Hello from California! We are building an awesome HSR system that will wipe the floor with any European system. Just give us a few hundred years to finish it.
Whilst I have not traveled on any of the other HSTs, you listed apart from the Frecciarossa, I fully agree that the Executive Class on the Frecciarossa 1,000 is truly unique, based on the numerous videos I've seen on RUclips on HSTs in Europe. Back in 2019, I took my family from Australia to Northern Italy. We decided to use this train as our preferred mode of travel since trains are generally not impacted by severe weather conditions, you depart/arrive in the center of the city (no long taxi ride), no need to line up to go through security checks, shorter travel times than other modes of trains, etc. With the Executive class, we got access to a lounge, a truly amazing seat & great food & beverages & exceptional staff service. We traveled from Milan to Venice, Venice to Bologna, Bologna to Rome & finally Rome to Milan. Just an awesome way to relax & enjoy the scenery at high speed. Fares vary according to the time of booking. The other 4 are on my 'bucket list' to also experience one day!
Having ridden SBB Giruno to work many, many times, I'm sure you'll love it when you find time to ride it. Also öbb railjet business class is very comparable to executive class, just sadly max speed 230 km/h
Later this year Renfe will start operations (both Ave and Avlo) on the brand new Northern line to Asturias (and Galicia) with the also brand new Talgo Avril, Certified up to 360km/h, but only 300 in operation (by law) and the ability to change automatically between International and Iberian Gauge. Can't wait for you to try it and discover the beauty of Northern Spain. 😊
@@sheermershk7364but passengerless...build very,only for the high level of work less in spain,also the very line of metro in Madrid e Barcellona..only because in Spain there is an economy poor,i M sorry for the Spain
And if you're an American this should infuriate you because all of these trains are subsidized by these various national governments who had the money to subsidize the high-speed trains because they didn't spend on defense.
If you want to ride the Giruno in Switzerland, i would sugest the line Zurich-Lugano, even if you can also do the line from Basel… also, the line can go to Mailand or some to Genua, Venice and Bologna.
Watched this video while on board of a Frecciarossa 1000 on the Paris-Milano route, and having travelled on 4 of the 5 you mentioned, I have to agree. Eurostar is indeed great, but the prices hurt every time. TGV is indeed a bit cramped, ICE was super nice, but nothing beats the Frecciarossa ☺️
In terms of interior, in my view the best one is the new Thalys seat in first class. The Frecciarossa is a bit shaky on the paris lyon line but runs great in Italy.
Having ridden both the ICE3, the TGV Duplex, and the KTX, I have to agree with Simply Railway that the ICE are better in terms of wider carriages, less crowding at the doors, and better food onboard. Haven’t ridden the Italian trains yet, but hopefully will get the chance.
Simply Railway: Great documentary video about trains from Europe and from what I've seen trains in Europe especially these type of trains here that transport passengers and they resemble the Amtrak trains over here in the U.S. a really great video and Thank You. 🚄🚅🚝🚈💨
Great video. Definitely agree with all of your mention in this video. In my opinion, my favourite TGV when the train using blue livery, no matter it's Single or double decker. My favourite ICE is ICE3, especially when it can reach optimum speed. Sadly no Thalys in this video (I don't know it's counted as TGV or it's actually counted as Eurostar since merged).
We should not forget that the DB offers really cheap tickets for the ICE trains. If you book a few weeks in advance, you can get fares as low as 13 € for a Train going 300 km/h. This is really neat and especially so, as unlike the Ouigo or AVLO, it is not a budget train. You are not cramped, you can take as much luggage as you want and can carry, and you have a dining car. As you mentioned, the ICE system serves an abundance of cities in Germany and also neighboring countries, that means that you can, if you book ahead of time, ride a proper High-Speed-Train (even if it doesn't always run at very high speeds) on a large network at low cost prices. Also, the fact that the ICE stops more often on some routes means that it won't be as fast connecting large cities, but you get to where you need to go from where you actually are without changing. Germanys population is very spread out and not that centralized. In France that's different, so if you live in Lyon and want to go to Paris, the TGV is great, but if you live in the middle between the cities, well that's sad. The ICE connects places like Darmstadt to Lüneburg, Marburg to Vaihingen, Homburg to Züssow and so on.
Damn I really need to do more high speed rail journeys next time I'm in mainland Europe! Will you do a similar video for 200-230km/h trains in the future, I'd be quite interested to know your thoughts on those (especially the ones in the UK as I have the most experience of these 😜)
... and tracks! These videos often ignore that there are two main components which matter when travelling by railway: high speed trains and high speed tracks. It takes both to really enjoy high-speed travelling!
