Canada wins the Railways competition. Everything there runs perfectly - lots of staff to sort out your problems, comfortable trains, with (Very Important) sections at the end of each carriage to stow luggage. Also most important, platforms are at the level of the carriage floor, with a bridgeway in place to pull on the wheelie bags. Food trolleys constantly moving up and down through the carriages. On time.
European rail so far, OK but not up to Canada. It is hard to find staff to ask for help or directions, and some not helpful when you do find them. Fellow travellers on the other hand go out of their way to give a hand – lifting the luggage of little old ladies (not just mine, many LOLs) up the four, five or six steps from the platform into the carriage. Food trolleys only visit the people in First Class. There is a “dining carriage” which the second class citizens have to wend their way to. Not really dining, snacking. There is very little provision for luggage, overhead racks (20 kg suitcase?!) and a couple of nooks which accommodate about four bags. People put cases on seats and stare at others seeking a seat to sit on. It is a good idea to have a booked seat – I was glad of it anyway.
And the train from Strasbourg to Tours was more than an hour late leaving Strasbourg which meant another scuttle to do the platform change etc to pick up the Amboise train. Still very keen on the Tardis.
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