it's the luxurious class on the train, it also only appears at day of departure. Speaking about Georgians Language, yes I agree, looks nice when it's come to audio or conversation, but when it's come to scripts, oh my god what is this.
just as a friendly heads up since you take it seriously (and do very well) with pronounciation. The "S" in "Stadler" is actually "SH" so "shtadler". I've worked for Stadler in Switzerland so for anyone wondering how I'd know.
It's impressive, but Italian Frecciarossa business salottino (the last word being really important) is more Luxurious. You have a private compartment, you can adjust light and temp, the seats are similar and there is a complimentary drink (might be even wine) and snack.
The train was originally intended for Aeroexpress, as evidenced by the airplanes on the seats. But after the weakening of the ruble, Aeroexpress reduced the order.
Russians have redone all of their in the past mixed height platforms to high ones and added appendix low woden platforms for high speed transborder trains. Georgians have redone all of their platforms to low european style and bought a train built for high russian platforms.
@@SuperalbsTravels It is a very unique seat. The best imo in the european High Speed Train Market. And the all inclusive food and drink service is the cherry on top. A adventure worth taking.
@@SuperalbsTravels I would love to see this from ya. Would recommend travelling from Paris to Milan or vise versa. It is long enough to experience everything.
@@SuperalbsTravels I was about to comment the same. Compared to Frecciarossa Executive Class, your Georgian business class looks like a cheap no-frill airline. I had the pleasure to try it this summer. There are only 10 seats in a regular train carriage and the carriage has a dedicated butler serving you complementary whatever you want (food, beverages, wine) throughout the entire journey.
So just to be clear (it's me, not you lol), was it that particular seat, or all the seats in that area (business class) that you can't book ahead of time?
@@SuperalbsTravels Ticketshop of Giorgian Railways shows all available seats, 2nd-, 1st- and business-class for upcoming booking- period. In high travel season Buisness Class seats are often sold out.
The MÁV-START is also has this seat model in Armz coaches in the 1+ section, but the formation is different. In the carriage (IC+ Armz, built by Szolnoki Járműjavító) the passenger would find two compartments, wich equipped 4 of theese seats. The MÁV-START runs theese Armz coaches in InterCity trains called Tokaj (from Budapest-Keleti to Budapest-Nyugati via Miskolc, Nyíegyháza, Debrecen and Szolnok or from Budapest-Nyugati to Budapest-Keleti via Szolnok, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza and Miskolc, numbers from IC 560 to IC 588 and from IC 650 to IC 688), Mecsek ( from Budapest-Keleti to Pécs numbers from IC 801 to IC 818), Napfény (from Budapest-Nyugati to Szeged, numbers from IC 700 to IC 737), Latorca (from Budapest-Nyugati to Záhony numbers are IC 31, IC 33, IC 34) and Nyírség (from Budapest-Nyugat to Nyíregyháza or sometimes Záhony, numbers from IC 600 to IC 628). Theese coaches is also equipped 2 quiet first class compartments, an open-air 1st class section and a bistro section.
I need my tickets checked at boarding. I feel most stressful when I board freely and then I have to wait agonizing minutes for the conductor to pass. What if I am on the wrong train? Maybe I got wrong ticket? Sitting in the wrong seat? These things burn through my mind as I wait to show my ticket.
Well, the reason why almost everything in the batumi station is abandoned and empty, the reason is that it's not really needed, the country gets a small amount of visitors and it's very unnecessary to have a giant room that only will be filled with 5 people.
Just me or is the train painfully slow? It looks gorgeous tho, leagues better than any Pakistani train I've been on lol. (But then again, last time I took a train in Pakistan was about 14 years ago).
Its weird to see exactly THIS train in georgia of all places normally you dont see the Kiss outside Germany its often the smaller Flirt that is populair
Unless I’m missing something, this seat seems less luxurious than Executive Class on the Frecciarossa, which is in a 1-1 configuration rather than this 1-2 business class
Warning! I'm on this t😢rain now, going to Batumi in Business Class. There are different trains on this route. Our train has a normal 2+2 seating, with ordinary seats, and is rather worn. Only difference to 1st class is the complementary coffee. A real dissapointment at twice the price. Does anybody know how to be sure which train configuration is which, when booking?
Honestly as a Georgian I expected something more luxurious when I read the title, those seems like a mediocre seats, that being said I've never travelled in Business class train, do Western/Central European trains really not have better Business Class than this? Edit - Okay, after closer look, they're not that bad.