I think one of the best Higth speed trains in europe is the Talgo 250.why?(That operates on Alvia and Euromed services) (The 730 series Bi mode onlly operates on Alvia services) Sounds (The acelation sounds are amezing) versatility ( It can change voltage and gauge) (the renfe 730 its a bi mode version of the Talgo 250) Looks (It look likes a litle duck) Rigth now these train are geting a interior refubement wich looks much better than it previus hospital loking interior.
El tipo es francés, ya sabes como son. Y si, nuestro talgo es un gran tren, de hecho el único creo junto con el de caf, español también,que cambia de ancho en marcha por decir algo....pasa de los galos. Saludos.
I know you were not too excited for these new style monthly videos - but they are fantastic. They really help give context to those of us not familiar with proper rail travel in the EU. We'll done. Again. 😊 P.S. I also just noticed you are over 225,000 subscribers. Congrats, sir!
Very good review; now I just have to get to Europe and try these! Unfortunately the fastest trains in the U.S. top out at 150 mph, so they just miss out based on your criteria.
You should review the Shinkansen. It was the first High -Speed Rail system in the world (You could say the mother of High Speed Trains) and in my opinion, it’s worth a trip report.
Today I learned dining cars are not normal on High Speed trains outside of Germany. I just always thought they were normal. Also a little FunFact: When the trainstation Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe was opened in 1991 it didn't have any toilets. It was a concrete cube with almost exclusive ICE (at the time business trains) service without toilets.
Thanks Thibault! I think the ability of European rail companies to focus on operating trains instead of building & maintaining rights-of-way allows them to be much more competitive with other forms of transportation... unlike in the U.S. where Amtrak has to beg & plead the frieght lines to "allow" them to use their tracks!
Our "brightspot" here is Brightline, which has somehow managed to bridge this divide and offer great servive at reasonable prices... I am looking forward to the Brightline West project, as well as California High Speed(if I live long enough to see it!)...
About the eurostar, germanies ice also got permission from britain to run services trough the tunnels 9 years back, but it never happened. Does anyone know why?
Just a quick note on how to pronounce "loading gauge" - it is the same way as the word "cage" but with a G sound in the beginning. Same with "track gauge".
The SBB Giruno sets are great, but it tops out at 250 km/h, so fails to meet your criterion to qualify for this top 5 list. Doesn't stop it from being a fantastic train, though. I'm looking forward to the inevitable video when you get a ride on them. I'd definitely enjoying your new video concept, it makes a nice addition to the trip reviews that we all love.
When in Italy I don’t even have to decide what I’m traveling on. Fir me it’s Frecciarossa Executive Class. Period. Full stop. Pricey? YES. Luxurious? Unquestionably. And those buttery soft yellow seats and meal service are wonderful 😉👍🏻
About the intro, I would say that SNCF was not the one that showed the world that high speed train could compete with airplanes in the world but rather Japanese railway industry... I mean they were the first at the Tokyo Osaka shinkansen competing against the airplains 17 years before and the French were inspired by this
Had to pause the video at the Thalys boarding image : exactly what happened to us a few weeks ago on our way to Paris. A bruxelles-midi the thalys train showed up like 5 minutes before departure time, and it was impossible to fit all these passengers on board... it took well over 10 minutes. And these security agents came and shouted at us "please, go board on another carriage", but there was the same crowd at the other carriage. Very stupid system.
Italian here: Frecciarossa experience varies depending on the type of trainset you're onto. ETR 400 (Frecciarossa 1000) is the best, I agree with you. But ETR 500 is not that great, I prefer french TGVs to that for comfort. ETR 700 is an absolute mess, it does not have the majority of services. Italo is acceptable but far from great: really cramped and does not have a bistrò coach, just vending machines. Also, Italo's newest train (Italo EVO) is worse than their oldest one: has a lower maximum speed and it is even more cramped.
Hi Thibault, thx for that great video. I enjoy all of your content from Europe or the US. I totally agree with your list with the frecciarossa on top. I tried both trenitalia and iryo and it was such a awesome experience. I hope the services expand and show all people of Europe how nice a train ride can be. As for the ICE, from a perspective as a German, for me a love-hate relationship :) i wish Deutsche Bahn would enhance their service and use the center position of the country better. Maybe in the Future. Two last question i really want your opinion on is; firstly what you think of the TGV-M, can bring this new generation a new time for SNCF and the TGV's as a whole?, and secondly; what is your opinion on Le Train, this new private train operator in France that will launch in 2026 with Talgo Avril Trains, can it shake the Market of train travel in France or what could happen instead happen? All the best to you my friend.
