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Posted by Roger Farnworth (Member # 197595) on :
 
Part 1 – Naples

The travel section of the Saturday Guardian Magazine on 23rd May 2023 included a few pages about train journeys in Europe (pages 72 to 77).

The featured image for this short article is a photograph of a EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno)-owned Circumvesuviana train at Napoli Garibaldi station, © Falk2 and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 3.0).

1. Time Travel on the Naples Line

The first of the articles, written by Sophia Seymour picks up on a new film about the region around Naples which “reveals rarely visited villas, seismic landscapes and a ‘civilisation buried mid-sentence’ – all accessible by train.” [1: p72]

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2026/05/24/the-guardian-lifestyle-travel-saturday-23rd-may-2026-part-1-naples/
 
Posted by Roger Farnworth (Member # 197595) on :
 
Part 2 – Nice to Tende

The travel section of the Saturday Guardian Magazine on 23rd May 2023 included a few pages about train journeys in Europe (pages 72 to 77). This is the second part of a look at those pages. …

The featured image for this article is the Train des Merveilles (Train of Wonders), a scenic tourist train that runs between Nice, France, and Tende, France. Services also run on to Cuneo. The train travels through the Roya Valley, through rugged gorges, picturesque villages, and numerous tunnels. The line is a feat of engineering, featuring hundreds of bridges and tunnels to traverse the steep terrain of Les Alpes Maritime. The viaduct shown in the featured image is the Viaduc de l’Erbossiera, a unique structure designed to run longitudinally through a river gorge having a singular upturned ‘U’-shaped pier (just off the left of the photograph), © Monaco Tribune, (although used on a significant number of different webpages). [14]

2. France’s Wonder Train

My wife and I stay regularly in Nice or in Les Alpes Maritime and have often travelled on the line between Nice, Tende and Cuneo – Le Train des Merveilles. A particular favourite location to stay has been the perched village of Saorge which overlooks a section of the line.

In recent years, the valley of La Roya has experienced devastating flooding. In October 2023, Storm Alex hit the valleys of the Royal and the Vesubie causing catastrophic damage.

The Institut Géographique National published excellent interactive maps showing the Roya and Vésubie valleys before and after Alex. These can be found here. [2]

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2026/05/24/the-guardian-lifestyle-travel-saturday-23rd-may-2026-part-2-nice-to-tende/
 
Posted by Roger Farnworth (Member # 197595) on :
 
The Guardian Lifestyle Travel – Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Part 3 – Readers’ Favourite Railway Journeys – Part A

The travel section of the Saturday Guardian Magazine on 23rd May 2023 included a few pages about train journeys in Europe (pages 72 to 77). This is the third part of a look at those pages and focuses on some reader’s recommendations of journeys by train. It includes a few more uploaded by the Guardian online.

The featured image for this article is a Flexity Outlook Eurotram at Trindade station in Porto, Portugal, © Cornelius Kibelka and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 2.0). [3]

3. Readers’ Favourite Railway Journeys

A. A Dramatic Metro Line in Porto
B. Fjords and Waterfalls in Norway
C. An Electric Gem in Germany
D. The Swiss Watchmakers’ Line
E. Charmed by the Vienna to Zagreb train

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2026/05/27/the-guardian-lifestyle-travel-saturday-23rd-may-2026-part-3-readers-favourite-railway-journeys-part-a/
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Reverend, the Graz to Vienna ride I took during August 2019 is amongst the most spectacular I've taken - anywhere.

But now there is a tunnel being bored (understand it's mired in politics - guess you have those over there as well!!) that will obviate the scenic ride over Semiring.

But then, the OBB is in business to provide transportation of freight and passengers - they're not in the scenic excursion business.
 
Posted by Roger Farnworth (Member # 197595) on :
 
It is a sadness when scenic routes get bypassed! I guess the hope might be that the route is kept as a back up and perhaps for a local service?
 
Posted by Roger Farnworth (Member # 197595) on :
 
The Guardian Lifestyle Travel – Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Part 4 – Readers’ Favourite Railway Journeys – Part B

The travel section of the Saturday Guardian Magazine on 23rd May 2023 included a few pages about train journeys in Europe (pages 72 to 77). This is the fourth part of a look at those pages and includes more reader’s recommendations of journeys by train. It includes a few more uploaded by the Guardian online.

The featured image for this article is a photograph of Le Petit Train Jaune which runs from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour de Carol/Enveitg in the Pyrenees, © A1AA1A and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-SA 3.0). [33]

4. Readers’ Favourite Railway Journeys – Part B

F. Vintage Locomotives in Tuscany.
G. Alpine beauty on the Montreux to Interlaken line.
H. Slow travel at its best: Belgrade to Bar.
I. Through Italy’s Apennines to Rome from the Adriatic.
J. Best way to See the Pyrenees? On a Little Yellow Train!

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2026/05/28/the-guardian-lifestyle-travel-saturday-23rd-may-2026-part-4-readers-favourite-railway-journeys-part-b/
 
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
 
Reverend, regarding your immediate response I must wonder simply how Europeans are "into looking out" when riding trains.

I'm reminded of when traveling from Innsbruck to St. Anton/Arlberg, there was "this gal". She was seated on the forward riding single seat side in First, and by default, I was in the rear riding backwards. She was completely uninterested in looking out at first the Inn to Landeck or the Sanna up the Arlberg Pass to St. Anton/Arlberg. In fact, she asked me to wake her as we approached St. Anton, and then went to sleep.

GRRRR

I just said to myself; "I'm a guest in her country", was assured she was awake, and gave her a "Gotten Tacht" at St. Anton/Arlberg.
 


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