WHICH IS IT - MODERN OR CLASSIC LUXURY ??? You have obviously never seen the Swiss "Glacier Express". The train that takes you across the "Roof of the World" !!!! That has Modern luxury by the bucket load, & includes huge Panoramic Windows. But ultimately no modern train can beat the classic luxury of the VSOE. (Venice Simplon Orient Express), with its "Wagon Lits" Pullman cars, personal at seat service, Piano car, Bar car, Lounge car, 5 star Dining Car, and of course luxury "Wagon Lits" sleepers etc, etc, etc.
I also think you should look at the accessibility of the trains for people with reduced mobility, and especially those in wheelchairs. Seems often only in Sweden they think about such things. Been to Germany, and even such a country does not think about the design for the disabled.
I'd like to know where in Germany you were, it is full of stuff designed to please people in wheelchairs. and offers extra free services in stations and trains. it's even hard to find a building which didn't have it's stairs removed and now has smooth ramps instead. new ones are required to be whellchair accessible by law since decades. multi level stations have elevators and wherever their is a problem you will find a helping hand, often without asking. or are you talking about the early 80s? that was a mess back then, very limiting in comparison.
@@couchcamperTM I think it might be good to mention accessibility for wheelchair users in general. However, I thought that there were narrow stair passages to the upper floor on this particular train. But it is clear that it is certainly possible to enter with a wheelchair on the first level of such a new train. However, it was my experience of accessibility in Germany in contexts other than just trains and stations that made me think that accessibility could be bad even when it comes to trains in Germany. I think of when I had my son in a pram and went into cafes and restaurants, and when you had to change a nappy. There were often cramped toilets, and stairs that you had to lift the cart over to bring it up. But of course it worked well when it came to trains and subways which I used in Berlin anyway. Also thought that a lot was old-fashioned, with cash instead of cards, manual tickets instead of digital tickets, etc. which made me think the country wasn't keeping up much in terms of accessibility either.
local trains in germany are nowadays quite accessible, with the exception of some older rolling stock like the u-bahn and some s-bahn trains in berlin or other cities, where there sometimes is a huge difference in height between train and platform, but transit apps still advertise them as barrier-free because some of the trains on the line are. long distance trains unfortunately always require stairs to climb and have narrow doors so i suppose loading a wheelchair on would be very hard. i have ridden high speed trains in germany countless times but i never saw a person in a wheelchair on one, seems like they try to avoid them as they are not accessible.
"Whatever this is" is a Spanish high-speed train, an AVE, which stands for "Alta Velocidad Española" (Spanish High Speed) and is also (one of) the Spanish word for "bird".
Actually, this unit resembles the first Spanish high-speed train, which was introduced in 1992 in the then-brandnew high-speed line Madrid-Sevilla with international gauge.
Funny that Turkey isn't mentioned as a country, having the second longest coastline amongst the sea:) I have made the same journey 2 months ago in first class. The train and seats were very comfortable. However the track is old and not comfortable at all, both making the trip time long and cars moving constantly. Having said that, I would prefer train to car between these two cities. The sightseeing is marvelous.
@@LeeGee depends on who you ask. Maybe due to historical differences it could be an independent country, but it surely isn't Russian either even though they shifted in their people over the years.
You shold do a review of Serbian IC high speed train betwen Belgrade and Novi Sad. Its not a long route but it worth riding it, considering its first high speed train in Serbia and second in Balkans. Also in 2 years route will be extended to Subotica and Hungarian border where it will be conected to Hungarian HS line to Budapest.
One possibility for the weird booking option could be that the cabin is held back for VIPs and government ministers and only relaeased on the day if not required.
I had suspected that, but wasn't sure. That's the only thing that could make sense to be honest.
That would also explain why the espresso machine wasn't filled. 🤣
Exactly! Poor 3rd world countries' Authoritarian rules make them kings and Dictators. They considered themselves superhumans!! Hehe!
I'm georgian... and no... no single person from gov will ever travel using train in Georgia. In Georgian stereotype train is transport for poor and villagers. Georgians travel using own private cars, like Toyota Prado and so on.
Georgian Railway is state owned entity and it is so corrupt that their annual net loss is over 120M USD
Czech private operator Leo Express has similar seats in their Premium class. When I travelled with them in Premium few years ago, there was a 3 course meal, unlimited consumption of non-alcoholic beverages and one or two alcoholic beverages included in the price of the ticket. Definitely recommend to try
Yep, it's the same design. I can't wait to try it one day...