Actually, most ICE trains do not have a top speed of 280 km/h. The over 100 ICE 4 can only go up to 250 km/h or 265 km/h with updated software. The 70 ICE T can only reach 230 km/h. ICE 3, 3 neo and Velaro D can go up to 330/320 km/h, they consist of about 100 trains (growing). Only the remaining minority (about 100) of the fleet, ICE 1 and ICE 2, have a top speed of 280 km/h.
16:11 We need as more overtaking tracks then four track line. Why, because overtacking tracks are cheaper then four track constellation and if you put high speed switches then they are more efficient, because slower trains, who have to let faster trains overtacking. They can let them pass easier then normal switches. I would recommend it.
as a 16 year old travelled to englanded on my own it was acc quite cheap tbh, 3 week return for only 118 with 1 mont in advanced booking... that is ofc minor pricing but still for a 16 year old that aint bad lol
Talking of High Speed Trains what first impressions would you give on the NEW TGV of the future. Like the Amtrak version already in service in the USA I mean on the locomotive power cars.
You're not wrong about the TGV and luggage. Many years ago, the very helpful booking office lady at Cologne Hbf booked me an additional seat just for my large rucksack on the Thalys to Brussels! Great service. Was underwhelmed by the Frecciarossa though. Cheap suburban train like interior with very dirty windows. For InterCity trains I think there has to be carpet, and not lino/vinyl floor coverings. IMHO: 3 - Class 374 Eurostar 2 - TGV Ouigo Duplex upstairs 1 - ICE 3 behind the driving position.
Italy has leadership ever: combat and cruise ships , helicopters,missilistic sistems,automotive, supercars, engineering, food,mafia, trains ,VEGA C FOR LAUNCH IN ORBIT, 4 WORLD CUP ,FOOTBALL, CONTINUED?😂
How come none of these HSR systems have level boarding? Is this normal in Europe? I thought that I just got unlucky with the stations that I saw always not having level boarding. I thought that these were just older or crappier stations, but it looks like this is completely pervasive in Europe.
Blame low platforms. Most European stations have platforms with a height of 550 mm or 760 mm which is too low for a high-speed train with their big wheels while maintaing a flat floor and level boarding, not to mention this also almost kills any high-speed EMU (notice the Talgo trains are powercar hauled and the Stadler SMILE the only high-speed EMU).
Anyone will to help? I'm trying to get from Paris to Kaiserslautern, Germany. I'm trying to ride on an French TGV and all the website gives me is the ICE options, and I've been on the ICE before so I wanna try a SNCF. is there another city I could go through to take a TGV, and then take a ICE to Kaiserslautern? or any one know if the ICE runs at the same operational speed as the TGV along this route?
Having seen enough of your videos, I could have picked these for you ;) I was least surprised about #1. That Executive class is insane and the only time i have seen similar is the "Gran Class" on some of the Shinkansen (There is also Premium Green Class, but I haven't seen much on that yet). Great train geek video :) For me, the Shinkansen wins hands down for everything from service, to punctuality, to just looking so damn amazing. Although that Executive class is very appealing !
Very informative video. Of course the definiton of "best train" should be precised, because what matters if you are going to travel a certain route is not only the comfort of the class (low-cost to business, if you can afford it) but also the _availability_ of this train on this route, the speed of the train _and_ the speed of the track. For instance, the Frecciarossa 1000 is no option for Germany or for Paris to Marseille, and the Eurostar is not available in Italy. And the theoretical speed of up to 360 or 400 km/h is irrelevant because there is no high speed line in Europe where you may drive that fast. To my knowledge, the maximum speed in Europe is 320 km/h, which can be achieved by serveral trains like TGV Duplex, Siemens Velaro and Frecciarossa, but France is the only country in which this speed is really achieved on some lines. In Spain, it is 310 km/h, in Belgium, Italy and Germany 300 km/h, but in Germany only on relatively few sections, so the German ICE 3 (Siemens), which could theoretically go up to 330 km/h, can only do 320 km/h, and this only in France, not in Germany. This leads to some strange situations and conditions to take into account.
Just never take the last Eurostar of the day. You'll get all the delays of the day all stacked up and when you finally arrive in your destination, the last train of the day that could bring you too your final destination is long gone.
