From Villach To Munich
This section of route had the major stop at Salzburg.
It was still raining, but at least I was clean and dry in First Class.
It would have been a much better trip in the sun, as for a lot of the route, the train runs on the Tauern Railway
Even my wet pictures show how spectacular it could be.
From Ljubljana To Villach
I took these pictures on the section of the journey from Ljubljana to Villach.
Note.
- The line is the Tarvisio-Ljubljana railway until Jesenice station effectively marks the border between Slovenia and Austria.
- After Jesenice, the line enters the nearly five mile long; Karawanks tunnel.
- There would appear to be a new station at Faak Am See or Lake Faak. Could it be a place to go camping or stay overnight?
- Long trains of cars are more common in Europe than in the UK.
At least the weather seemed to be getting a little bit better.
Leaving Ljubljana
I took an early start as my train left at 09:23 for Munich. But at least the breakfast in the hotel was not bad at all.
The pictures show the station, where at least I was able to get some weak sun after the last couple of days in Croatia.
I must admit, I’ve never seen so many trains with added graffiti. I suppose, if it’s always raining, it passes the time.
Onward To Ljubljana
This was an uneventful journey in a comfortable train, but the weather seemed even worse, so there was no serious photo opportunities.
At Ljubljana, I changed a few notes into Euros and got a taxi in the rain.
It might have been a memorable journey through beautiful countryside, but with the rain and the dark, I couldn’t tell!
By Ljubljana, I was hungry and as my comfortable hotel had no choice of food I fancied, I walked a few hundred metres in the rain to the city centre and bought some chips and an orange juice from McDonalds.
I don’t think that the journey from Split to Ljubljana had been successful, but then it isn’t supposed to rain in the Balkans, when I’m on holiday!
Tram Safety At Augsburg
One of the problems with trams, is that pedestrians cross in front of trams, more intent on their mobile phone, than their safety.
At Augsburg Haunstetterstraße station, they are trialling a warning system.
Note how the lights turn red as the tram approsaches and clear, when it is safe to cross.
It was very simple. But it wasn’t always obeyed.
A Pit Stop In Zagreb
In my original plans, I had given myself four hours in Zagreb and I had intended to have a good lunch and explore the city using the trams.
But it was a bit of a disaster. probably due to the weather.
- I found an excellent cafe in the main square, where I had an excellent gluten-free cake.
- I couldn’t find anywhere for a proper meal.
- There wasn’t even a McDonalds, where I could get my emergency meal of chips and an orange juice.
As I didn’t want to walk round aimlessly in the rain, I went back to the station and caught the 18:38 to Ljubljana.
From Split To Zagreb
These pictures document the route between Split and Zagreb.
Note.
- It would certainly be a better line to travel on in better weather.
- Extensive work is progressing to improve the track.
- There were piles of discarded wooden sleepers everywhere, which were only good for firewood.
- In some ways the operation of the line was old-fashioned, as the station-master would greet each train as it passed through, even without stopping.
- The line was a mass of curves, as the train bent one way and then the other.
- The line is single-track most of the way.
- It was actually quite crowded, but I was the only passenger in First for all of the journey.
- There was no buffet open.
- The last picture shows the impressive Zagreb station.
Incidentally, I’ve just found out that there was a bad crash on this line at Rodine in 2009.
I would certainly travel on the line in the future. But next time, I’ll take some water and a snack.
Leaving Split
My train left Split at 08:27 and arrived in Zagreb at 14:30.
I was a bit worried, that it might be six hours in a scrapyard special, little better than a Pacer, when this train turned up.
The train incidentally is a Bombardier RegioSwinger tilting train.
We left Split virtually on time, with myself the only passenger in First Class.
Around And In The Cathedral of Saint Domnius
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius is Split’s catholic cathedral, the earliest part of which is Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum, which was built in the third century.
This is obviously a genuine Roman Catholic cathedral.
The Temple Of Jupiter
The Temple of Jupiter was just round the corner from the hotel.
It was well worth a visit and the entrance fee of just over a pound.
The Anonymous Widower 