EUROPEAN RAILWAYS

TRAIN SERVICES AND STATIONS

This web site initially focused on the Chicago area. And was later expanded to cover various aspects of transportation throughout the United States. But there are many lessons which could be learned from Europe, in having a well balanced transportation system.

A couple of sections have been added to this web site, covering a couple of areas in Europe which have rail and public transportation systems which are quite impressive. One area is London and southeast England, which has an impressive railway network with numerous four track main lines. With intercity and commuter trains serving numerous classic old railway terminal stations in London. The other area is the Netherlands, a small densely populated country where the many cities and towns are connected with an amazing railway network. Probably the first railway system in Europe to adopt hourly memory patterns. Admittedly there is an element of personal ancestral bias, which led to the inclusion of the Netherlands. But the other European countries also have impressive rail and public transportation systems.

Almost all of Europe is accessible by public transportation. People have a choice. As of September 2018, when gasoline in the US was priced at around $3 per gallon, gasoline in Europe was around $7 per gallon. Driving in Europe thus becomes more of a luxury, not a necessity.

GREAT BRITAIN

NETHERLANDS

Unlike in the United States, passenger rail systems in Europe and much of the rest of the world were never allowed to deteriorate. These sections illustrates how a few progressive railway systems can operate on regular hourly memory patterns, with services interconnecting at numerous multi track stations. Included are maps and links for stations, track numbers at each station, and the routes or services typically departing from each track.

EUROPEAN FAN WEB SITES

These web sites provide further information on the extensive passenger transportation available throughout Europe. English is available with most sites.