I’m italian and Italo is the best choice price/quality. All frecciarossa (etr1000, etr600, etr700 and etr500) and both italo (etr675 and agv575) are a special experience at good prince (i’ve tried all of them 😬😂). Unfortunately in italy the problems are the railways; in many areas there isn’t high speed and the tracks often are in very bad condition. Nice video, thank you for awarding Italian trains ❤🇮🇹
You is not italian..gelous? I,m sorry for you, italy is at TOP of engineering in all,Automotive, combat ships, aircraf, missilistic sistems,very other,champions LEAGUE,
I use the HST between Milano, Firenze and Roma 5-6 times a month and although Italo is good, the service levels and flexibility of Frecciarossa is much greater, especially for business travellers. Small example, in business, Italo give you a paper cup and pour (flat) Coke from a bottle, with Frecciarossa you get a can. Frecciarossa has a bistro, Italo some crap cash-only vending machines. Frecciarossa you can purchase through tickets with classic line trains… Italians love to criticise Trenitalia because in Italy we’re used to berating anything the State does. TI isn’t perfect, but the Frecciarossa product is truly excellent, usually runs on time and has trains throughout the day from 05:00 to beyond 22:30. Italo is a worthy competitor, but lacks the fine finishing touches of its service to be the best.
I find the Dayse 1st Class TGV Duplex interior much better than Siemens E320 Eurostar Standard Premiere. Granted you get more service via Standard Premiere, the seats are just more comfortable in the Duplex. Took the ~7 hour Ouigo from Barcelona to Paris solo seat and caught the Eurostar back to London connection. As luck would have it, the person who was sitting behind me on the Ouigo was sitting directly infront of me in Standard Premier in the solo-seats that have a table in between. It was so odd and we found it hilarious that we both were travelling solo and decided to take HSR from Barcelona to London. We both agreed that the Ouigo interior was better.
Hello from California! We are building an awesome HSR system that will wipe the floor with any European system. Just give us a few hundred years to finish it.
A nice train from a big city to’ a place into nowhere, for some affordable 1k$ ticket?
a ticket will cost your money and the next 8 generations of your family into trillions of debt
by teh time you guys get over teh administrative bureaucracy we will have antigrav train.
Whilst I have not traveled on any of the other HSTs, you listed apart from the Frecciarossa, I fully agree that the Executive Class on the Frecciarossa 1,000 is truly unique, based on the numerous videos I've seen on RUclips on HSTs in Europe. Back in 2019, I took my family from Australia to Northern Italy. We decided to use this train as our preferred mode of travel since trains are generally not impacted by severe weather conditions, you depart/arrive in the center of the city (no long taxi ride), no need to line up to go through security checks, shorter travel times than other modes of trains, etc. With the Executive class, we got access to a lounge, a truly amazing seat & great food & beverages & exceptional staff service. We traveled from Milan to Venice, Venice to Bologna, Bologna to Rome & finally Rome to Milan. Just an awesome way to relax & enjoy the scenery at high speed. Fares vary according to the time of booking. The other 4 are on my 'bucket list' to also experience one day!
Shaky train
Nice. The TGV is my favorite high speed train.
Having ridden SBB Giruno to work many, many times, I'm sure you'll love it when you find time to ride it. Also öbb railjet business class is very comparable to executive class, just sadly max speed 230 km/h
My personal favourites are Frecciarossa and Italo
Later this year Renfe will start operations (both Ave and Avlo) on the brand new Northern line to Asturias (and Galicia) with the also brand new Talgo Avril, Certified up to 360km/h, but only 300 in operation (by law) and the ability to change automatically between International and Iberian Gauge. Can't wait for you to try it and discover the beauty of Northern Spain. 😊
Apparently he doesn't want to speak about Spanish trains in this video
@@klausbriesma9050he is French. Maybe that means something
The best high speed railway infrastructure is the Spanish one. Also the largest in Europe
He is french, but he hasn’t got more idea about french trains . I watched some of his videos where he criticices the corail couches…. I
@@sheermershk7364but passengerless...build very,only for the high level of work less in spain,also the very line of metro in Madrid e Barcellona..only because in Spain there is an economy poor,i M sorry for the Spain
I like High Speed Train in Europe
ok
And if you're an American this should infuriate you because all of these trains are subsidized by these various national governments who had the money to subsidize the high-speed trains because they didn't spend on defense.
Pinoy
Me too
He didn't mention Spain and Spanish trains cos he is French but Spain is leading
If you want to ride the Giruno in Switzerland, i would sugest the line Zurich-Lugano, even if you can also do the line from Basel… also, the line can go to Mailand or some to Genua, Venice and Bologna.
