-
Bruse's Funiculars - is an excellent
source of data on funicular railways
around the world.For each country in the Guide the following information is provided:
The first group of headings give general information about each country and its railway systems.
The name of the country is given, together with the form (or forms) used within that country.
The name of the national railway system is given or more than one name if several language versions are used. The abbreviation of the name as commonly employed is also given. This abbreviation will usually appear on wagons and coaches owned by the railway concerned as well.
This is simply the language commonly (or officially) spoken in the country concerned. There may be more than one language in this category, but some minor variations are not mentioned.
The main currency unit is named. From 1 January 2002 twelve countries in Europe have used the common Euro currency.
The International Union of Railways (UIC) vehicle numbering code for the railways concerned.
The name of the timetable book containing services of the state railway system is given, together with some notes on its content (whether bus and other services are included, for example), comments on the use of languages (other than that commonly used in the country) in it and its frequency of publication. Where timetables are available from the appropriate railway offices in London, this is noted. The type and general quality of the map(s) provided with the timetable book are noted.
The normal gauge used by the state railway concerned is given, and brief details of lines not conforming to the general gauge are noted. "Standard" means 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in). For technical reasons, some railway administrations widen or narrow the "nominal" gauge, and this gives rise to discrepancies in the quoted figures; those given are taken from official sources wherever possible.
The principal system of electrification is specified in terms of electric potential ("voltage"), and whether direct current (d.c.) or alternating current (a.c.). Current collection is assumed to be from overhead wires unless otherwise stated. Brief notes on any nonstandard arrangements are given. Details of cross-border arrangements, where appropriate, are given in the Border Crossings file.
In Britain trains usually keep to the lefthand track of a double line of railway, and it is this arrangement that is meant by the rule of the road. In some countries where there is very little double track any rule is of less significance since in almost all the countries surveyed there is no fixed rule about which track is used at passing loops on a single line route. In other countries reversible working is common and it may not be at all obvious which is the "normal" arrangement. Where the word "varies" appears under this heading, this situation is implied. Other countries with a wellestablished "rule" but having a certain amount of reversible working ("banalisation" is the French term for this) are distinguished by a note to that effect.
The next group of headings comprise notes on passenger services, and details are given for each country of recent and proposed developments (including opening and closing of lines).
A list of other passenger carrying railways in the country is given, with an indication of gauge (if not standard), name of the owning organisation, and other points of interest. This list is as complete as possible for those railways operating a regular passenger service, but for some countries information is not readily available. Freight only lines are not normally listed; if tourist trains only are operated, then the line will appear in the list under Tourist Lines.
Only the more significant and currently operational tourist or preserved lines are listed. Some of these tourist lines carry normal freight traffic (run in some cases by a different operator), and it is important to note that the frequency of service on tourist lines can vary greatly, from many days in the year to perhaps only one or two.
A list of towns and cities with a local railway service not operated by the state system is given. See also Links - Metros, Trams and Trolleybuses.
A list of towns and cities with tram services appears under this heading. Sometimes the distinction between "light" rapid transit (interurban trams) and "heavy" rapid transit (Metro) is not clear, and so some systems might appear under either the "Metro" or "Trams" headings. See also Links - Metros, Trams and Trolleybuses.
See Links - Metros, Trams and Trolleybuses.
-
Bruse's Funiculars - is an excellent
source of data on funicular railways
around the world.
Particular notes on railway or more general matters not covered elsewhere are given here. Any special hazards of the country concerned are mentioned.
Details are given of available railway maps, other than those used for internal purposes by the railways and not available to the public. Many detailed maps are published by Quail Map Company, 31 Lincoln Road, Exeter EX4 2DZ, UK. Additionally, available maps are listed by and can be ordered on line from Transport Diversions Emporium.
Any known developments (e.g. electrification, new lines, branch line closures) are given here. Obviously the list is unlikely to be exhaustive, and may indeed be wrong. In most cases openings, electrifications and closures which have taken place recently are given here.
A list of Border Crossings between the countries in Europe is given, with electrification details where appropriate.
