By TGV Est From Strasbourg To Paris
This was a two hour twenty minute trip on the top deck of a TGV on the LGV Est, which is one of the fastest lines in Europe. It cost me around £57 for the nearly 400 km. And that was a walk-up fare. London to Newcastle would probably cost me about £121 booked off-peak at a walk-up.
The train was regularly cruising at just over 300 kph.
Strasbourg Station
Strasbourg station is unusual in that they’re put a glass canopy on a magnificent nineteen-century station.
I liked it. The design also allows the Strasbourg trams to be in a tunnel under the front of the station and be accessed by lifts and escalators.
As the building of these glass or plastic canopies and roofs is getting easier and cheaper, due to the work of structural engineers, I think we’ll see a lot more Strasbourg-style stations.
Lunch On A Clothes Line
I had a nice gluten-free salad for lunch at a restaurant called La Corde a Linge
The salad was called le corset, as a lot of the dishes were named after clothes as the restaurant had once been a laundry.
They knew their gluten-free and also sold a decent cider.
It was also delicious and good value.
Petite France
Petite France is an area of Strasbourg, that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I walked around for an hour and had lunch there.
Exploring Strasbourg
I didn’t have much time in Strasbourg before I needed to catch the TGV Est, so I used the excellent tram system to explore the city.
The trams are all low floor, which as a Londoner, you appreciate, as all the buses are going that way. The New Rputemasters are totally flat and no-one should have to accept anything less.
Strasbourg’s successful introduction of trams has been credited with helping to start the tram-revolution in France. Like Nottingham, which was an instant success in the UK, both networks are 100% low-floor. This doesn’t apply tro all UK tram networks.
As a Londoner, you appreciate this, as all the London’s buses are going that way. The New Routemasters are totally flat and no-one should have to accept anything less.
From Mulhouse To Strasbourg
After exploring Mulhouse, I took an early evening train onto Strasbourg. Theation journey was done without any trouble, but as there was no information system on the train and station names were not too visible, I was worried about being taken to Nancy.
But a fellow passenger put me right.
Surely, in these days, it should be a European law that all trains have good information systems and that station names are clearly illuminated.
At Strasbourg the station wasn’t a problem, although in common with most European stations, the lighting levels, weren’t at the levels you get in the UK.
After a little bit of searching, I found that the tram to my hotel was in a tunnel under the station and with assistance from a helpful local, I was able to purchase a ticket and go the two stops needed.
Often the pasengers’ experience of a train, tram or metro journey can be improved significantly with clear signs and good lighting.
The Anonymous Widower 