@@SuperalbsTravels Both are from the same manufacturer, Borcad (CZ).
The Georgian version uses the Borcad Excellent frame with seatback and headrest from their Comfort series.
Leo Express has the original Excellent seat, with a wider headrest, but otherwise similar features (minus the heating).
I love this train! Thank you for coming back and giving Georgia a second chance, Superalbs! My profile photo is actually the exact train you rode, the GRS 012! (you can find it on the front of the train) also notice how this train was in an accident before, as you can see one of the fenders was DIY sculpted together and bolted on, as Stadler replacement parts were too expensive.
Haha true, I noticed that part looked off but couldn't tell why
Hahaha! It was great to come back, I love travelling in Georgia so much. Next time I will go and travel on a few of the elektrichka routes, and hopefully even the line to Bakuriani!
And I noticed the problems with the front of the unit both times I visited! 🤣
One of them even had a crooked door in 2020, not sure if it's fixed.
@@SuperalbsTravels are you talking about the narrow gauge railway? I also suggest seeing the Tbilisi Children’s railway, it was the first in the USSR before any other city, quite the honor!
@@TheTransitDiaries Yes, the narrow gauge route to Bakuriani! Didn't know the children's railway was still operating.
Your videos of train travel across Europe is so beautiful, breathtaking and amazing. I do enjoy your content and hope you continue with more great videos in the new year 😊
Thank you very much! There are a lot more videos to come... :)
No problem 🙂
Love, love, love this channel.... and I'm not even a train nerd 😅 Please stay "on track" and keep doing it your way
Hahaha, thank you very much! Many more videos to come. 🥰
Enjoyed your 'dry' Brit humour on the vagaries of a train travel in an ex-Soviet Union nation! May the travel Gods bless you with more such safe adventures!
Welcome, and thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed! More ex-Soviet railways to come...
The seats are by Czech company Borcad, I remember trying them out at InnoTrans. Very comfortable indeed!
Considering these trains were originally designed for a rather short city to airport trip, they also seem to make a decent intercity train, even though they have no restaurant car. At least there should be a person to operate the coffee machine for you, otherwise it's useless!
Yes, same as used on Czech operator Leo Express too! :)
are these seats the same as the ones on the MÁV 1+ coaches?
Batumi is a fantastic city.
I visit once a year and I recommend everyone to visit at least once during their lifetime.
I agree.
i am there for my entire life :D (im from there and thx for da compliment
Very nice looking train indeed! Those seats also looks almost identical to the ones that are now fitted in some coaches in Norway. You should definetly try to catch the Oslo S - Trondheim route with SJ Nord in premium pluss, with departures at 14:02 from Oslo and 10:18 from Trondheim, as well as night trains. Or you can catch the Oslo S - Stavanger route with Go-Ahead with the "hvile" class, departures 09:25 from Oslo and 10:16 from Stavanger, and also night trains. Both are excellent, but I think the product from SJ is slightly better since you get a bottle of water and complimentary food :)
I'd love to visit Norway! :D
And thanks for the information too.
I've lived from 2005 to 2013 where the first generation EMUs built by Stadler was running, from Biel to Ins on a suburban line along the streets in Biel. Fascinating how many varieties that company has now and how well accepted they are almost a decade later while the company exists since end of world war 2. Makes you think what did change that they grew that much so fast.
They've grown incredibly fast, and they have their trains in pretty much all continents at this point... 👀
@@SuperalbsTravels yeah, like the american dream, just on the other side of the pond, the "small" swiss company that all of a sudden becomes a huge world business. Just for that fact I like them even if they've just become like any full urban service, it keeps up hope that so much is possible.
This is one of the best trains I've ever take... for this price! And, yes, it was almost impossible to get a ticket when I traveled in summer 2023. I did this trip in 1st class. Good work.
Can't lie, seeing the 390 in that painting made me chuckle 🤣
Yep, it certainly surprised me! 🤣
As a spaniard, seeing the horrendous frankenstein train with the AVE logo at 1:12 made me laugh nervously in confusion XD
Seriously, what the hell is that supposed to be? The modified engine cars of some ancient AVE prototype with no passenger cars, coupled three times in a row? Jesus christ....
Good catch Superalbs!
@@osasunaitor Good question!
Am a new subscriber to your channel,really enjoying your train journeys through-out.,i must say you are quite a busy man doing all these adventures.All the best for 2023🚅
Oh the stories I could tell! Sadly, NDAs are a Thing.