Watched this video while on board of a Frecciarossa 1000 on the Paris-Milano route, and having travelled on 4 of the 5 you mentioned, I have to agree. Eurostar is indeed great, but the prices hurt every time. TGV is indeed a bit cramped, ICE was super nice, but nothing beats the Frecciarossa ☺️
Amazing you can type inside that shaky train
Great presentation. Thank you for getting straight to the interesting aspects!
this is such a fun video to watch, simply railway!!! can you do your very own best 5 night/sleeper trains in Europe next?
Siemens was also involved in the ICE 1 and 2, and the powercars of the ICE 1 and 2 are somewhat different from a technical POV 😅
When you talked about about Executive class I thought about LEO Express, but absolutely didn't think you would mention it, thank you!! :)
Awesome video, really digging this new format!
In terms of interior, in my view the best one is the new Thalys seat in first class. The Frecciarossa is a bit shaky on the paris lyon line but runs great in Italy.
Having ridden both the ICE3, the TGV Duplex, and the KTX, I have to agree with Simply Railway that the ICE are better in terms of wider carriages, less crowding at the doors, and better food onboard. Haven’t ridden the Italian trains yet, but hopefully will get the chance.
TGV duplex..😅😅😅is a profilattic
Talgo 350 is more stable
9:21 Talgo trains are coming too.
Yep. But i am concerned about the confort with just two wheels per carriage.
@@ainonainpg3d799 especially combined with our Rail infrastructure in Germany.
Thanks, great report. I agree with your rankings, by the way.
Simply Railway:
Great documentary video about trains from Europe
and from what I've seen trains in Europe especially
these type of trains here that transport passengers
and they resemble the Amtrak trains over here in the
U.S. a really great video and Thank You.
🚄🚅🚝🚈💨
Great video
Thank you :-)
Very interesting review of the fastest trains in Europe. Thank you Thibault for the information. 😀💚
Great video. Definitely agree with all of your mention in this video. In my opinion, my favourite TGV when the train using blue livery, no matter it's Single or double decker. My favourite ICE is ICE3, especially when it can reach optimum speed. Sadly no Thalys in this video (I don't know it's counted as TGV or it's actually counted as Eurostar since merged).
I really enjoyed this, much better than subtitled videos
That was really interesting. I haven't been on any of them, though. But I would say that I like the executive class on the Frecciarossa 1000.
Sad Railjet noices
Just kidding! Great video and nice insight in all these operators! Keep it up!
We should not forget that the DB offers really cheap tickets for the ICE trains. If you book a few weeks in advance, you can get fares as low as 13 € for a Train going 300 km/h. This is really neat and especially so, as unlike the Ouigo or AVLO, it is not a budget train. You are not cramped, you can take as much luggage as you want and can carry, and you have a dining car. As you mentioned, the ICE system serves an abundance of cities in Germany and also neighboring countries, that means that you can, if you book ahead of time, ride a proper High-Speed-Train (even if it doesn't always run at very high speeds) on a large network at low cost prices.
Also, the fact that the ICE stops more often on some routes means that it won't be as fast connecting large cities, but you get to where you need to go from where you actually are without changing. Germanys population is very spread out and not that centralized. In France that's different, so if you live in Lyon and want to go to Paris, the TGV is great, but if you live in the middle between the cities, well that's sad. The ICE connects places like Darmstadt to Lüneburg, Marburg to Vaihingen, Homburg to Züssow and so on.
Damn I really need to do more high speed rail journeys next time I'm in mainland Europe! Will you do a similar video for 200-230km/h trains in the future, I'd be quite interested to know your thoughts on those (especially the ones in the UK as I have the most experience of these 😜)
It’s an idea 👀
High speed trains in Asia. Do video on this.
Another great video! I would love to see your Top 5 Railways Stations
It’s crazy we don’t have any high speed rail in Australia. Europe was wise to build these trains
... and tracks! These videos often ignore that there are two main components which matter when travelling by railway: high speed trains and high speed tracks. It takes both to really enjoy high-speed travelling!
I think one of the best Higth speed trains in europe is the Talgo 250.why?(That operates on Alvia and Euromed services) (The 730 series Bi mode onlly operates on Alvia services)
Sounds (The acelation sounds are amezing)
versatility ( It can change voltage and gauge) (the renfe 730 its a bi mode version of the Talgo 250)
Looks (It look likes a litle duck)
Rigth now these train are geting a interior refubement wich looks much better than it previus hospital loking interior.
El tipo es francés, ya sabes como son. Y si, nuestro talgo es un gran tren, de hecho el único creo junto con el de caf, español también,que cambia de ancho en marcha por decir algo....pasa de los galos. Saludos.
I think he didn't want to talk about Spanish high speed trains. He is French BTW
Wonderful video as usual!
