New Fast Train Between Berlin & Munich

[RB]

Was reading about Germany and came across this article. Less than 4hrs certainly makes it a viable option & highlights train efficiencies in Europe
New high-speed train from Berlin to Munich makes 'historic' maiden journey - The Local

 

[Mattg]

Wow - that's shorter than the time it takes to catch a train from Sydney to Canberra, which is less than half the distance and doesn't require 22 tunnels etc...

 

[kevrosmith]

Construction on the route started in 1996 and finished last year.

It took 20 years to build the new line? What happened to the legendary German mantra of productivity and efficiency?

 

[OZDUCK]

It took 20 years to build the new line? What happened to the legendary German mantra of productivity and efficiency?

Well Berlin is involved, think of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport - 7 years behind schedule and probably another 3 to finish it. Budgeted for E2.83 Million and current cost estimates are E6.9 Million. I love Berlin but it is a "different place" to the rest of Germany.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

It took 20 years to build the new line? What happened to the legendary German mantra of productivity and efficiency?

Well the last 10 years they have been in China building the HSR in joint venture rships - then after the Chinese partners acquired the technical knowledge they said up you Croats - head home we don't need you anymore. So now the Germans have built a 580km train system that takes 3hrs 55mins right? Same distance in China in <2hrs - not trying to be derogatory to this new system but ..........

 

[Strategic Aviation]

they said up you Croats

Is it more insulting for Germans to be called a Croat(ian) than a Kraut?

 

[Vic]

It took 20 years to build the new line? What happened to the legendary German mantra of productivity and efficiency?

Depends. If the project schedule said 20 years then the mantra would would demand they stick to schedule.

 

[dajop]

So it's a 3:55 journey on train instead of a 600 km road journey? Not sure of the route, but that's only around 150km/h average speed. I guess the challenging hills in the way make it difficult, but doesn't seem that impressive, compared to say the French TGV, which for example has a 3.5 hr train journey between Paris and Marseille (where the drive is 775 km).

 

[Chara David]

20 years, that's quite a long time building that train.it looks futuristic though

 

[RB]

I think the terrain & the east versus west played a part in the construction times. I thought it was significant (as compared to Aust-not a fair comparison maybe) that a potential passenger thinks it is not worthwhile if there are not regular connections. This article gives a bit more background & alludes to a future of driverless trains. The New High-Speed Rail Link Between Munich and Berlin - CityLab

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is it more insulting for Germans to be called a Croat(ian) than a Kraut?

Jeez did I really write that? Forgiveness pls it was a long ordeal from frozen margarita beside pool at MBS at 11:00 yesterday til last glass PH Rare in TPR after midnight.

But back to the point - I have a German Doctor friend in PEK whose brother is way up the food chain with Siemens - Siemens knew what they were getting themselves into with development Chinese HSR system - they knew that the grave train was going to end as soon as the Chinese had sufficient knowledge to proceed alone - but apparently made an absolute poultice during their involvement.

 

[badseed]

Looking forward to trying this service out next year on my even-years pilgrimage to Berlin. Not much more I enjoy in life than relaxing on a DB ICE service with a Franziskaner Weissbier in hand, watching the countryside go past.

Although I usually try and find the longest, most circuitous route ;-) Last time I went Berlin to Munich via Dresden, Prague, and Vienna

 

[Melburnian1]

...Siemens knew what they were getting themselves into with development Chinese HSR system - they knew that the grave train was going to end as soon as the Chinese had sufficient knowledge to proceed alone - but apparently made an absolute poultice during their involvement.

On one tragic occasion a Chinese HSR train was indeed a 'grave train' (leading to a lot of personal difficulty for the Minister for Railways and unlike in countries like Japan where high speed trains have never incurred a fatality), but you may have meant 'gravy!'

Very clever, even if sombre, pun to put 'grave' and 'end' into the one sentence.

It's your comprehension test for the rest of us.