This journey is not as weird as it was, and the stations are being moved "soon"
Thoroughly loved this.
Interesting to hear! Thanks for watching, glad you liked it.
Thanks for this video mate! Lucky I watched this as I got to the station 30 secs before it left so I new where to go 😂Haha
My favourite railway line is the G43 from Budapest kőbánya-Kispest to Székesfehérvár. It is also not bad, check it out, sometimes there are even double-decker trains.
Albie is following Nonstop Eurotrip in Georgia; You were lucky with the weather -> nice video!
Following? It was my trip, I planned it! 😅
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. The weather was great for February.
Exactly the same carriage is being used between Baku and Ganja, just travelled on this a few months ago. If I remember correctly, it was about 50,- EUR. Only two other passengers were in First Class together with me.
I am a Georgian! :D I love my country!!! i Live in Tbilisi with my grandma and my grandpa and parents!
That's so cool! 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪
@@SuperalbsTravels ¨Gamarjoba or thank you so much!¨ (Love your video´s, keep on making such good vlogs!❤)
Perfect video, btw I think that Leo Expres premium class has even better seats.
Thank you! They're actually the same model I believe, but I don't think Leo Express has the heating element.
Always blow me away with your pronunciation, Superalbs!
Thank you! 😅
@@SuperalbsTravels except that the Cyrillic letter "p" is an "r", so it's actually "Eurasia"
@@georgebattrick2365
Е = Ye
в = v
р = r
а = a
з = z
и = i
я = ya
Right? :)
@@SuperalbsTravels yeah that's right.
Loved this video. Well done!
Thanks, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed. ☺
I traveled from Tbilisi to Batumi using Georgian Railway in 2022 and I must say that it was really worth it. The views were really stunning, specially when you are nearing Batumi (Black Sea Coast). So wonderful. I will do it again once I travel to Georgia
Amazing! It's a lovely country, I cannot wait to go back! :)
European Trains are epic
Absolutely!!
Well, the history of those trains is an excellent example of how NOT to order new rolling stock "Just because". Stadler trains are too expensive to maintain for any post-Soviet country. Especially speaking of Georgia.
Batumi city tries (too) hard to be modern but is without doubt yet another tourist "amusement park" among destroyed villages.
True they are expensive, but then the cheaper CRRC built units (video coming soon) aren't in much better condition.
The less said about the weird DIY elektrichka fleet the better! 🤣
@@SuperalbsTravels speaking of Soviet suburban EMUs in Georgia - yep, the story of rebuilding this rolling stock back in the 00's is really strange. Front and rear non-motorized control coaches were built from regular coaches adding strange looking front plastic mask. There was (and probably is) yet another interesting train which consists of VL10 electric locomotive and 2 passenger coaches rebuilt from old East German freight ones (former refrigerator coaches).
Estonia seems to be doing well with them
Fantastic stuff, I definitely need to head back to the country, I did a 2 week road trip there about 10 years ago. Did the NG electric railway which is definitely worth a bash. And as you say, the scenery, food, wine and friendly people make the country a brilliant place to go if you want somewhere a bit different but still very very pleasant.
Agree. Every time I leave, I already want to go back.
So the train station is unaccessible from the city center by train? Makes sense.
Yup! It's not great. The oldest station of the city was actually in the centre, but it's closed sadly.
😂😂😂
Railway station is perfectly situated at entrance of Batumi city. Probably most of travellers have connections with a private car. Other people can reach the station by bus line number 10, or by Taxi.
So you waited until the day you got on the train to book this business class fare? Thats some dedication right there! Was this your only realistic chance to experience this product or did you plan for a backup route just in case?
Great video as usual btw!
I had already booked First Class, but was going to refund them IF it was possible to get Business Class. Luckily, my gamble paid off, and it was so worth it! 😍
As far as i understand if available its available 18 hours before departure
I booked 1st class tickets online for 75 GEL Tbilisi-Batumi and was asked by the conductor if i wanted to upgrade to business class (for 50 GEL)(and was asked the same on my returntrip). I guess in low season there is a good chance to upgrade
The seating is good, but found it similar as the business seat offered by öBB Railjet (Austria) and MAV Intercity between Budpest and Szeged (no idea how to book though, got my seat since my e-ticket was valid for a coach not in use (Couldnt see buisness class tickets online )
You should try out the 1+ ic class on the hungarian kék hullám ic which runs in the summer, its similar to this but not quite, i suggest getting a friday or saturday train from balaton to budapest to have a higher chance of being there alone.