I know you were not too excited for these new style monthly videos - but they are fantastic. They really help give context to those of us not familiar with proper rail travel in the EU. We'll done. Again. 😊 P.S. I also just noticed you are over 225,000 subscribers. Congrats, sir!
Very good review; now I just have to get to Europe and try these! Unfortunately the fastest trains in the U.S. top out at 150 mph, so they just miss out based on your criteria.
....and they only run at 150 mph for about 10 mins at a time.
You should review the Shinkansen. It was the first High -Speed Rail system in the world (You could say the mother of High Speed Trains) and in my opinion, it’s worth a trip report.
Today I learned dining cars are not normal on High Speed trains outside of Germany. I just always thought they were normal.
Also a little FunFact:
When the trainstation Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe was opened in 1991 it didn't have any toilets. It was a concrete cube with almost exclusive ICE (at the time business trains) service without toilets.
Rest of Asia reviews going to be fun when u review Shinkansen.
China is gonna be Europe reprise with like 1 actual Chinese-made locomotive
Thanks Thibault! I think the ability of European rail companies to focus on operating trains instead of building & maintaining rights-of-way allows them to be much more competitive with other forms of transportation... unlike in the U.S. where Amtrak has to beg & plead the frieght lines to "allow" them to use their tracks!
Our "brightspot" here is Brightline, which has somehow managed to bridge this divide and offer great servive at reasonable prices... I am looking forward to the Brightline West project, as well as California High Speed(if I live long enough to see it!)...
Your documentation is very good, but your accent is symply wonderful.
I was just on the frecciarosa!
Great video
Educational🤓✌
Very cool video! Please more voice overs!!
You should review the Giruno its lovely
heaviest French accent on the internet :)
but such in depth knowledge of European railways
keep up the good work
About the eurostar, germanies ice also got permission from britain to run services trough the tunnels 9 years back, but it never happened. Does anyone know why?
Excellent report, Thibault, this is information that all travelers in Europe need to know.
Well Done Thibault! And you really should ride our Giruno ;)
I've been on a Eurostar before. Amazing service!
Next topic: Top 5 of the FASTEST trains in Australia 😀
Same specs. Only list 250 km/h (155mph)
This is going to be a 5 sec. video 😁
1. -
2. -
3. -
4. -
5. -
Took an ICE from Frankfurt to Brussels and was very impressed.
Just a quick note on how to pronounce "loading gauge" - it is the same way as the word "cage" but with a G sound in the beginning. Same with "track gauge".
The SBB Giruno sets are great, but it tops out at 250 km/h, so fails to meet your criterion to qualify for this top 5 list. Doesn't stop it from being a fantastic train, though. I'm looking forward to the inevitable video when you get a ride on them.
I'd definitely enjoying your new video concept, it makes a nice addition to the trip reviews that we all love.
His criteria was higher *or equal* to 250 km/h ;)
When in Italy I don’t even have to decide what I’m traveling on. Fir me it’s Frecciarossa Executive Class. Period. Full stop. Pricey? YES. Luxurious? Unquestionably. And those buttery soft yellow seats and meal service are wonderful 😉👍🏻
About the intro, I would say that SNCF was not the one that showed the world that high speed train could compete with airplanes in the world but rather Japanese railway industry... I mean they were the first at the Tokyo Osaka shinkansen competing against the airplains 17 years before and the French were inspired by this
Loved the video. Terrific insights and analysis. Thank you.
Had to pause the video at the Thalys boarding image : exactly what happened to us a few weeks ago on our way to Paris. A bruxelles-midi the thalys train showed up like 5 minutes before departure time, and it was impossible to fit all these passengers on board... it took well over 10 minutes. And these security agents came and shouted at us "please, go board on another carriage", but there was the same crowd at the other carriage. Very stupid system.
We need more voice over videos 😊
Italian here: Frecciarossa experience varies depending on the type of trainset you're onto. ETR 400 (Frecciarossa 1000) is the best, I agree with you. But ETR 500 is not that great, I prefer french TGVs to that for comfort. ETR 700 is an absolute mess, it does not have the majority of services.
Italo is acceptable but far from great: really cramped and does not have a bistrò coach, just vending machines. Also, Italo's newest train (Italo EVO) is worse than their oldest one: has a lower maximum speed and it is even more cramped.
Hi Thibault, thx for that great video. I enjoy all of your content from Europe or the US. I totally agree with your list with the frecciarossa on top. I tried both trenitalia and iryo and it was such a awesome experience. I hope the services expand and show all people of Europe how nice a train ride can be. As for the ICE, from a perspective as a German, for me a love-hate relationship :) i wish Deutsche Bahn would enhance their service and use the center position of the country better. Maybe in the Future.