Lines with obscure or sparse passenger services
Services given here are over sections of line which carry a very restricted service or those not easily recognised from the timetable concerned ("unusual lines"), and their selection is therefore somewhat arbitrary. Train details are nearly all taken from public timetables. In some cases the routing given is to some extent speculative and has not been checked by observation, although it does seem probable. Where there is considerable doubt, this is indicated. The compilers would be pleased to hear from any reader with more definite information.
In general routes which are simply "main line connections" or which concern fairly minor deviations or which serve isolated sections of stations may be omitted here.
Only outline information is given about the days of operation of these trains, so it is essential that users check all trains and dates of operation with a current timetable before committing themselves to travelling on these services.
Countries are listed alphabetically. Each route entry is given an identification number for reference purposes; e.g. the first entry for Belgium for the 1998/99 timetable year is referred to as BE99/1. These entries are usually approximately in official timetable order. The extremities of the line are given as the passenger stations nearest to any junctions concerned. Where known, the actual junction names are given: these may be distinguished by the prefix Bif (French: = Bifurcation) or Y (Belgium) or Abzw (German: = Abzweigstelle - a brief Guide to German railway terminology is available). Under many of these headings reference to table numbers in the timetable book is given in square brackets [ ]. References to European Railway Atlas (M.G.Ball; published by Ian Allan) are in parentheses ( ).
Trains are listed by train number (in italics) and are usually given their true originating stations, unless the train originates at several places, in which case what appears to be the principal originating station is quoted. Terminating stations are normally given unless the train serves several places. In cases where a train originates some distance from the section of line concerned, the time is given for the last stopping place before that section, rather than at the station where the train starts (sometimes both are given). In the lists of trains, station names are sometimes abbreviated, provided the meaning is clear, in order to save space.
No special indication is given for trains which do not convey seating accommodation (i.e. those with couchettes or sleeping cars only) and users should check the timetable for this restriction.
A list of services (without train times) which are particularly sparse by the standards of the country concerned is also given under this heading. Cross-border lines often fall in this category but are not specifically listed. The train count is usually that for three mid-week days and may be different on market days or at weekends. There may be no trains on Sundays or public holidays.
Individual trains are sometimes marked with a code to draw attention to restricted days or dates of operation, or other important information. These codes are:
| Dates | |
| D | Only runs certain dates |
| E | Only runs certain dates during summer timetable period only |
| H | Only runs certain dates during winter timetable period only |
| Days (unless otherwise shown, trains run every day of the week) | |
| M | Monday |
| T | Tuesday |
| W | Wednesday |
| Th | Thursday |
| F | Friday |
| S | Saturday |
| Su | Sunday |
| plus | |
| O | only |
| X | excepted |
| Weekdays should be taken to mean Mondays to Saturdays, unless the context suggests otherwise. Public holidays (for which dates are usually shown in the country timetable) generally have a Sunday service or in some cases a modified service: check locally. | |
| Train Timings | |
| : | (for example 17:34) This is how normal station stops are shown. |
| s | (for example 17s56) Train stops only to set down passengers. Boarding at this station may not be allowed. |
| u | (for example 18u03) Train stops only to pick up passengers. Alighting at this station may not be allowed. |
| Category (shown after the train title) | |
| A | car carrier train which carries foot passengers |
| AA | car carrier train barred to foot passengers |
| N | unadvertised train |
| * | Route subject to confirmation – it applied to the equivalent train in a previous timetable. |
Minor updates (28 June 1998, 27 July 1998, 6 October 1999); general update, and gauge notes added (31 March 2000); general updates (18 & 25 February 2001); minor update (24 December 2001); currency details updated (2 January 2002); gauge notes amended (3 Feburary 2002); "Funicular Railways" added (16 November 2002); "Maps" updated, "Abbreviations Used" layout amended (17 November 2002); Train Timings abbreviations added (18 January 2004); "Gauges" amended (3 April 2005); "Metros, Trams and Trolleybuses" arrangements amended (2 January 2006); URL for "Quail Map Company" amended (4 January 2006); "Metros, Trams and Trolleybuses" arrangements re-instated (5 February 2006).
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