That certainly looks the best train seating in the world. British rail travellers would kill for such luxury.
Absolutely! Imagine getting this instead of ironing boards. 😂
1:19 Looks like a weird Renfe AVE s100 with only the powercars
That was what I thought, but it's so weird! 😂
I'm surprised Business is seemingly a higher class than First on GR Trains!
It's the same on all trains.
That's the case on most trains with Business Class! 😃
@@SuperalbsTravels I never realized! I've never actually travelled on a train which has a business class. The ones I use in the UK are either single or double class or recently Standard + Premium + First on Pendolinos. Meanwhile in India there's all variations of classes depending on the train, with them all being some variant of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
The coffee machine in the beginning of the trip was displaying the message "warming up, please wait" in Russian. Probably even the coffee machine was already installed when aeroexpress decided not to buy the train
1:14 Those are Spanish AVE HST, but in a never seen and illogical configuration. I don't know what they were thinking when they posted that.
It looks like a renfe 100 series, but but weird and misshapen
1:30 that station reminds me of the abandoned Ashford International
Sadly I agree... :(
Great coverage 😍👌
on the subject of the end of this video, I've definitely spent some hours waiting around at Tbilisi station 😖 - somehow I've never been anywhere else like it. Not unsafe or anything - I think 'liminal' might be a better word. I absolutely adore Tbilisi and Georgia and have been many times, but that station at night in the middle of winter feels like the end of the world.
The window and seat alignments in Business Class could be better. With all that space every seat should have a full picture window view.
51 Laris for a First Class seat is equivalent to 18.50 Euros which is not expensive for Georgians.
Georgia is now a middle income country and is in better shape economically than even some EU countries (ie. Bulgaria, Croatia and I dare say even Greece) because the price level in Georgia is very low thanks to cheap gas, petrol and electricity and cheap imports of many goods from Turkey, Russia and Iran.
Georgia is a tiger economy that is growing at a pace of 10% a year.
Georgians typically earn 2,500 Laris a month (+ or - 600 Laris) which is around 900 Euros.
The reason the train ride is cheap despite its high quality and comfort is because there are so many travel alternatives between Batumi and Tbilisi (many busses, minivans, shared taxis and also flights from Batumi Airport direct to Tbilisi Airport)..
That's interesting to hear, and I'm glad to hear that Georgia is doing so well. 🇬🇪❤️
Georgians make way less than that. It's way poorer than Russia.
@@cehaem2
The price level in Russia is (on average) 15% - 25% less than in Georgia.
This is mainly because energy and groceries are cheaper in Russia for obvious reasons (Russia is a major energy producer and exporter and the economies of scale a country with 140 million inhabitants and a fifth of the entire world's surface naturally has is why Russia is a cheap place to live in).
However, when it comes to average income the wages in both countries are literally identical.
@@cehaem2
The Georgian Lari appreciated by 45% against the USD since the 1st January 2021 and is set to appreciate a further 10% - 15% by the end of this year.
The average wage in Georgia is heading to 1,000 USD/month.
In Tbilisi the average wage is already above 1,000 USD and will probably hit 1,250 USD/month next year.
Don't take my word for it just look around when in Georgia and see how many workers move from Türkiye, India, Bangladesh,.Pakistan, Uzbekistan etc. and ask yourself why!
The seats look similar to those introduced on two long range distances in Norway now. Used for both day time and night time operation. Later this december a fully lie flat seat will also be introduced, on the Oslo-Bergen line. But that seat is only for the night trains.
That sounds really interesting, where else can I find details about that?
Long distance trains are also due to be replaced in the coming years. Contract will be signed in 2023.
This Train is Swiss Super Quality:! No Questions! I'm proud to be one!
Great trip, and great scenery around Black Sea Coast. This class is very special, beside it's the luxurious class on the train, it also only appears at day of departure. Speaking about Georgians Language, yes I agree, looks nice when it's come to audio or conversation, but when it's come to scripts, oh my god what is this.
I think the script is beautiful too, but I certainly can't read it haha.
Fabulous business class seats.
I agree!
just as a friendly heads up since you take it seriously (and do very well) with pronounciation. The "S" in "Stadler" is actually "SH" so "shtadler".
I've worked for Stadler in Switzerland so for anyone wondering how I'd know.