Two last question i really want your opinion on is; firstly what you think of the TGV-M, can bring this new generation a new time for SNCF and the TGV's as a whole?, and secondly; what is your opinion on Le Train, this new private train operator in France that will launch in 2026 with Talgo Avril Trains, can it shake the Market of train travel in France or what could happen instead happen?
All the best to you my friend.
The only HSTs I've ever taken were the TGV Lyria and the Swiss SBB, and they were both fantastic experiences!
Thanks for your content! Any chance of reviewing trains in Japan? I liked your content in Korea!
Italy had to have its Ferrari
Actually, most ICE trains do not have a top speed of 280 km/h. The over 100 ICE 4 can only go up to 250 km/h or 265 km/h with updated software. The 70 ICE T can only reach 230 km/h. ICE 3, 3 neo and Velaro D can go up to 330/320 km/h, they consist of about 100 trains (growing). Only the remaining minority (about 100) of the fleet, ICE 1 and ICE 2, have a top speed of 280 km/h.
Always nice to hear a Frenchman pronounce the word ‘develop’ 😂😉
16:11 We need as more overtaking tracks then four track line. Why, because overtacking tracks are cheaper then four track constellation and if you put high speed switches then they are more efficient, because slower trains, who have to let faster trains overtacking. They can let them pass easier then normal switches. I would recommend it.
as a 16 year old travelled to englanded on my own it was acc quite cheap tbh, 3 week return for only 118 with 1 mont in advanced booking... that is ofc minor pricing but still for a 16 year old that aint bad lol
i only rode on Thalyses and Eurostar once
since You mention it... Leo Express is basicaly an inter-city tram considering their current sets 🙂It's Stadler Flirt after all
Excuseme y have question about ice 2
I've been on Frecciarossa and Eurostar.
Never been on the NEW eurostar trains.
But a Alstom Class 373 TMST has the best traction sound ever compared to the NEW Siemens e320
I bust out laughing😆when the center seat was mentioned
My favourite train is Iryo. Good video (except the accent)
Talking of High Speed Trains what first impressions would you give on the NEW TGV of the future.
Like the Amtrak version already in service in the USA
I mean on the locomotive power cars.
You're not wrong about the TGV and luggage.
Many years ago, the very helpful booking office lady at Cologne Hbf booked me an additional seat just for my large rucksack on the Thalys to Brussels! Great service.
Was underwhelmed by the Frecciarossa though. Cheap suburban train like interior with very dirty windows. For InterCity trains I think there has to be carpet, and not lino/vinyl floor coverings.
IMHO:
3 - Class 374 Eurostar
2 - TGV Ouigo Duplex upstairs
1 - ICE 3 behind the driving position.
I went with frecciarossa 1000 and I had a really nice experience, you should try Italo is way nicer
Italy has leadership ever: combat and cruise ships , helicopters,missilistic sistems,automotive, supercars, engineering, food,mafia, trains ,VEGA C FOR LAUNCH IN ORBIT, 4 WORLD CUP ,FOOTBALL, CONTINUED?😂
@@valerianocuomo996 Yeah, but we deep fry your pizzas. Beat that.
@@valerianocuomo996 Italy is great 🤣🤣🤣 signed the PATRIOT!
How come none of these HSR systems have level boarding? Is this normal in Europe? I thought that I just got unlucky with the stations that I saw always not having level boarding. I thought that these were just older or crappier stations, but it looks like this is completely pervasive in Europe.
Spanish AVE has level boarding
@@Robot8A Spanish Talgo's are famous for level boarding 😊
SBB Giruno also has level boarding
Blame low platforms. Most European stations have platforms with a height of 550 mm or 760 mm which is too low for a high-speed train with their big wheels while maintaing a flat floor and level boarding, not to mention this also almost kills any high-speed EMU (notice the Talgo trains are powercar hauled and the Stadler SMILE the only high-speed EMU).
Some of the TGV are faster comparing to the Japanese Shinkansens in Japan.
italy was the first country to start construction on a high speed rail line well into the 70s, not 90s.
0:39 😍
Anyone will to help? I'm trying to get from Paris to Kaiserslautern, Germany. I'm trying to ride on an French TGV and all the website gives me is the ICE options, and I've been on the ICE before so I wanna try a SNCF. is there another city I could go through to take a TGV, and then take a ICE to Kaiserslautern?
or any one know if the ICE runs at the same operational speed as the TGV along this route?
