Post
by 61653 » 24 Oct 2018 00:51
It's a quarter to three in the morning and I've just been woken up by my InterCities-de-Nuits SNCF service squeaking to a halt at Toulouse Bordeaux, for the rear two coaches (one seated and one couchette) to be detached. The service is the nightly Paris Austerlitz to Latour de Carol and is several firsts for me: The first overnight train that I've ridden to the end (used the Night Riviera a few times but always got off at Taunton); My first standard gauge SNCF service (previous ride was metre-gauge); The first time I've ever been upgraded (was booked on as a seated passenger but the seated coach had a fault and was replaced by another couchette car, albeit with no bedding provided); and as a result, my first time in a sleeper berth. It's meant to hold 6 but it's all mine!
EDIT: was in fact at Bordeaux earlier, though I hadn't realised the service ran that way. The rear two coaches were indeed detached at Toulouse Matabiau as advertised. These old Corail coaches are comfortable but a bit squeaky (and the braking is rather harsh), hence I keep being woken!
The Penistone Line Partnership:
http://www.penline.co.uk/
Formerly known as 47434
Last train journey I could be bothered to look up the headcode for: 04/02/2016, Mirfield to Batley, 2J34 1459 Huddersfield to Leeds, Northern Rail 144015