Thanks for that! 😁
It's impressive, but Italian Frecciarossa business salottino (the last word being really important) is more Luxurious. You have a private compartment, you can adjust light and temp, the seats are similar and there is a complimentary drink (might be even wine) and snack.
The train was originally intended for Aeroexpress, as evidenced by the airplanes on the seats. But after the weakening of the ruble, Aeroexpress reduced the order.
Yup! Before these arrived, they used weird Chinese built units.
Russians have redone all of their in the past mixed height platforms to high ones and added appendix low woden platforms for high speed transborder trains. Georgians have redone all of their platforms to low european style and bought a train built for high russian platforms.
1:13 "as well as whatever this is" is actually a Spanish AVE high-speed train. I'm amazed that you wouldn't know this ... 🤷🏻♂
If you look at it, you will see it is just the power cars, therefore a very strange and pointless consist.
depending on the operator, Stadler can sell you extremely uncomfortable seats. But it's the best train manufacturer globally.
First of all i really enjoy your videos. How you would compare this to a Frecciarossa 1000 Executive Seat?
Thank you very much! I've actually not used that seat before, so I can't comment sadly.
@@SuperalbsTravels It is a very unique seat. The best imo in the european High Speed Train Market. And the all inclusive food and drink service is the cherry on top. A adventure worth taking.
@@johannesjakob5041 Thanks, it's definitely something I want to try. Hopefully soon, eh? ☺
@@SuperalbsTravels I would love to see this from ya. Would recommend travelling from Paris to Milan or vise versa. It is long enough to experience everything.
@@SuperalbsTravels I was about to comment the same. Compared to Frecciarossa Executive Class, your Georgian business class looks like a cheap no-frill airline. I had the pleasure to try it this summer. There are only 10 seats in a regular train carriage and the carriage has a dedicated butler serving you complementary whatever you want (food, beverages, wine) throughout the entire journey.
So just to be clear (it's me, not you lol), was it that particular seat, or all the seats in that area (business class) that you can't book ahead of time?
You cannot book any Business Class seat until on the day it seems! 🤷♂️
@@SuperalbsTravels Ticketshop of Giorgian Railways shows all available seats, 2nd-, 1st- and business-class for upcoming booking- period. In high travel season Buisness Class seats are often sold out.
It seems that the train moves fairly slowly at certain times. What do you say the average speed of this journey is?
Sadly, only around 61 km/h
Including my delay, this was 36.4mph or 58.5km/h.
Hello from Romania, i plan to visit Georgia in one day and i hope i will be amazed!
You certainly will! It is a lovely place. :)
Caught this train on Thursday..but in other direction.. during the journey you are offered the chance to upgrade to Business class.
This is so cool
Thanks, it really is an amazing trip! :D
The MÁV-START is also has this seat model in Armz coaches in the 1+ section, but the formation is different. In the carriage (IC+ Armz, built by Szolnoki Járműjavító) the passenger would find two compartments, wich equipped 4 of theese seats. The MÁV-START runs theese Armz coaches in InterCity trains called Tokaj (from Budapest-Keleti to Budapest-Nyugati via Miskolc, Nyíegyháza, Debrecen and Szolnok or from Budapest-Nyugati to Budapest-Keleti via Szolnok, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza and Miskolc, numbers from IC 560 to IC 588 and from IC 650 to IC 688), Mecsek ( from Budapest-Keleti to Pécs numbers from IC 801 to IC 818), Napfény (from Budapest-Nyugati to Szeged, numbers from IC 700 to IC 737), Latorca (from Budapest-Nyugati to Záhony numbers are IC 31, IC 33, IC 34) and Nyírség (from Budapest-Nyugat to Nyíregyháza or sometimes Záhony, numbers from IC 600 to IC 628). Theese coaches is also equipped 2 quiet first class compartments, an open-air 1st class section and a bistro section.
I went on it once before, but the brakes overheated and it was cancelled, lol. 😥
@@SuperalbsTravels Average MÁV experience😂
@@potatohubhun😂😂😂😂
Hungarian MÁV-Start has the same seat in it’s 1+ compartements. You should try them ;)
I did, it broke down.
I had to laugh so hard at that Wi-Fi speed test...!
No idea how that's even possible!
I believe the hot drinks machine was out of water, the reservoir looked quite empty, similar to your cup!
Aha, the staff must have topped it up then! Thanks.
I believe the hot drink machine only needed water to work. You should have filled the tank on the left side of the machine with water
2015 ? I looks like it was build during the Cold War.