Trenitalia has crappy regional Trains but our high speed… 😍
Having seen enough of your videos, I could have picked these for you ;) I was least surprised about #1. That Executive class is insane and the only time i have seen similar is the "Gran Class" on some of the Shinkansen (There is also Premium Green Class, but I haven't seen much on that yet). Great train geek video :) For me, the Shinkansen wins hands down for everything from service, to punctuality, to just looking so damn amazing. Although that Executive class is very appealing !
You know X 2000 can do 276 km/h right? It´s only limited to 210 km/h due to the old rail infrastructure tho. Love your channel.
Very informative video. Of course the definiton of "best train" should be precised, because what matters if you are going to travel a certain route is not only the comfort of the class (low-cost to business, if you can afford it) but also the _availability_ of this train on this route, the speed of the train _and_ the speed of the track. For instance, the Frecciarossa 1000 is no option for Germany or for Paris to Marseille, and the Eurostar is not available in Italy. And the theoretical speed of up to 360 or 400 km/h is irrelevant because there is no high speed line in Europe where you may drive that fast.
To my knowledge, the maximum speed in Europe is 320 km/h, which can be achieved by serveral trains like TGV Duplex, Siemens Velaro and Frecciarossa, but France is the only country in which this speed is really achieved on some lines. In Spain, it is 310 km/h, in Belgium, Italy and Germany 300 km/h, but in Germany only on relatively few sections, so the German ICE 3 (Siemens), which could theoretically go up to 330 km/h, can only do 320 km/h, and this only in France, not in Germany. This leads to some strange situations and conditions to take into account.
I wonder if the driver needs to take a leak if taking the 3 hour ride between Paris and Marseille how does the driver manage that?
The TGV and ICE are still the fastest trains in Europe. As well Eurostar Class 373 E300 and Class 374 E320.
And as usual us Italians show the world how things are done
Sì
Just never take the last Eurostar of the day. You'll get all the delays of the day all stacked up and when you finally arrive in your destination, the last train of the day that could bring you too your final destination is long gone.
Not mentioning the Spanish high speed trains being Spain the leader in Europe means something. Are you French?
The TGV M will soon improve the TGV experience! Also please buy a mic and articulate!
Love Eurostar but yes too much expensive. TGV Inoui in Businnes Premiere is nice
I’m italian and Italo is the best choice price/quality. All frecciarossa (etr1000, etr600, etr700 and etr500) and both italo (etr675 and agv575) are a special experience at good prince (i’ve tried all of them 😬😂). Unfortunately in italy the problems are the railways; in many areas there isn’t high speed and the tracks often are in very bad condition. Nice video, thank you for awarding Italian trains ❤🇮🇹
You is not italian..gelous? I,m sorry for you, italy is at TOP of engineering in all,Automotive, combat ships, aircraf, missilistic sistems,very other,champions LEAGUE,
@@valerianocuomo996 Italy is just a disaster due to the corruption
I use the HST between Milano, Firenze and Roma 5-6 times a month and although Italo is good, the service levels and flexibility of Frecciarossa is much greater, especially for business travellers. Small example, in business, Italo give you a paper cup and pour (flat) Coke from a bottle, with Frecciarossa you get a can. Frecciarossa has a bistro, Italo some crap cash-only vending machines. Frecciarossa you can purchase through tickets with classic line trains… Italians love to criticise Trenitalia because in Italy we’re used to berating anything the State does. TI isn’t perfect, but the Frecciarossa product is truly excellent, usually runs on time and has trains throughout the day from 05:00 to beyond 22:30. Italo is a worthy competitor, but lacks the fine finishing touches of its service to be the best.
Also the regionale train they are good
@@valerianocuomo996 mah, not everywhere…
I find the Dayse 1st Class TGV Duplex interior much better than Siemens E320 Eurostar Standard Premiere. Granted you get more service via Standard Premiere, the seats are just more comfortable in the Duplex. Took the ~7 hour Ouigo from Barcelona to Paris solo seat and caught the Eurostar back to London connection. As luck would have it, the person who was sitting behind me on the Ouigo was sitting directly infront of me in Standard Premier in the solo-seats that have a table in between. It was so odd and we found it hilarious that we both were travelling solo and decided to take HSR from Barcelona to London. We both agreed that the Ouigo interior was better.
Frecciarossa 😍😍!!!
Legal trem
i thought high speed was defined by the shinkansen since it was the first
Sure you'll get used to this kind of video! I mean, I can compare your face reveal video to current one, you're growing!
Un jour a la gare sud de France j'ai vue un DB amené un fiesarosa en Espagne 😅
Why was the ICE 4 on here
Where is that? 0:36