Train(trend)spotting

As members of Group 5, we have decided to focus on areas that are of particular interest on an individual level. Having traveled around Europe twice with the Interrail ticket, I chose the "Social Dimension" related to railway transport. Since then, I've been trying to do some trendspotting and synthesis around this subject, skimming through travel websites and blogs.

A mid-aged traveler named Joanne O'Connor reflects on the differences between today's interrail and that of yesterday. In her article she quotes a friends comments: "And there was no internet! No lastminute.com. No mobile phones! You had to use a phone box if you wanted to call home. No euros! Remember all those different currencies?"


The "Healthy Active Living" website Realbuzz.com gives us 10 bits of essential Interrail advice, three of which I especially found inspiring: Keep a blog. Take different routes. Talk to others.

I'm not sure if we're supposed to suggest new ideas as the outcome of our project, but I think integrating travel planning into the actual trip itself might not be a bad idea. It is a pity that there isn't even some sort of navigation that passengers can observe, where it is really needed in a means of travel with such inclination towards improvisation. You can not get off a plane and change your route, but even in there you are able to see your whereabouts in the world.

While researching on the net, I've come accross a complaint saying how not all surroundings are beautiful around railways, so the trip might get boring. However, the thing is the passenger coould be missing what's hot and interesting just a mile away from the railroad. Therefore, the incorporation of planning and navigation ideas might be worth considering.

Mandy Sheets talks evaluates the pluses and minuses of trains where she mentions the dining car, which is a facilitator if not an obligator for single passengers to sit together, as a major social plus on the train side. She also briefly touches the advantages of being able to walk around in trains and mingle into other groups of passengers.

The Darjeeling Limited, is a movie which has used Indian trains as the setting in several scenes. You can watch a collage of scenes from the movie here. It is amazing how trains can so effectively reflect on culture, much like mobile museums.

If that is so, here is something that's even better: A museum-train. Midhants Railway-Watercress Line is explained in their website as:

Formerly part of Britain's national rail network between the towns of Alton and Alresford in Hampshire, this preserved heritage steam railway line is now operated by dedicated volunteers for the enjoyment of all. Big steam engines haul our trains on long, steep gradients through the beautiful Hampshire countryside.

This is all, for now, about the social and cultural dimension of trains. More chunks of train(trend)spotting will follow soon...