If you think Batumi Station is brutal looking, then just wait until you see Tbilisi! 😉
You need to try executive class of frecciarossa
It looks like a nice trip around a country I'd like to visit but it seems the train is not going very fast, is it?
A top speed is around 120 kmph with a cruise speed over 60-70 kmph
What was the Original date of travel on this trip?
Not 100% sure, but it was some time in February of this year.
I need my tickets checked at boarding. I feel most stressful when I board freely and then I have to wait agonizing minutes for the conductor to pass. What if I am on the wrong train? Maybe I got wrong ticket? Sitting in the wrong seat? These things burn through my mind as I wait to show my ticket.
I see what you mean! 👍
Well, the reason why almost everything in the batumi station is abandoned and empty, the reason is that it's not really needed, the country gets a small amount of visitors and it's very unnecessary to have a giant room that only will be filled with 5 people.
Just me or is the train painfully slow? It looks gorgeous tho, leagues better than any Pakistani train I've been on lol. (But then again, last time I took a train in Pakistan was about 14 years ago).
It's certainly not fast... :(
Its weird to see exactly THIS train in georgia of all places normally you dont see the Kiss outside Germany its often the smaller Flirt that is populair
True, and such a luxurious one too!
They're also in Azerbaijan.
The station and city looks literally as if it’s falling apart.
You think? The station was a bit bad, but I really liked the city.
Unless I’m missing something, this seat seems less luxurious than Executive Class on the Frecciarossa, which is in a 1-1 configuration rather than this 1-2 business class
Consider that trains in ex-Soviet countries are often considerably wider. :)
@@SuperalbsTravels Ah, I didn't know that!
By the way , why can not book it ? Much people are in this direction or why ?
Thats what im guessing, with 8 businessclass seats per coach they dont seem to have many tickets to sell per trip
Maybe the VIPs don't book well in advance :)
Very confusing GR website, doesn’t have an option for buying tickets. Could you share the?
tickets.railway.ge/ :)
What's the name of the song playing at 5:40 and on?
It's nice isn't it?
Zorro - Unravel
Warning! I'm on this t😢rain now, going to Batumi in Business Class. There are different trains on this route. Our train has a normal 2+2 seating, with ordinary seats, and is rather worn. Only difference to 1st class is the complementary coffee. A real dissapointment at twice the price. Does anybody know how to be sure which train configuration is which, when booking?
Honestly as a Georgian I expected something more luxurious when I read the title, those seems like a mediocre seats, that being said I've never travelled in Business class train, do Western/Central European trains really not have better Business Class than this?
Edit - Okay, after closer look, they're not that bad.
I couldn't believe the price, did I read $33.xx for a multiple hour journey.. wonderful, you wouldn't find that even on Amtrak here in the USA
Incredible deal, isn't it? :)
Well I do not like leather seats. Gets hot and sticky. And that this seat had heating! But that adjustable back support is interesting.
WHICH IS IT - MODERN OR CLASSIC LUXURY ???
You have obviously never seen the Swiss "Glacier Express". The train that takes you across the "Roof of the World" !!!! That has Modern luxury by the bucket load, & includes huge Panoramic Windows. But ultimately no modern train can beat the classic luxury of the VSOE. (Venice Simplon Orient Express), with its "Wagon Lits" Pullman cars, personal at seat service, Piano car, Bar car, Lounge car, 5 star Dining Car, and of course luxury "Wagon Lits" sleepers etc, etc, etc.
Too much legroom. Another row of seats at least and still retain insane legroom.
That's true, but I think it's meant to be insanely luxurious, rather than a sensible product. 🤣
I also think you should look at the accessibility of the trains for people with reduced mobility, and especially those in wheelchairs. Seems often only in Sweden they think about such things. Been to Germany, and even such a country does not think about the design for the disabled.
I'd like to know where in Germany you were, it is full of stuff designed to please people in wheelchairs. and offers extra free services in stations and trains. it's even hard to find a building which didn't have it's stairs removed and now has smooth ramps instead. new ones are required to be whellchair accessible by law since decades. multi level stations have elevators and wherever their is a problem you will find a helping hand, often without asking.
or are you talking about the early 80s? that was a mess back then, very limiting in comparison.
@@couchcamperTM I think it might be good to mention accessibility for wheelchair users in general. However, I thought that there were narrow stair passages to the upper floor on this particular train. But it is clear that it is certainly possible to enter with a wheelchair on the first level of such a new train. However, it was my experience of accessibility in Germany in contexts other than just trains and stations that made me think that accessibility could be bad even when it comes to trains in Germany. I think of when I had my son in a pram and went into cafes and restaurants, and when you had to change a nappy. There were often cramped toilets, and stairs that you had to lift the cart over to bring it up. But of course it worked well when it came to trains and subways which I used in Berlin anyway. Also thought that a lot was old-fashioned, with cash instead of cards, manual tickets instead of digital tickets, etc. which made me think the country wasn't keeping up much in terms of accessibility either.
@@morganjohansson3341 cash is not old-fashioned, it's freedom. you're going to find out, soon. ;-)
local trains in germany are nowadays quite accessible, with the exception of some older rolling stock like the u-bahn and some s-bahn trains in berlin or other cities, where there sometimes is a huge difference in height between train and platform, but transit apps still advertise them as barrier-free because some of the trains on the line are. long distance trains unfortunately always require stairs to climb and have narrow doors so i suppose loading a wheelchair on would be very hard. i have ridden high speed trains in germany countless times but i never saw a person in a wheelchair on one, seems like they try to avoid them as they are not accessible.
"Whatever this is" is a Spanish high-speed train, an AVE, which stands for "Alta Velocidad Española" (Spanish High Speed) and is also (one of) the Spanish word for "bird".
I know, but it's only the power cars, and no passenger cars! 😂
Actually, this unit resembles the first Spanish high-speed train, which was introduced in 1992 in the then-brandnew high-speed line Madrid-Sevilla with international gauge.
Wait so in GR. Business Class is higher than first class?
Yes. This is the same on almost all trains. :)
@@SuperalbsTravels Ah I see
I think the only train operator that makes first class higher than business is Amtrak.
@@marko_ys To my knowledge, you're correct.
Funny that Turkey isn't mentioned as a country, having the second longest coastline amongst the sea:)
I have made the same journey 2 months ago in first class. The train and seats were very comfortable. However the track is old and not comfortable at all, both making the trip time long and cars moving constantly. Having said that, I would prefer train to car between these two cities.
The sightseeing is marvelous.
"Whatever this is" at 1:14 is an AVE, the Spanish high-speed train. They should think themselves lucky Virgin trains don't serve that station, TBH.
Haha, but the AVE is only power cars, so no seats! 😂
Not a fan of the proposed Euston to Batumi train then? 😂😂😂
Thank you for saying Crimea is a part of Ukraine! That is important to say nowadays
Inaccurate though
@@LeeGee depends on who you ask. Maybe due to historical differences it could be an independent country, but it surely isn't Russian either even though they shifted in their people over the years.
@@mjouwbuis reality is a bit different
So weird how there are abandoned cafes and store spaces. I wonder why?
They work only in Summer usually, when traffic is bigger.
There was no water in the coffee machine. No wonder you didn't get any coffee.
Until I saw the station name i thought he was saying Batsumi
What class is it
Business Class! :)
How much money ? Fares for trips
This is extensively explained in the video.
The Executive class on Frecciarossa 1000 has only 8 seats in a 1 + 1 configuration, but It's easier to book it😂
True, you just simply buy the Executive ticket! But remember, these trains are a lot wider.
So I've lived in Georgia for 9 years and for anyone forming expectations based on this video: It's not Europe. This is the Caucasus.
Sydney trains should really take notes from these sets
Don't forget your sunglasses next time!
Hahaha, thanks for the reminder!
In the footsteps of Mr Portillo. Long way to go, hope you didn’t fly. They need to change the track gauge for security reasons.
Sadly I did fly, as routes to the country nowadays are pretty unstable. 😭😭😭
You shold do a review of Serbian IC high speed train betwen Belgrade and Novi Sad. Its not a long route but it worth riding it, considering its first high speed train in Serbia and second in Balkans. Also in 2 years route will be extended to Subotica and Hungarian border where it will be conected to Hungarian HS line to Budapest.
I have recorded that, and I will upload it some time later. :)
Batumi having a "tropical climate"? Well, I'll be...
But this train was produced in Switzerland by "Stadler Rail"
Also, name of the capital is Tiphlis if you want to say it correctly. But yes, they write it Tbilisi
Actually, it was produced in Belarus by Stadler. :)
@@SuperalbsTravels thank you for this detailed information
@@Petar_Savic Happy to help. :)
@@Petar_SavicThe correct name is TBILISI but some foreigners use Tiflis.
6:54 This Aswell Looks Quite Old